What is Wordpad
WordPad is a word processing program and one of the most basic types. It is included in every version of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 10. The inclusion started from Windows 95 and it had been consistently improved since then to date.
The program is a step ahead of Microsoft Notepad. However, it is a lot simpler than Microsoft Works Word Processor, which is no longer in use these days.
It is also several steps below Microsoft Word. Microsoft Write was the initial program used before the introduction of WordPad.
However, Microsoft Write was replaced by WordPad after the latter was introduced. The file extension for this program is .rtf, which is the short form for Rich Text Formatting. This file extension applies if you want to save the file in the default form.
However, it can also be saved using other types of extensions, like .txt, .ODT or .docx, .txt means Text; .ODT means Open Document, while .docx means Office Open XML. The program was developed by Microsoft and we will discuss more about it below.
How to use WordPad in Windows 10
WordPad comes with every version of the Windows operating system starting from the 95 version of Windows. It is, therefore available in Windows 10. In this part of the write-up, we will enlighten you about some things to know about using WordPad in Windows 10.
Where is? How to access WordPad
The process of opening WordPad is straightforward. You can simply type the word «WordPad» in the search box you can find on the taskbar and then click on it. It will bring the result and you can simply move your mouse to the tab and click on it.
Another method to open WordPad on Windows 10 involves using the Run command. Click on the Start button to access the Run search box or you can simply press both R and the Windows Key to open the Run search box, then type Wordpad. This program is located in C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories
Furthermore, you can access WordPad through Context Menu. The process is pretty straightforward. First of all, right-click on your desktop. Make sure it is a blank area of the desktop. You can also right-click on File Explorer. After that, you should click on New and then select Rich Text Document.
Additionally, you can open the WordPad program by pressing Win+R together on your keyboard. Make sure they are pressed at the same time. Then, type “WordPad or write in the box that comes up. Or you can type %SystemDrive%/Program Files/Windows NT/Accessories/WordPad.exe in the box. After that, click on Ok or Enter.
It is equally possible to access the program via the File Explorer. This can be done very quickly by pressing Win + E or by clicking on the taskbar icon. This can also be done by typing %SystemDrive%/Program Files/Windows NT/Accessories and then click on Enter or you can click on the right arrow. You can equally replace the %SystemDrive% with C: to navigate manually to the folder.
How to use and what to use WordPad for
You can use WordPad to do a whole lot of things. It may not be as advanced as Microsoft word processor, but it can still be used to create, open, edit, view, save and even to print a text document.
Also, you can format the texts in any way you like, including changing of size, color, font type, italics, underline and even bold. Also, you can add images, justify left, right or center, add paragraphs, create bulleted lists and so on.
You can easily play around all you want and have fun for as long as you want. The Ribbon menu is also very easy to use. You may need to practice for a short moment before you can get a grip of it; anyone can sue it conveniently.
Help on how to customize WordPad document
To change the font for any particular text on WordPad, first of all, click on Home and then modify the font setting the way you want. You can even add an image if you so desire.
You can also change how the WordPad document appears by first clicking on the File menu and look for Page Setup. Click on its and you can modify the size the way you want in the dialog box that comes up.
How you can print your WordPad document
Printing your WordPad document is equally very simple and you do not need much of training to learn how to do it. If you want to do the printing very fast, simply click on Ctrl+P on the document that you want to print.
Another method is to click on the File option and look for Print. Then click on it to print the WordPad document.
Before you print the final document, you can check a preview of how the printed document will look like by clicking on Print Preview. Afterward, choose the printer you want to use and also select other preferences you want to reflect on the printed document. After this, click on Print. Before the printing can be done, it is very important to get ready a default printer already set in the Printers folder.
How to reset and change WordPad settings to its original or default settings
The process of resetting WordPad to its default setting in Windows 10 is straightforward. Before you start resetting your WordPad to its default settings in Windows 10, it is advisable that you first backup your Registry or create a system restore point. After, you can proceed with the entire procedure of resetting the WordPad to its default setting.
To do this, it is required that you first close your WordPad if you already have it opened. After this, you should open Run and type regedit. This will open the Registry Editor. You can then navigate down to the key given below:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wiundows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Wordpad.
On the page that opens, look for Options on the left pane that opens. You can then delete the options key.
Next, open your WordPad again and you will notice that the default settings have been effected on the WordPad.
More information in the microsoft support article: