What is an RTF file?
RTF stands for Rich Text Format. It was created by Microsoft and first released in 1987. RTF describes formatting with plain-text control words such as \b for bold, so almost every word processor since the late 1980s can read it. It cannot reliably hold newer features such as threaded comments or complex page layouts.
| Type | word-processing document |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| In a browser | opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, Pages and LibreOffice |
| Common uses | documents exchanged between different word processors |
| MIME type | application/rtf |
How to open an RTF file
Whether an RTF 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 | RTF opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, Pages and LibreOffice. |
Want the technical details? See what a .rtf file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
RTF compared with other document formats
How RTF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Usually contains | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTF | Lossless | text with fonts, bold, italic and simple tables, written as readable control words | 1987 | documents exchanged between different word processors |
| 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 |
| 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 RTF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your RTF files on the box, or press Choose RTF 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 RTF files
Converting an RTF 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 RTF 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.rtfConverting 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.
RTF converter FAQ
What is an RTF file?
RTF stands for Rich Text Format, a word-processing document format created by Microsoft in 1987. RTF describes formatting with plain-text control words such as \b for bold, so almost every word processor since the late 1980s can read it. It cannot reliably hold newer features such as threaded comments or complex page layouts.
How do I open an RTF file?
RTF opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, Pages and LibreOffice. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common RTF conversion?
RTF to DOC is the conversion people search for most. The RTF 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 RTF files here upload them?
Yes. RTF conversions need LibreOffice, Calibre, 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 RTF 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 RTF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your RTF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several RTF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.