Windows Live Writer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer
Developer(s)	Microsoft

Last release	2012 (v16.4.3528.331) / April 21, 2014; 11 years ago (2014-04-21)

Written in	C#, C++
Operating system	Windows 7 and later
Platform	IA-32 and x64
Available in	64 languages
Type	Blog software
License	Freeware

Windows Live Writer was a computer program made by Microsoft. It was designed to help people write and publish articles on their blogs directly from their desktop computer. It was part of a group of programs called Windows Live. The last main version of Windows Live Writer came out in 2012. Microsoft stopped supporting the software completely in January 2017.

Later, a new version called Open Live Writer was created by other developers. This new version was based on the original Windows Live Writer but was free for anyone to use and change.

What Could Windows Live Writer Do?
The Story of Windows Live Writer
- Key Updates Over Time
- End of Support
Open Live Writer
Images for kids
See also

What Could Windows Live Writer Do?

Windows Live Writer had many cool features that made blogging easier.

Easy Writing and Editing

One of its best features was WYSIWYG editing. This stands for "What You See Is What You Get." It meant that as you typed and formatted your blog post, it looked almost exactly like it would when published online. This made it simple to arrange text, add pictures, and make sure everything looked just right before sharing it with the world.

Connecting to Blogs

The program could connect to many different blog websites. This included popular ones like Blogger, WordPress, and LiveJournal. It also worked with Windows Live Spaces, which was Microsoft's own blogging platform at the time. This made it easy for bloggers to write their posts offline and then upload them to their chosen blog site.

Special Features for Bloggers

Windows Live Writer also had a special way for blog sites to add their own unique features. This was called the Provider Customization API. For example, WordPress and TypePad used this to let users access more specific options directly from Windows Live Writer. The program was also available in 48 different languages, so people from many countries could use it.

The Story of Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer started from another program called Onfolio Writer. Microsoft bought the company that made Onfolio Writer and then developed it further into Windows Live Writer.

Key Updates Over Time

2008 Version: This update brought helpful tools like spell checking as you typed. It also made it easier to add tables and categories to posts. Bloggers could also create special "pages" for their WordPress and TypePad blogs.
2009 Version: This version was released as part of a bigger collection of Microsoft programs called Windows Live Essentials.
2011 Version: A big change in this version was the new Ribbon menu. This is a common design in Microsoft programs like Word, where tools are organized into tabs at the top of the screen.
2012 Version: This was the last major update for Windows Live Writer. It was part of the Windows Essentials 2012 suite.

End of Support

On January 10, 2017, Microsoft officially stopped supporting Windows Essentials 2012. This meant that Windows Live Writer no longer received new features, bug fixes, or important security updates. It also became unavailable for download from Microsoft's website.

Open Live Writer

Even though Microsoft stopped supporting Windows Live Writer, its story didn't end there. A new, free version called Open Live Writer was created. This version was made available on GitHub on December 9, 2015. It was a "fork" of the original program, meaning it was a new project built using the original code. While Open Live Writer had some updates until 2017, it has not been actively developed since 2019.