If the OP does that the .rtf file file should start opening with WordPad.
I have Microsoft Office. The default to open an .rtf file for me is Microsoft Word. That explains why that is happening for the OP.
If the OP has no intentions of getting MS 365 he should uninstall the trial version of it. Doing that will get rid of the annoying nags from Microsoft.
It sounds like your folder contains a word file and not a wordpad file. That's a different problem. As stated before you need to enable "show file extensions" then let us know the type of file that you are trying to open.
Start WordPad. Save a file by choosing "Save As" > Rich Text Format" > Choose where to save it. Make a note of where you saved it.
Merge that reg file if you have not sone so.
Navigate in Explorer to where you saved the file. Click the file. It should open in Wordpad.
OP, have you considered installing LibreOffice? It's free and it won't bug you with any sign in options.
Fabler2 - I do have wordpad that way, but no different, and its easier my way, just type in search box to get it.
AndredTen - LibreOffice says "If you're a technology enthusiast....this is for you". Im not touchin that.
Callender - here I go again. bring up wordpad. put some info in. file/save as/rich text document. up comes 'save as' window. in the left column, I click on 'desktop' (cause thats where I have dsktop folder I made?). I give it a name in the 'file name' box. the name of the dsktop folder I made is in the main part of window. I click on it, and when I do, the box (next to 'cancel') changes from 'save' to 'open'. but when Im writing in this reply box, it goes to 'save', if I go back to the 'save as' window, it goes back to 'open'. so then what?
sheesh, maybe I got carried away, mixed up (obviously), and explained things wrong
all I want is to save ordinary stuff like reminders to do things, a list of miscellaneious stuff.
then stick it somewhere so I can go easily check on it at some later. so it doesnt disappear if I reboot. right now, if I put something in wordpad, and if I just leave it like that (minimize it), if I reboot (I think restart too), it disappears.
and if I try to do the 'save as' stuff and stick it in file explorer, no matter what I do, I get bombarded with the microsft office/word/msoft 365 stuff instead. someone said I should uninstall trial versions of that stuff, but I dont see any listed in the programs in the control panel.
You need to understand why your computer is acting the way it does. On new computers Microsoft has Windows install a trial version of Microsoft 365 which includes Word. This is to encourage people to actually pay for the Microsoft 365 subscription. When Microsoft 365 is installed it is configured so that Word automatically open certain files types including .rtf ones.
You need to change that so .rtf files created with WordPad will automatically open with WordPad instead of Word. If you follow the steps I have shown then you will accomplish that.
To save file from WordPad to folder on desktop
1. WordPad select Save as
2. In File Explorer window double-click on Desktop
3. Locate folder to save to and double-click on it
4. Click on Save button
To make it so WordPad always opens this file
1. Right-click on file and select Open with
2. Click on More apps
3. Scroll down and click on WordPad
4a. Check box to "Always use this app to open .rtf files
4b. Click on OK button
5. File opens with WordPad
Note the next time you want to open this file just double-click on it. It will then automatically open with WordPad.
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