Guides
Short, practical help for working with .docx files: opening them, editing them, saving them as PDFs, and doing it without handing your document to a stranger.
-
How-to
How to open a .docx file without Word
Four ways to open a .docx file without Word: in your browser, with free software, on your phone, or by converting it. Plus fixes for files that will not open.
-
How-to
Online DOCX editor: edit Word files in your browser
Edit a .docx file online for free. Wrdio opens the file in your browser tab, lets you change it, and saves it back as DOCX or PDF. Nothing is uploaded.
-
Explainer
Is it safe to open Word files online?
Opening a Word file online can mean uploading it to a stranger's server, or not. Here is how to tell the difference, and a two-minute test you can run yourself.
-
Checklist
A free Word editor with no signup and nothing to install
What 'free' really costs in an online Word editor: accounts, watermarks, ads, uploads. A short checklist, plus a way to edit .docx files with none of those.
-
Comparison
Microsoft Word alternatives that open .docx files
Six ways to open and edit .docx files without paying for Microsoft Word: what each one is good at, where it falls short, and which to pick for your situation.
-
How-to
How to edit a Word document on your phone, without an app
Edit a .docx on Android or iPhone from the browser: open it, change it, send it back. Includes fixes for the usual problems, like a file that will not open.
-
How-to
Word to Markdown, and back again: a simple method
Turn a .docx into clean Markdown, or Markdown into a Word document, with a free browser tool. Headings, bold text and lists come across as real formatting.
-
Explainer
PDF to Word: why it goes wrong and what to do instead
Why converting a PDF to Word mangles the layout, which options work best, and what to do with a scan. An honest guide, including what Wrdio cannot do.
-
Troubleshooting
How to save a Word document as a PDF without breaking it
Four ways to turn a .docx into a PDF, and a checklist for when the layout shifts, fonts change or pages break in the wrong place.
-
How-to
How to sign a Word document: three ways, step by step
Add a typed, drawn or picture signature to a .docx, and when you need a proper digital signature instead. Plain steps, with a note on what each method is worth.
-
Checklist
Word formatting basics: fix a messy document in ten minutes
Why a document's formatting falls apart, and the handful of habits that stop it: styles, spacing, lists, page breaks. Works in any word processor.
-
Explainer
What is a DOCX file? A plain-English explanation
A DOCX file is the standard format for word-processor documents. Learn what is inside it, which programs open it, and why it can look different between them.
-
Comparison
DOCX vs DOC: what is the difference and which should you use?
DOCX is the modern document format and DOC is the old one. Here is how they differ, why DOCX is usually better, and how to convert an old DOC file.
-
How-to
Online DOCX viewer: open a Word file without installing anything
View a .docx file in your browser without Word. Read it, copy text and print or save a PDF. Wrdio does this on your device, so nothing is uploaded.
-
Comparison
Online word processor vs desktop app: which one do you need?
Compare online word processors with desktop apps: speed, privacy, features, cost and offline use. Includes a quick way to choose for your situation.
-
How-to
How to open and edit a DOCX file on an iPhone
Open a Word document on your iPhone from Mail, Files or the browser. Read it, edit it, and save a copy as DOCX or PDF, without installing an app.
-
How-to
How to open and edit a DOCX file on an Android phone
Open a Word document on your Android phone from Gmail, Files or Chrome. Read it, edit it and save a copy as DOCX or PDF, with no app and no account.
-
How-to
How to open and edit a DOCX file on a Chromebook
A Chromebook can open a DOCX through Google Docs, the Files app or a browser tool. Here is how, including fixes for the 'cannot open' message.
-
Comparison
Markdown vs a Word document: when to use each
Markdown is plain text with simple marks; a Word document is rich and layout-heavy. Learn the strengths of each and how to move between them.
-
How-to
How to remove personal information from a Word document
Documents carry your name, edit dates and sometimes tracked changes. Here is how to check and clear them before you share a .docx.
-
How-to
Track changes and comments: how reviewing a document works
Track changes shows who edited what; comments let reviewers talk to you. Learn how to turn them on, review them and clean a document before sharing.
-
How-to
How to insert a picture in a Word document and keep it in place
Add a picture to a .docx, resize it and stop it jumping around. Includes wrapping, alignment and a way to keep file size down.
-
How-to
How to add page numbers to a Word document
Add page numbers to a .docx, choose the position, start numbering later or hide the number on the first page. Step by step.
-
How-to
How to make a table of contents that updates itself
A table of contents is built from your headings. Apply heading styles, insert the contents and update it as you edit. Works for reports, theses and manuals.
-
How-to
How to write a resume in a Word document, using a free template
Start a resume from Wrdio's free template, fill in each section, keep it to one page and export it as DOCX or PDF without creating an account.
-
How-to
How to write a formal letter in a Word document, with a free template
Write a formal letter from a free template: where the address, date and greeting go, how to close, and how to save it as a PDF to send.
-
How-to
How to structure and format a report in a Word document
Plan a report with a clear structure, set up headings, add page numbers and a table of contents, and export it. Includes a free report template.
-
Troubleshooting
Word document won't open? How to fix a DOCX file
A DOCX that will not open usually has a simple cause: a bad download, a wrong ending, a password or damage. Work through these fixes in order.
-
How-to
How to reduce the size of a Word document before you email it
Large pictures are the usual reason a Word file is too big to send. Shrink them, clear what you do not need, and save a smaller copy or a PDF.
-
Troubleshooting
Why fonts look different in a Word document on another computer
A document that looks right on your computer can change on another. The cause is almost always a missing font. Here is how to spot and prevent it.
-
How-to
How to convert a DOCX to PDF, text, HTML, RTF and ODT
Save a .docx in another format: PDF, plain text, HTML, RTF, ODT, Markdown or an image. See which one suits which job, and how to export from Wrdio.