If WordPad is missing from your PC, it might be because Microsoft decided to drop it starting with Windows 11, version 24H2. Yeah, that was kind of a shock for anyone who used it regularly. On some setups, WordPad just disappeared without warning; on others, it needs a bit of manual help to get back. Because Windows has to make things harder than they should, here are some legit ways to bring it back without totally reinstalling the OS or digging through old images. Doing these might restore WordPad, or at least give a decent workaround, so you’re not stuck with just Notepad or resorting to installing Word. So, whether you’d rather try a quick fix or do some tinkering, this article covers multiple ways to get WordPad working again, or at least have a decent copy from somewhere. The goal? Make sure you’re not just stuck typing into plain Notepad every time you need WordPad-like features. That said, some of these steps involve command line magic or copying files from backups, so brace yourself for a bit of fiddling.
How to Fix WordPad Missing in Windows 11
Reinstall WordPad via Optional Features
- Press the Windows key to open Windows Search.
- Type Optional Features and hit Enter to open the menu.
- Look for WordPad. If it’s listed, select it and see if you can click Remove or Install (sometimes it’s a toggle).
- If WordPad isn’t there, click View optional features at the top, then scroll down or search for it.
- Select WordPad and click Next. If it shows as available, click Add.
- Once installed, look for WordPad in the Start menu or search bar. Sometimes it takes a reboot or log out/in for the magic to happen. Worked for me on one setup, but on another, it needed a restart.
Use PowerShell to Reinstall WordPad
- Open the Start Menu, search for Windows PowerShell.
- Right-click and choose Run as Administrator — this is important, or the command might fail.
- Type this command exactly, then press Enter:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "Microsoft. Windows. WordPad~~~~0.0.1.0" - Wait a minute or two as Windows fetches and installs the files. You’ll see progress in the PowerShell window.
- After it tells you it’s done, try searching for WordPad again. Hopefully, it’s back, or at least listed in your Start menu.
Restore WordPad from a Previous Windows Backup (Windows.old)
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
- Navigate to:
C:\Windows.old\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories - Locate wordpad.exe and WordpadFilter.dll. Copy them.
- Paste these into:
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories. - Double-click wordpad.exe to test if WordPad fires up. Sometimes, you’ll need to right-click and choose Run Administrator for it to launch properly.
Opt for Alternative Text Editors
- Notepad — Built into Windows, simple, quick, no fuss for text-only stuff.
- LibreOffice Writer — Free alternative that handles.doc, .rtf, and a bunch of other formats.
- Notepad++ — More powerful, with syntax highlighting and plugins, great for code or complex text editing.
- Microsoft Word — The paid, full-blown solution if you need fancy formatting or collaboration tools.