Home » Technology » Microsoft removed Notepad and Paint with a Windows 10 update, but there is a way to get them back

Microsoft removed Notepad and Paint with a Windows 10 update, but there is a way to get them back


Illustration for the article entitled
Screenshot: Microsoft

Microsoft yesterday released a Windows 10 update that fixed a failure important safety in DNS (and some other things), but in the process it seems have removed Notepad, Paint and WordPad for some users who updated to the 2004 version at the same time.

During the last month, there have been various reports of users Windows 10 on apps that disappear after updating to version 2004, so it seems like yesterday’s update is not the cause of the problem.

Like other ‘broken’ features in the 2004 release, Microsoft did not necessarily break or remove them entirely, but changed the way they are accessed or are pre-installed and didn’t a good job communicating this to users. Windows 10 recently removed certain Control Panel features as part of their process to centralize everything on the menu Settings, and moved Fresh Start to Reset this PC in Settings. Too decreased the number of days whatWindows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education users can manually delay updates, from 365 days to 35 days. In the case of missing applications, Notepad, Paint and WordPad are now ‘optional programs’. Upgrading to Windows 10 2004 seems to uninstall them automatically, but there is a way to get them back:

Go to Settings> Applications> Optional functions> find the application to reinstall. (And cross your fingers)

ASome users of the 2004 version also reported that they did not can download neither install such applications from the Microsoft Store. The Store tells them that already have installedeven if it’s not true, The they are not running the latest version of Windows. Microsoft Store is not exactly very reliable in this regard, so I would recommend trying to reinstall those applications through the way I described before.

I ran into this problem myself, even though I’m still on Windows 10 version 1903. The store tells me I need Windows 10 build 19541.0, which is version 2004, but Microsoft has not yet released my Layout the latest version. When I click ‘update’ it takes me to a separate window that says “Sorry we can’t find that page”, and then it directs me to the Windows Insider Program.

Fortunately, Notepad was previously installed on my PC with version 1903, so I don’t need to install it from the Microsoft Store, but this is just one example of a potentially confusing hurdle that some users may encounter. In contrast, Paint 3D is available in the store, but I couldn’t find the old Paint. Microsoft said in the past that he would withdraw Paint, but then decided include it with Windows 10 version 1903, but this does not explain why it does not appear in the store, but the Notepad yes.

These programs have been around for over 30 years and are collecting virtual dust on most computers. How Lonelythey are simply part Windows. And so I think that Microsoft should bring back a renewed version of Space Cadet 3D Pinball.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.