Solved Wordpad & .rtf Association Stopped Working

jdUnionngarden · Jan 1, 2026

PowerSpec G355 Gaming Desktop PC
Windows 11 Pro, Ver. 25H2 (OS Build 26200.7171)

Howdy Folks

This should be an easy one, but the obvious solution(s) don't work.
I've had Wordpad working ever since I upgraded to Windows 11 by copying the appropriate files from Windows 10 and setting the Defaults by File Type.

It just stopped working with a double click on an .rtf file. Trying to reset the association using Settings and Defaults by File Type fails.

I ran:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
and SFC /Scannow
Which told me: "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them."
and restarted, but the problem persists.

I can go here: C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\ and double click 'wordpad.exe' to open a blank Wordpad window, and from there I can 'File\Open' and navigate to any .rtf file and it opens with that procedure.

TIA to all who read this post and to those with thoughts and/or suggestions.

Cheers!

XxXxX · Jan 1, 2026

please try
settings > apps > default apps

at the bottom of this window
choose defaults by file type

in the search box put 'rtf'
then on the drop down menu click wordpad.

best of luck Steve ..

Bree · Jan 1, 2026

jdUnionngarden said:
Trying to reset the association using Settings and Defaults by File Type fails.

When I have an app that I can't easily set in Default Apps I right-click on a file of the type concerned, .rtf in this case. Choose 'open with' the scroll down and use 'Choose an app on your PC'. Browse to where you put wordpad.exe and select it. This adds it to the list of possible apps, you can then select it and click the 'Always' button.

Ghot · Jan 1, 2026

jdUnionngarden said:
TIA to all who read this post and to those with thoughts and/or suggestions.

Yeah it's another gifty to us from MS. They just removed Wordpad entirely.

How to get classic Notepad or classic Wordpad on (24H2 or 25H2)

For classic Notepad... This is probably the same as the @Brink tutorial... but this is how I did it. AND... double clicking on a text file... opens in the old Notepad...

www.elevenforum.com

XxXxX · Jan 1, 2026

if wordpad has been removed you can get and install wordpad from here

Get Classic WordPad for Windows 11

Here is how to download WordPad for Windows 11, the original classic app that Microsoft has removed from Build 26020 and onward. You will get it back

winaero.com

there is also Jarte which is a word processer based on wordpad

Download the Jarte Word Processor

best of luck Steve ..

cybesis · Jan 1, 2026

Since you've already tried the usual methods and can manually open RTF files from within WordPad, this sounds like a registry association issue.

1. Try using the Default Apps settings in a different way - go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, then scroll down to "Choose default apps by file type" and specifically set .rtf to WordPad there.

2. If that doesn't work, you might need to rebuild the file association in the registry. You can export the WordPad associations from a working Windows 10 machine and import them, or manually check the registry keys under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.rtf

3. As a temporary workaround, you could also right-click an .rtf file > Open with > Choose another app > More apps > Look for another app on this PC, and browse to C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe

Ghot · Jan 1, 2026

@antspants

Here's the same .RTF file opened in Wordpad and in the new Notepad...

antspants · Jan 1, 2026

yes, I’d imagine the markup for wordpad vs notepad is vastly different.

If one has MS Word installed it’s probably better suited, it’s built to handle rtf.

antspants · Jan 1, 2026

Wasn’t there a way discussed to preserve or re-add Wordpad to 24/25H2?

Ghot · Jan 1, 2026

antspants said:
Wasn’t there a way discussed to preserve or re-add Wordpad to 24/25H2?

Yep... post #4, this topic.

antspants · Jan 1, 2026

Ghot said:
Yep... post #4, this topic.

Sorry, going blind.

Skeptic Mike · Jan 1, 2026

I've written about this before. Restore 'New .rtf file" to menu on desktop of Win 11

I thought that omitting the registration of WordPad would not be a problem. But I think it would be better to include it.

A fuller description of what's required can be found here New “Rich Text Format” (RTF) missing from Right-Click menu in Windows 11

One point to make is that you should remove the line: "AllowSilentDefaultTakeOver"=""

What this does is to allow Microsoft Office (or any other program) to steal the rtf registration from WordPad, which I assume you don't want. Once you have the registration set up, the next time you try to open an rtf file explorer should offer WordPad.

Ghot · Jan 1, 2026

Read the Wordpad tutorial in post #4.... it automatically adds New > Rich Text Document to the right click menu(s).

If that is too long to read... just download Wordpad from this page... and install.

Windows 7 Games for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.

Download Windows 7 Games for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8. Classic card games from Windows 7.

win7games.com

After installing... reboot. That's it.

It installs Wordpad.
It associates .rtf files with Wordpad
It adds New > Rich Text Document to the right click menu(s).

And... it scans clean locally and at Virustotal.

I've been using it for over a year, with no problems.

jdUnionngarden · Jan 2, 2026

Wow! Thanks to all of you. This thread is a "keeper" for future reference.
But Bree's 'right click' etc. suggestion did the trick.
It's great having all of you nearby to give me a hand when needed.
Cheers!

Solved Wordpad & .rtf Association Stopped Working

Well-known member

My Computer

Just a Computer User

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Just a Computer User

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer