Microsoft WordPad

Version10(as of 1/14/2022)
PlatformWindows
LicenseBundled
CategoryProductivity
Go to Website
Rating:4.5  |  286 Votes

Main Features

  • Is a middleground between Microsoft Word and Microsoft Notepad
  • Uses a ribbon interface similar to Microsoft Word
  • Allows users to format text and add images
  • Supports the DOCX format

Software Overview

Screenshot of Microsoft Wordpad 10
Screenshot of Microsoft Wordpad 10

Microsoft WordPad is a free, Word-like text editor included with Microsoft Windows. While WordPad is nowhere near as robust as Microsoft Word, its formatting features are a step up from Microsoft Notepad. Most notably, for those looking for a free Microsoft Word alternative, WordPad can create, open, edit, and save .DOCX files (though the documents may appear slightly different than they do in Word).

WordPad's ribbon-based UI allows you to specify your text's:

  • Alignment
  • Spacing
  • Font
  • Size
  • Color
  • Style (bold, italic, underline, etc.)

You can also insert images and Microsoft Paint drawings into WordPad documents.

After you finish drafting a document, you can save it as an .RTF, .ODT, or DOCX file. (You can also save the document as a .TXT file, though this will remove its images and formatting.) You can also quickly print or send the document in an email.

Summary

If you need to create a simple, formatted text document that does not include a lot of images, or you're looking for a free, easy way to open and edit a Microsoft Word document, Microsoft WordPad has you covered. WordPad is not and does not pretend to be a complete replacement for Word. For instance, Word users are very likely to miss that program's spell check capabilities. However, in a pinch, WordPad is a handy tool for taking notes, drafting essays, and writing other basic documents.

Primary File Type

rtf icon.RTFRich Text Format File

Supported File Types

ExtensionFile Type
.RTFRich Text Format File
.CFGConfiguration File
.CONFIGConfiguration File
.CSSCascading Style Sheet
.CSVComma-Separated Values File
.DOCMicrosoft Word Document (Legacy)
.DOCXMicrosoft Word Document
.HTMLHypertext Markup Language File
.INIWindows Initialization File
.JSONJavaScript Object Notation File
.LOGLog File
.ODTOpenDocument Text Document
.TXTPlain Text File
.WPCWordPad Converter File
.XMLXML File

Additional Related File Types

ExtensionFile Type
.CMDWindows Command File
.INFOGeneric Information File
.LSTData List
.MDMarkdown Documentation File
.MEReadme Text File
.OUTOutput File
.RTXRich Text Document
.UTF8Unicode UTF8-Encoded Text Document
.WRIMicrosoft Write Document
.WTXText Document
Updated 1/14/2022