What is an ODT file?
ODT stands for OpenDocument text. It was created by OASIS and first released in 2005. ODT is the open standard word-processing format and the default in LibreOffice Writer. Several governments require it for documents they publish.
| Type | word-processing document |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens in LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Word |
| Common uses | LibreOffice users and public-sector documents |
| MIME type | application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text |
How to open an ODT file
Whether an ODT file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | Word or the free LibreOffice Writer opens DOC, ODT and RTF; WordPad opens RTF. Pages files need converting first. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Pages and TextEdit open DOC and RTF; LibreOffice opens ODT; Pages opens its own files. |
| iPhone and iPad | Pages and the Word app open DOC, RTF and Pages files; ODT needs an app such as Collabora Office. |
| Android | Google Docs and the Word app open DOC, ODT and RTF; Pages files need converting first. |
| Web browser | ODT opens in LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Word. |
Want the technical details? See what a .odt file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
ODT compared with other document formats
How ODT stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODT | Lossless | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files | 2005 | LibreOffice users and public-sector documents |
| 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 |
| RTF | Lossless | text with fonts, bold, italic and simple tables, written as readable control words | 1987 | documents exchanged between different word processors |
| Pages | Lossless | formatted text, images and layout in Apple's own package format | 2005 | documents written on Macs, iPhones and iPads |
How to use the ODT converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your ODT files on the box, or press Choose ODT 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 ODT files
Converting an ODT 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 ODT files from the command line
This page uses LibreOffice. Installed on your computer, it converts from the command line without opening a window:
soffice --headless --convert-to doc input.odtConverting 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.
ODT converter FAQ
What is an ODT file?
ODT stands for OpenDocument text, a word-processing document format created by OASIS in 2005. ODT is the open standard word-processing format and the default in LibreOffice Writer. Several governments require it for documents they publish.
How do I open an ODT file?
ODT opens in LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Word. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common ODT conversion?
ODT to DOC is the conversion people search for most. The ODT is opened by LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, on our conversion server and saved as a Word 97 to 2003 document (DOC).
Does converting ODT files here upload them?
Yes. ODT conversions need LibreOffice, MuPDF and pandoc, open-source programs 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 ODT 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 ODT files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your ODT files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several ODT files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.