Windows 11 24H2 heralded the final end for WordPad. Through this trick, you can still continue to use the text editor.
As previously announced, Microsoft has removed WordPad from Windows. The Windows 11 24H2 update rolled out last week irrevocably removes WordPad from your device, as you cannot reinstall the text editor. Still, WordPad is not quite dead and buried: Windows Latest discovered a trick to be able to use WordPad even after installation.
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WordPad in Windows 11 24H2
Before you update, back up the WordPad files. Search WordPad through Explorer using the command C:Program FilesWindows NTccessories. Save the following folders and files:
- en-US
- nl-NL
- wordpad
- dll
After installing the Windows 11 24H2 update, re-add these files to Windows. WordPad will not be found through a search or appear in the Start menu, but you can pin it to your taskbar and/or create a desktop shortcut. It is crucial to back up WordPad before you update Windows, because afterward you will not be able to recover it.
Different and better
WordPad is a text editor for simple text files, although the program may have seen its best days. The reason Microsoft decided to remove WordPad from Windows is because there are other and better alternatives. Microsoft praises Word for editing documents with rich formatting capabilities. Those who just want to scribble something down can use OneNote.
The Windows 11 24H2 update has been available since Oct. 1 and is the major Windows update for this year. Microsoft is rolling out the update in phases so the update may not have come to your device yet. There’s no need to feel aggrieved about that, as Windows 11 24H2 quickly broke.