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WordPad is gone from Windows 11 24H2. It is not hidden behind Optional Features, and there is no Microsoft Store package or DISM capability that brings it back. Microsoft removed wordpad.exe, WordpadFilter.dll, and write.exe beginning with Windows 11 version 24H2, as well as Windows Server 2025.
You can still run the old application by copying its files from a pre-24H2 Windows installation. This is an unofficial file-copy workaround, not a supported Windows installation method. The restored program will not receive feature updates, bug fixes, or security updates.
Why WordPad disappeared
Microsoft deprecated WordPad in September 2023 and updated its deprecated-features documentation in March 2024. Beginning with Windows 11 24H2, WordPad is removed from every edition rather than merely disabled.
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wordpad.exeWordpadFilter.dllwrite.exe
That distinction matters because many older guides describe WordPad as an optional Windows component. Those instructions no longer apply to 24H2.
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Methods that do not reinstall WordPad
Do not waste time looking for WordPad in any of these locations:
| Method | Result on Windows 11 24H2 |
|---|---|
| Settings > System > Optional features | WordPad is not listed. |
| Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature | There is no WordPad package to add. |
| DISM /Online /Add-Capability | Cannot restore the removed files. |
| Turn Windows features on or off | There is no WordPad checkbox. |
| Windows Update | Does not reinstall WordPad. |
The practical workaround is to obtain the matching files from Windows 10, Windows 11 22H2, or Windows 11 23H2.
Option 1: Copy WordPad from an older Windows PC
This is the simplest method if you have access to a computer that has not been upgraded to 24H2.
1. Find the files on the older computer
On the older PC, open File Explorer and enter this path in the address bar:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesCopy the following items to a USB drive or another temporary location:
wordpad.exeWordpadFilter.dll- The language folder containing
wordpad.exe.mui, normallyen-US
For U.S. English, the resource file is:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesen-USwordpad.exe.muiCopying only wordpad.exe is a common mistake. WordPad may start, but its menus and labels can be blank or it may report a resource error without the matching .mui file.
2. Place the files on the 24H2 PC
On the Windows 11 24H2 computer, open:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesIf the Accessories folder does not exist, create it under C:Program FilesWindows NT. Windows may request administrator approval when you create the folder or copy files into it.
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Place the files in these locations:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exe
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesWordpadFilter.dll
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesen-USwordpad.exe.muiUse the matching language folder for a different Windows display language. For example, do not put an English wordpad.exe.mui into an unrelated locale folder and expect all resources to work correctly.
3. Launch WordPad
Double-click this file:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exeIf the files match correctly, WordPad should open normally. You can also create a desktop shortcut pointing directly to that executable.
Create a Start-menu shortcut
Windows may not show a manually copied executable in Start search automatically. Create a shortcut first:
- Right-click
wordpad.exe. - Select Show more options if the classic context menu is not already visible.
- Select Create shortcut.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
shell:programsand press Enter. - Move the WordPad shortcut into the folder that opens.
Open Start and search for WordPad. You can then right-click the result and select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
To make the shortcut available to every user account, copy it instead to:
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsAdministrator permission is required for that location.
Option 2: Extract WordPad from an older Windows ISO
If no older PC is available, you can inspect installation media from a pre-24H2 Windows release. Use installation media for Windows 10, Windows 11 22H2, or Windows 11 23H2—not a 24H2 image.
Mount the ISO in File Explorer and note its drive letter. The following example assumes it is D:. Open an elevated Command Prompt or Windows Terminal, then check whether the media contains install.wim or install.esd in its sources folder.
1. Identify the image index
For a WIM file, run:
dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:D:sourcesinstall.wimFor an ESD file, run:
dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:D:sourcesinstall.esdRead the output and choose the index corresponding to the Windows edition you need. Do not assume that index 6 is always correct; image indexes vary between installation media.
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2. Mount the image read-only
Create a mount folder:
mkdir C:MountFor a WIM image, replace 6 with the index you identified:
dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:D:sourcesinstall.wim /Index:6 /MountDir:C:Mount /ReadOnlyFor an ESD image:
dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:D:sourcesinstall.esd /Index:6 /MountDir:C:Mount /ReadOnly3. Copy the three required items
After the image mounts, retrieve the files from:
C:MountProgram FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exe
C:MountProgram FilesWindows NTAccessoriesWordpadFilter.dll
C:MountProgram FilesWindows NTAccessoriesen-USwordpad.exe.muiCopy them to the equivalent locations on the 24H2 computer:
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exe
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesWordpadFilter.dll
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessoriesen-USwordpad.exe.mui4. Unmount the image
When you have finished copying the files, run:
dism /Unmount-Image /MountDir:C:Mount /Discard
rmdir C:MountThe /Discard option is appropriate here because you are only reading files from the image and do not want to save changes to the ISO image.
Fix missing menus or resource errors
If WordPad opens with blank labels, missing menu text, or a resource error, check these points:
- Confirm that
WordpadFilter.dllis besidewordpad.exe. - Confirm that
wordpad.exe.muiis inside the language folder, not directly inAccessories. - Check that the locale matches your installation, such as
en-USfor U.S. English. - Make sure all files came from the same older Windows installation or image. Mixing files from different releases can create compatibility problems.
- Try launching the executable directly rather than using an old shortcut with an incorrect target.
Restore WordPad for RTF files
Copying the executable does not automatically make WordPad the default application for Rich Text Format files. Existing .rtf associations may still point to Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, Notepad, or another editor.
To change the default through Settings:
- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Search for
.rtf. - Select the current default application.
- Choose WordPad if it appears.
- If it does not appear, browse manually to
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exe.
You can also change one file association from File Explorer:
- Right-click an
.rtffile. - Select Open with > Choose another app.
- Select Choose an app on your PC if WordPad is not shown.
- Browse to
C:Program FilesWindows NTAccessorieswordpad.exe. - Select Always when Windows asks whether to use the app for RTF files.
Limitations of the workaround
This method revives the old executable; it does not restore WordPad as a supported Windows component. Microsoft will not deliver WordPad updates, security fixes, or compatibility fixes through Windows Update. A future Windows release could prevent the copied program from running.
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Only copy files from a legitimate Windows installation or installation image. Avoid downloading random executable bundles from file-sharing sites. If you need an actively supported rich-text editor, Microsoft recommends Word for formats such as .doc and .rtf. For plain-text .txt files, use Windows Notepad.
FAQ
Is WordPad hidden in Windows 11 24H2?
No. Microsoft removed WordPad from all Windows 11 editions beginning with version 24H2. The files are not simply disabled or hidden behind an Optional Features setting.
Can I reinstall WordPad with DISM?
No. WordPad is not a Windows capability, Optional Feature, Store app, or feature-on-demand package in 24H2. DISM’s /Online /Add-Capability command cannot restore it.
Which files are needed to bring WordPad back?
Copy wordpad.exe, WordpadFilter.dll, and the matching language resource file, normally en-USwordpad.exe.mui, from a pre-24H2 Windows installation.
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The matching wordpad.exe.mui file is probably missing, in the wrong language folder, or from a mismatched installation. Put it in the appropriate locale subfolder under Accessories.
Will Windows Update update the restored WordPad?
No. The copied program is unsupported and will not receive WordPad feature updates, bug fixes, or security updates from Microsoft.
Does copying WordPad restore .rtf file associations?
No. Configure the association separately through Settings > Apps > Default apps, or use File Explorer’s Open with > Choose another app option.
The Bottom Line
Windows 11 24H2 did not merely hide WordPad—it removed it. The dependable workaround is to copy the executable, DLL, and matching language resource from Windows 10 or a pre-24H2 Windows 11 installation, then create a shortcut if needed. Treat the result as an unsupported legacy app, and use a maintained editor for documents that require ongoing security and compatibility updates.
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