Microsoft released a new build of Windows 11 Canary Build, from which it removed the WordPad text editor (not to be confused with the more famous Word, which is part of the Office suite). Microsoft has described WordPad as a “deprecated feature”, so it is no longer being developed and the software giant will no longer include it in future releases of Windows 11.

Microsoft explained the reason for removing WordPad:

Starting with this build, WordPad and People will no longer install after a clean OS install. In a future release, WordPad will be removed during an update. WordPad will not be reinstallable. WordPad is a deprecated Windows feature.

For many years, WordPad has been the main free word processor (editor) that has been part of the operating system, in fact since Windows 95. Many people prefer this text editor for creating and editing simple text documents. But another word processor is recommended instead.

We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents such as .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for simple text documents such as .txt.

Five years ago, Microsoft also planned to remove Windows Paint, and Windows 10 Fall Creators Update was the first release without it. But Microsoft relented due to popular demand, making the app an installable option from the Microsoft Store. After all, MS Paint has been significantly redesigned in Windows 11. Perhaps if there is public demand, Microsoft will do the same with WordPad, reports Tom’s Hardware.

Windows Installer will be updated for the first time since Vista – a “cleaner and more modern” interface will appear in Windows 11 Build 26040