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I brought back WordPad on Windows 11, and it beats the AI-stuffed Notepad Microsoft wants you to use instead
windowslatest.com Nov 15, 2026

I brought back WordPad on Windows 11, and it beats the AI-stuffed Notepad Microsoft wants you to use instead

Curated by · TechCapsules ·

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft deprecated WordPad in September 2023 and removed it from Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, eliminating the executable files wordpad.exe, wordpadfilter.dll, and write.exe. The author restored the program by copying it from a fresh Windows 10 installation onto a Windows 11 26H2 PC, demonstrating that the legacy app still runs on the newer OS. WordPad offers rich‑text formatting, picture insertion, and RTF, .docx, .odt, and plain‑text support without sign‑in prompts or AI features, filling the gap between Notepad’s plain‑text focus and Word’s full suite. The article notes recent backlash against Microsoft’s AI‑enhanced Notepad, which now includes optional Writing Tools powered by GPT, and highlights that users can disable these features to retain a minimalist editor.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · Restoring WordPad gives users a functional, ad‑free middle‑ground editor that Microsoft’s own updates have abandoned, catering to those who need simple rich‑text capabilities without AI or subscription ties.
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💡 By finally retiring an almost‑unused feature and delivering a faster, modern UI, Microsoft demonstrates that even legacy utilities can be refreshed to meet contemporary user expectations.

Xbox boss announces Wolfenstein 3 and confirms new game in development at idSoftware despite reported job cut “bloodbath”
eurogamer.net · Nov 13

Xbox boss announces Wolfenstein 3 and confirms new game in development at…

Xbox chief Asha Sharma confirmed that MachineGames is developing a new Wolfenstein title, marking the franchise’s next installment. She also announced that idSoftware, heavily affected by recent Xbox layoffs, is working on a new game. Sharma’s statements came amid a broader Microsoft “reset” that has cut 3,200 Xbox jobs, including 96 of idSoftware’s 136 staff. The news was shared via Sharma’s X tweet and a Bethesda website post, aiming to reassure fans that flagship franchises remain active.

💡 The announcements signal Microsoft’s commitment to preserving high‑profile IPs despite aggressive restructuring, potentially stabilizing investor confidence in the studio’s future output.

Microsoft is begging you not to blame AI for the Microsoft 365 outage, insisting it was a botched network upgrade
windowslatest.com · Nov 13

Microsoft is begging you not to blame AI for the Microsoft 365…

Microsoft apologized for a Microsoft 365 outage that lasted more than a day, disrupting Outlook, Teams, Copilot, Exchange, Azure, and Xbox for millions of users. The company clarified that the failure was caused by a technical issue during a network capacity upgrade, not by AI or cyberattacks. Microsoft is restoring services gradually, has addressed the root cause, and will release a full post‑incident report. The outage affected critical services, including airline operations and court bond processing in Colorado.

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From the first console to the next chapter, XBOX celebrates 25 years

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