Windows 24H2 Kills WordPad, Buries Cortana: Your Migration Roadmap

Microsoft quietly removed WordPad from Windows 11 version 24H2 this month, ending a 28-year run for the unassuming rich-text editor. The cut is the latest in a string of feature retirements that also includes Cortana, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player—each replaced by modern tools aligned with Microsoft’s cloud and AI ambitions.

What Just Got Removed from Windows

Six well-known Windows components have disappeared or been shoved into the background over the last few years. Here is exactly what changed, when, and what you should use now.

WordPad (October 2024)

With the Windows 11 2024 Update (version 24H2) and Windows Server 2025, WordPad no longer ships as part of the operating system. The binaries—wordpad.exe, wordpadfilter.dll, and write.exe—are absent from clean installs. Microsoft’s advice: use Notepad for plain text and Microsoft Word for rich documents, or grab a third-party RTF editor like LibreOffice.

Cortana (2023)

Cortana’s standalone app was deprecated in 2023 and removed from most Windows images. The voice-first assistant never caught on the way Siri or Alexa did, and Microsoft shifted its assistant investments to a new paradigm.

Internet Explorer (2022)

The IE11 desktop application officially retired in mid-2022. Microsoft has since disabled the legacy IE runtime on many systems via Edge updates. For almost all users, the browser is gone.

Windows Media Player (2021–2022)

The classic Windows Media Player was replaced by a new, unified Media Player app in Windows 11. The legacy version is still available as an optional feature, but the default experience is the modern replacement.

Aero Glass (2012)

The glossy, translucent window effects introduced in Windows Vista were stripped beginning with Windows 8 in 2012. The design language never returned in its original form.

Windows Photo Viewer (2015)

Windows Photo Viewer was effectively hidden in Windows 10 and later. On fresh installs, the Photos app is the default image viewer, and the old snappy viewer requires registry tweaks to recover.

What It Means for Different Users

For Home Users

The most immediate impact is the loss of WordPad. If you used it to open .rtf files or write quick formatted notes, you will need an alternative. Notepad now supports dark mode and some formatting improvements, but it remains a plain-text editor. You can download a free Office-like suite, use Word for the web with a Microsoft account, or purchase Microsoft 365. For media, the new Media Player handles music and video well, but if you rip CDs or stream to DLNA devices, you may need to enable the legacy player or use a third-party tool.

For Power Users and Enthusiasts

Aero Glass aficionados can take comfort in Windows 11’s Mica material, which reintroduces subtle translucency without the performance drag of the Vista era. Meanwhile, the old Windows Photo Viewer can be resurrected with a simple registry edit—if you upgraded from an older Windows version. On a clean Windows 11 install, the required registry keys may not exist, so you are better off with a lightweight alternative like IrfanView.

For IT Professionals

Enterprises must inventory any scripts, internal tools, or line-of-business applications that rely on WordPad binaries. Microsoft’s documentation for Windows 11 24H2 explicitly calls out the removal, so plan accordingly. For Internet Explorer, the migration path is clear: deploy Edge and configure IE mode for legacy web apps. Microsoft has committed to supporting IE mode through at least 2029, with a one-year notice before any retirement. This buys time but does not eliminate the need to eventually rewrite old ActiveX-dependent applications.

Copilot integration demands a privacy and compliance review. The AI assistant can access open documents and context, so organizations must evaluate data handling policies and set opt-in/opt-out controls in accordance with internal governance requirements.

How We Got Here

The deprecations follow a consistent logic: reduce attack surface, consolidate engineering effort, and align with cloud and AI services. The timeline tells a story of steady modernization.

*The classic Windows Media Player still exists as “Windows Media Player Legacy” in Windows 11; it is not deprecated but is superseded by the new Media Player.

Internet Explorer’s removal was the most dramatic. After years of declining market share and security headaches, Microsoft rebuilt its browser strategy on Chromium. The first Edge previews appeared in 2015, the Chromium-based Edge rolled out between 2018 and 2020, and IE11 entered its long goodbye. The final nail came when Microsoft disabled the IE11 desktop application via an Edge update in 2023, two years after announcing the retirement.

Aero Glass was a casualty of the mobile-centric Windows 8 redesign. Microsoft concluded that the resource-intensive visual effects hurt performance on the tablets and laptops of the era. Over the next decade, Fluent Design and Mica reintroduced depth without the costly GPU overhead, culminating in Windows 11’s rounded corners and soft materials.

Windows Photo Viewer’s demotion began with Windows 10’s push toward the Photos app, which offered cloud integration and basic editing. The older viewer was kept alive mostly for compatibility after upgrades, but Microsoft never restored it as a default option on new PCs.

What to Do Now

1. Replace WordPad Immediately

• For plain text: use Notepad, which now includes tabs, dark mode, and auto-save.
• For rich documents: install the free Microsoft Word web app via OneDrive or purchase Microsoft 365.
• If you need a local RTF editor without Office, install LibreOffice or OnlyOffice.
• Enterprise admins: audit scheduled tasks and scripts that call wordpad.exe and migrate them.

2. Confirm Your Browser Strategy

• Switch to Microsoft Edge (already installed on Windows 10/11) if you haven’t already.
• For organizations, configure IE mode enterprise site lists to support legacy web apps.
• Review Microsoft’s IE mode documentation and test your sites to ensure compatibility before the 2029 deadline.

3. Transition from Cortana to Copilot

• Cortana’s consumer features are gone; you can safely disable or uninstall any remaining traces via Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Start using Copilot in Windows (Win + C) for AI-assisted tasks. It can summarize documents, change system settings, and answer questions—all via typed prompts.
• Review privacy settings: Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Copilot to manage data access.

4. Adopt the New Media Player

• Open Media Player from the Start menu; it should be the default for music and video files.
• If you need CD ripping or DLNA streaming, install Windows Media Player Legacy via Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature.
• For advanced media tasks, consider VLC or a dedicated suite.

5. Recover the Old Photo Viewer (If You Must)

• On systems that were upgraded from Windows 7/8.1, you can restore Windows Photo Viewer by applying a .reg file that adds the necessary capability. Search for “Enable Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 11” to find safe registry tweaks.
• On clean installs, the necessary DLLs might be missing, so third-party viewers like IrfanView or FastStone are simpler, snappier alternatives.

6. Embrace Mica (or Go Third-Party for Glass Effects)

• Windows 11’s Mica material is on by default. To verify, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and ensure “Transparency effects” is enabled.
• If you still crave the glossy Aero look, third-party tools like WindowBlinds can emulate Aero Glass, but they come with stability and performance risks.

What to Watch Next

Microsoft’s published list of deprecated features hints at more removals. VBScript is on the chopping block, NTLM authentication is being replaced by Kerberos and modern protocols, and older inbox apps may face similar fates. The pattern is clear: anything not actively maintained or aligned with cloud-first AI services is a candidate for retirement. For users and administrators, the best defense is a regular inventory of what your machines depend on—because the next update might quietly close another chapter of Windows history.