What is a Pages file?
Pages stands for Apple Pages document. It was created by Apple and first released in 2005. A Pages file only opens in Apple's Pages app, which does not exist for Windows or Android. That is why Pages files are so often converted to PDF or DOCX before they are shared.
| Type | word-processing document |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens in Pages on Mac, iPhone and iPad, and on iCloud.com; Windows has no Pages app |
| Common uses | documents written on Macs, iPhones and iPads |
| MIME type | application/vnd.apple.pages |
How to open a Pages file
Whether a Pages 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 | Pages opens in Pages on Mac, iPhone and iPad, and on iCloud.com; Windows has no Pages app. |
Want the technical details? See what a .pages file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
Pages compared with other document formats
How Pages stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pages | Lossless | formatted text, images and layout in Apple's own package format | 2005 | documents written on Macs, iPhones and iPads |
| 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 Pages converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your Pages files on the box, or press Choose Pages 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 Pages files
Converting a Pages 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 Pages 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.pagesConverting 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.
Pages converter FAQ
What is a Pages file?
Pages stands for Apple Pages document, a word-processing document format created by Apple in 2005. A Pages file only opens in Apple's Pages app, which does not exist for Windows or Android. That is why Pages files are so often converted to PDF or DOCX before they are shared.
How do I open a Pages file?
Pages opens in Pages on Mac, iPhone and iPad, and on iCloud.com; Windows has no Pages app. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common Pages conversion?
Pages to DOC is the conversion people search for most. The Pages 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 Pages files here upload them?
Yes. Pages 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 Pages 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 Pages files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your Pages files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several Pages files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.