What is an ABW file?
ABW stands for AbiWord document. It was created by the AbiWord project and first released in 1998. ABW is the native format of AbiWord, a small open-source word processor. It stores the whole document, images included, as one XML file that can even be read in a text editor, but Microsoft Word has no importer for it.
| Type | word-processing document |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens in AbiWord and LibreOffice Writer; Word cannot open it |
| Common uses | documents written in AbiWord, the small word processor of many Linux desktops |
| MIME type | application/x-abiword |
How to open an ABW file
An ABW file does not open in a web browser, and only some devices have a program for it. Here is what works on each.
| Windows | AbiWord and LibreOffice Writer (both free) open it; Word does not. |
|---|---|
| Mac | LibreOffice Writer (free) opens it. |
| iPhone and iPad | iPhone and iPad have no app for ABW. Convert it to DOC here to open it in Word or Pages. |
| Android | Android has no common app for ABW. Convert it to DOC here to open it in Word or Google Docs. |
Want the technical details? See what a .abw file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
ABW compared with other document formats
How ABW stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABW | Lossless | formatted text, images and tables as a single XML file | 1998 | documents written in AbiWord, the small word processor of many Linux desktops |
| DOCX | Lossless | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files | 2007 | letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work |
| DOC | Lossless | formatted text, images and tables in a binary file | 1997 | older Word files, templates and documents from legacy systems |
| ODT | Lossless | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files | 2005 | LibreOffice users and public-sector documents |
| RTF | Lossless | text with fonts, bold, italic and simple tables, written as readable control words | 1987 | documents exchanged between different word processors |
How to use the ABW converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your ABW files on the box, or press Choose ABW files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting ABW files
Converting an ABW file never loses the words: what can change is layout and styling, where formats do not match feature for feature. A few habits make the result as close to the original as possible.
- Keep the original document; converting to PDF is for sharing and printing, not further editing.
- Embed fonts when you save in Word or Pages, so the exact typeface survives any conversion.
- Accept or reject tracked changes and delete comments before converting, so they do not end up in the PDF.
- Remove any password first; encrypted documents cannot be opened for conversion.
- Very large documents are usually large because of photos. Compress the pictures inside them to stay under the size limit.
Convert ABW files from the command line
LibreOffice does the same on your own computer, without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to doc input.abwConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
ABW converter FAQ
What is an ABW file?
ABW stands for AbiWord document, a word-processing document format created by the AbiWord project in 1998. ABW is the native format of AbiWord, a small open-source word processor. It stores the whole document, images included, as one XML file that can even be read in a text editor, but Microsoft Word has no importer for it.
How do I open an ABW file?
ABW opens in AbiWord and LibreOffice Writer; Word cannot open it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common ABW conversion?
ABW to DOC is the conversion people search for most. The ABW is opened by LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, on our conversion server and saved as a DOC file.
Does converting ABW files here upload them?
Yes. ABW conversions need LibreOffice, an open-source program that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the ABW converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert ABW files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your ABW files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several ABW files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.