How to Find and Use Microsoft WordPad in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users steps to find and use Microsoft WordPad in Windows 11. Microsoft Wordpad is a free, rich text editor app to create and edit files, include text with different fonts and colors, insert pictures, and add links to other files.

WordPad offers more features than Windows Notepad but is less advanced than Microsoft Word. You can use WordPad to open and save text files (.txt), rich text files (.rtf), Word documents (.docx), and OpenDocument text files (.odt).

Files in other formats will open as plain text files and might not appear as expected. You might get by with WordPad if you don’t have Microsoft Word installed.

Some features—like headers, footers, and annotations—aren’t supported in WordPad.

Below are steps to find and use Microsoft WordPad on Windows 11 computers.

How to open WordPad on Windows 11

As mentioned above, Microsoft WordPad offers more features than Windows Notepad but is less advanced than Microsoft Word. If you don’t have Microsoft Word installed, you may get by with WordPad for less advanced users.

To use the WordPad in Windows 11, click on the Start menu, then search Wordpad in the search box. Under Best Match, select the WordPad app to open.

Opening WordPad in Windows 11 Start menu

That will open WordPad app.

Microsoft WordPad interface in Windows 11

Alternatively, one can use the Run command box to open WordPad in Windows 11.

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, then type writes or Wordpad and press the ENTER key.

WordPad in Run command box on Windows 11

In File Explorer, browse the path below to find the WordPad application (wordpad.exe).

C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad

Accessing WordPad through File Explorer in Windows 11

The shortcut is available at the path below:

C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsAccessories

Again, for basic usage, WordPad might be just enough. However, suppose you want to create advanced documents with mail merges, spellchecker, styles, tables, headers & footers, columns, margins, and more. In that case, Microsoft Word or an alternative productivity suite should be considered.

Below is a basic table on creating, opening, and saving files with WordPad.

Create a new file	Tap or click File, and then tap or click New.
Open a file	Tap or click File, and then tap or click Open.
Save a file	Tap or click File, and then tap or click Save.
Save a file under a different name or format	Tap or click Save as.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

This post shows you how to find and use WordPad in Windows 11. Please use the comment form below if you find any errors above or have something to add.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find WordPad in Windows 11?

To find WordPad in Windows 11, click on the Start menu and type 'WordPad' in the search box. Select the WordPad app from the Best Match results to open it.

Can I open Microsoft Word documents in WordPad?

Yes, you can open Microsoft Word documents (.docx) in WordPad. However, some formatting may not be preserved, and features like headers and footers are not supported.

What file formats can I use with WordPad?

WordPad supports various file formats including text files (.txt), rich text files (.rtf), Word documents (.docx), and OpenDocument text files (.odt). Other formats may open as plain text.

Is WordPad better than Notepad?

Yes, WordPad offers more features than Windows Notepad, such as the ability to format text with different fonts and colors, insert images, and create rich text documents.