What happens when you convert ODT to DOCX
- The ODT is opened by LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, on our conversion server and saved as a Word document (DOCX).
- Text, formatting, styles, images, tables, headers and footers carry over. Complex layouts, macros, tracked changes and some advanced features may shift or be simplified, so check the result before sending it on.
- Password-protected documents cannot be converted, because they cannot be opened without the password.
- This conversion runs on our 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. Files up to 25 MB are accepted.
How to convert ODT to DOCX online
- Press "Choose ODT files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. Files up to 25 MB each can be converted.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to DOCX". The file is uploaded to our conversion server, converted in a few seconds, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result is sent back.
- Save each DOCX with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your ODT and the DOCX by then.
Why convert ODT to DOCX?
ODT files usually come from LibreOffice users and public-sector documents. People convert them to DOCX because DOCX opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice and keeps the document editable.
In short, ODT is good at what it was made for, and DOCX is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. ODT opens in LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Word, while DOCX opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer.
How to convert ODT to DOCX on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your ODT files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each DOCX is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the ODT files from Finder onto the drop zone and the DOCX files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose ODT files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted DOCX appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose ODT files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The DOCX is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for ODT to DOCX
There are no settings to choose: the ODT is opened and saved as a Word document (DOCX), keeping as much of its formatting as the format allows.
Check the converted file before deleting the ODT. Simple documents convert exactly; unusual fonts, complex layouts and advanced features are where differences appear.
ODT vs DOCX: the differences
| ODT | DOCX | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | OpenDocument text | Word document |
| Type | word-processing document | document |
| Created by | OASIS | Microsoft |
| First released | 2005 | 2007 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files | formatted text, images, tables and styles in a ZIP of XML files |
| In a browser | opens in LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Word | opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer |
| Common uses | LibreOffice users and public-sector documents | letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work |
| MIME type | application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
About ODT and DOCX files
What is an ODT file?
ODT is the open standard word-processing format and the default in LibreOffice Writer. Several governments require it for documents they publish.
What is a DOCX file?
DOCX has been Word's default format since 2007. Like XLSX it is a ZIP archive of XML files, which is how its text can be read without Word.
ODT to DOCX not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Compress the images in the document, or split it, and try again.
- "The conversion took too long and was stopped." Very long or complex documents can exceed the time limit. Split the document and convert the parts.
- The document will not convert. It may be password protected, damaged, or saved in a newer or unusual version of the format.
Convert ODT to DOCX 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 docx 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 to DOCX converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting ODT to DOCX?
The content is kept. Office formats do not match feature for feature, so complex layouts or advanced features in the ODT may shift slightly in the DOCX.
Why is the DOCX a different size from the ODT?
The two formats store text and pictures differently, so the DOCX can be somewhat larger or smaller than the ODT. Images are carried over as they are.
Are my ODT files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful ODT to DOCX conversion needs LibreOffice, the open-source office suite, which cannot run in a browser. The file travels over an encrypted connection, is converted in a private temporary folder, and is deleted together with the DOCX as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several ODT files to DOCX at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a DOCX file?
DOCX opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer. DOCX is common for letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work.
Is this ODT to DOCX converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Because this conversion uses our server, there is a fair-use limit of 25 MB per file and a number of files per hour, which stops the service being overloaded.
Can I convert ODT to DOCX on my phone?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The conversion happens on our server, so it is as fast on a phone as on a computer; the DOCX is saved to your Downloads folder.