Tab types a tab. To leave the page with the keyboard, press Escape and then Tab, or F6 for the ribbon.
How it works
- Write or open. Start typing on the page, or use File → Open (Ctrl+O) to open an RTF, DOCX, ODT or TXT file. You can also drag a file onto the editor.
- Format with the ribbon. The Home tab has the font list, sizes, bold, italic, underline, colors, highlight, alignment, indents, line spacing and lists, laid out the way WordPad users expect.
- Save a file. File → Save as writes Rich Text (.rtf), Word (.docx), plain text (.txt) or a web page (.html); PDF document downloads a .pdf straight away. Print… sends the page to a printer.
Your work is kept as a draft in this browser while you type, so closing the tab does not lose it. The draft lives only on this device: save a file to keep a copy elsewhere.
Want it in your taskbar or Dock? Install WordPad.me as an app — it opens in its own window and works offline.
File formats
| Format | Open | Save | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Text (.rtf) | Yes | Yes | The format WordPad saved by default. Fonts, colors, lists, pictures and links are kept. |
| Word (.docx) | Yes | Yes | Opens in Word, LibreOffice, Google Docs and Pages. Tables, headers and footnotes are simplified on opening. |
| Plain text (.txt) | Yes | Yes | Text only, no formatting. |
| Web page (.html) | Yes | Yes | A single file that any browser shows. |
| PDF (.pdf) | No | Yes | Made in your browser with the page size and margins of Page setup. Text in non-Latin scripts is kept as a picture of the text. |
| Word 97–2003 (.doc) | No | No | Save it as .docx or .rtf in another editor first. |
| OpenDocument (.odt) | Yes | No | From LibreOffice and OpenOffice. Save makes a new .docx or .rtf file and leaves the .odt as it was. Footnotes, comments, headers and tables are simplified on opening. For a Word copy in one step, use the ODT to DOCX converter. |
Only need the file in another format? These converters do it in one step, without the editor: RTF to PDF, RTF to Word, RTF to TXT, DOCX to TXT, ODT to DOCX, TXT to PDF.
What happened to WordPad?
WordPad came with every version of Windows from Windows 95 until Windows 11 version 23H2, as a simple word processor between Notepad and Word. In September 2023 Microsoft listed it as a deprecated feature that would no longer be updated, and it was removed starting with Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft points rich-text users to Word and plain-text users to Notepad (Microsoft Learn: deprecated features). How to check your version and open old files: WordPad on Windows 11.
Many people miss its middle ground: quick to open, free, with real formatting and RTF files that every word processor reads. WordPad.me is an independent, free editor in that style. It is not Microsoft software and does not contain any of WordPad’s code.
Keyboard shortcuts
On a Mac, use ⌘ instead of Ctrl.
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I / Ctrl+U | Bold, italic, underline |
| Ctrl+L / Ctrl+E / Ctrl+R / Ctrl+J | Align left, center, right, justify |
| Ctrl+Shift+> / Ctrl+Shift+< | Grow or shrink the font |
| Ctrl+Shift+= / Ctrl+= | Superscript, subscript |
| Ctrl+1 / Ctrl+5 / Ctrl+2 | Line spacing 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 |
| Ctrl+Shift+L | Start or end a bulleted list |
| Tab / Shift+Tab | Tab character; in a list, indent or outdent the item |
| Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | Undo, redo |
| Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H | Find, replace |
| Ctrl+K | Insert a link |
| Ctrl+O / Ctrl+S / Ctrl+P | Open, save, print |
| Ctrl+Shift+V | Paste as plain text |
Questions
Is WordPad still available?
Not in new versions of Windows. Microsoft stopped updating WordPad in 2023 and removed it starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, released in 2024, including clean installs and upgrades. It cannot be reinstalled from Microsoft. WordPad.me gives you the same kind of editor in a browser tab.
Can I still download WordPad?
There is no official download of WordPad any more, and copies offered on download sites are not from Microsoft. WordPad.me needs no download: it runs in your browser, and in Chrome or Edge you can add it to your desktop or taskbar from the browser menu so it opens like an app. WordPad download: what to install instead.
How do I open a WordPad (.rtf) file?
Click Open (or press Ctrl+O) and pick the .rtf file, or drag it onto the page. WordPad.me reads the text, fonts, sizes, colors, bullets, alignment and pictures. Edit it and choose Save as RTF to keep it in the same format WordPad used.
Can I use WordPad on my phone, Mac or Chromebook?
WordPad itself only ever ran on Windows. WordPad.me works in any current browser on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, Android and iPhone. On a phone the ribbon shrinks to the main buttons; long documents are easier to edit on a larger screen.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free and there is no account or sign-up. Open the page and start typing; your draft is kept in this browser until you save a file.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Opening, editing and saving all happen inside your browser on your device. The document is never sent to a server. The draft is stored in your browser’s own storage, which you can clear at any time from the File menu or your browser settings.
Does it have spell check, word count and dark mode?
Spell check comes from your browser and underlines misspelled words as you type. The status bar counts words and characters, and the View tab switches between a light and a dark interface; the page itself stays white, as it prints.
Is this Microsoft WordPad?
No. WordPad.me has its own code and is not connected with Microsoft, which neither approved nor sponsors it. It follows the familiar WordPad layout and opens and saves the same file types.