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Altto Write
Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

A free WordPad alternative.

Microsoft removed WordPad from Windows 11 version 24H2. Altto Write does the same job in your browser: open your .rtf and old .wri files, edit them, and save as Word or PDF. Nothing is uploaded.

Opens .rtf, .wri, .docx, .txt Saves Word and PDF Tables, pictures, lists Not uploaded, no watermark

Or start a new document:

Your documents are never uploaded — they’re opened, edited and saved right here in this browser tab, on your device.
At a glance

WordPad replacement: quick facts

WordPad is gone from new Windows 11 installs. This page opens the files it used to open, with no install.

Updated

Opens
Word (.docx), OpenDocument (.odt), Rich Text (.rtf), Windows Write (.wri), HTML, Markdown, plain text
Saves as
Word (.docx), PDF (through Print), plain text (.txt)
Formatting
Headings, fonts, sizes, bold, italic, underline, colours, highlight, alignment, indents, quotes
Also
Bullet and numbered lists, tables, pictures, links, page breaks, page size and margins, word count
Templates
CV, formal letter, report, essay, meeting notes
Privacy
Runs on your device; nothing is uploaded
Price
Free, no sign-up, no watermark
How it works

How to open and edit a WordPad file now

No Microsoft 365 subscription, no account and nothing to install. Open the file here, change it, and save it again.

  1. 01

    Open your file

    Drop in an .rtf or .wri file (what WordPad and Windows Write saved), or a Word or text file. Or start a blank document.

  2. 02

    Edit it

    Type and format as you would in any word processor: styles, fonts, colours, lists, tables, pictures, links and page breaks.

  3. 03

    Save it

    Download a Word file (.docx), save a PDF, or keep plain text. Nothing is uploaded.

Altto reads the Word file itself, on your device: its paragraphs and headings, the font, size and colour of every piece of text, alignment and indents, bullet and numbered lists, tables, pictures and links, and the page size and margins. When you save, it writes a standard .docx file that opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice and Pages. It also reads headers, footers and page numbers, and the text of older .doc files (Word 97–2003).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Was WordPad removed from Windows 11?
Yes. Microsoft removed WordPad from Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, after deprecating it in 2022. It is still there on Windows 10 and on older Windows 11 versions (23H2 and earlier). Microsoft’s own suggestion is Word for rich text files and Notepad for plain text. Altto Write is a free option that needs no install.
How do I open an .rtf file without WordPad?
Drop the .rtf file on the box above. It opens with its fonts, bold and italics, colours, lists and alignment, ready to edit. Save it as Word (.docx) or as a PDF when you’re done. If you only want to read it, the RTF viewer is quicker.
Can it open old .wri files from Windows Write?
Yes, Altto Write opens .wri files, the format of the Windows Write program that came before WordPad. Text is read; formatting in very old files may be simpler than the original. Save the result as a .docx to keep it in a format every program can open.
Will it save as .rtf?
No. Altto Write saves Word (.docx), PDF (through Print) and plain text (.txt). If you need a Rich Text file, open the .docx in Word, LibreOffice or Pages and use Save As to choose Rich Text Format.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Altto Write runs entirely in your browser: your document is opened, edited and saved on your own device and never sent anywhere. It also keeps a copy of your current document in this browser, so closing the tab by mistake doesn’t lose your work.
Is it a full copy of WordPad?
No, it is a different program that does the same everyday job. It has the formatting WordPad had (fonts, sizes, bold, italic, underline, colours, alignment, lists) plus tables, pictures, links, comments, footnotes and a spelling and grammar check. It does not edit .rtf files in place; you save the result as Word or PDF.
Is it really free?
Yes: no sign-up, no watermark, no limits on documents. Altto is paid for by the ads on its pages.

Microsoft, Windows, WordPad and Word are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Altto is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.

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