How-to
How to open a .docx file without Word
The short answer
Drop the .docx onto the Wrdio home page and it opens in your browser, with nothing to install. To edit it, press Edit. Other options are free office software such as LibreOffice, a cloud suite like Google Docs, or your phone's built-in viewer.
Someone has sent you a .docx file and you do not have Microsoft Word. It happens on a new laptop, a shared computer, a Chromebook, a phone. The file is just a document; you should not need a subscription to read it.
There are four good ways in. Pick the one that fits what you need to do with the file.
Option 1: open it in your browser
Fastest, and nothing to install. On the Wrdio home page, drop the file onto the page or press Choose file. The pages appear in a moment, and you can copy text or save a PDF. If you need to change something, press Edit for the full editor. The file is read on your own device and is not uploaded. Our online DOCX editor guide explains the details.
Option 2: install free office software
LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that opens and saves .docx files. It is the better choice for long or complicated documents, and it works without an internet connection. The trade-off is a download and an install. For a wider comparison, see Microsoft Word alternatives that open .docx files.
Option 3: use a cloud suite
Google Docs opens .docx files you upload, and Microsoft's Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account. Both are good when several people need to work on the same file. The catch is that your document is stored in that account.
Option 4: use your phone
Most phones preview a .docx attachment straight from the email or the Files app. That is fine for reading. To make changes, open the file with Wrdio in the phone's browser and press Edit; the steps are in how to edit a Word document on your phone.
If the file will not open
- Check the ending. It should be .docx. Older .doc files use a different format and need to be opened in a program that supports it, then saved as .docx.
- Download it again. A half-finished email download can look like a file and then fail to open.
- Passwords. A password-protected document cannot be read until the password is removed.
- Odd file names. Some email programs rename attachments. If it ends in .dat or has no ending, rename it to end in .docx.
- Suspicious sender? Do not open files from people you do not know, and never enable macros. See whether it is safe to open Word files online.
What is inside a .docx?
A .docx is a bundle of small XML files inside a compressed folder. One holds the text, others the styles, pictures and settings. That open design is the reason so many programs can read it, and why a conversion can look slightly different from the original: each program draws the same instructions in its own way.
If the layout matters, ask for a PDF. If you need to send your version on, save a copy as a PDF too; our guide to saving a Word document as a PDF shows how.
Questions people ask
How can I open a .docx file without Microsoft Word?
Open it in your browser with Wrdio, install a free office suite such as LibreOffice, or upload it to Google Docs. On a phone, most mail and file apps can preview a .docx.
Why won't my .docx file open?
The usual causes are a damaged download, a file that is really an older .doc, or a password. Download the file again, check its ending, and remove any password before opening it.
Can I open a .docx file on a phone?
Yes. Most phones preview a .docx attachment, and in a browser you can open and edit it with Wrdio. See our guide on editing a Word document on your phone.
What is a .docx file?
It is the standard Word document format used since Microsoft Office 2007. Inside, it is a compressed bundle of XML files holding the text, styles and pictures, which is why other programs can read it.