Microsoft removed WordPad from Windows in a recent update. It was a free, basic text editor that came pre-installed since Windows 95 but is no longer included in newer Windows versions. Microsoft announced this decision in 2023, encouraging users to switch to Microsoft Word for richer text editing or Notepad for simpler tasks.
If you need a lightweight alternative, many free options are available, including Notepad++, LibreOffice Writer, and Google Docs.