What happens when you convert RTF to DOC
- 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).
- 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 RTF to DOC online
- Press "Choose RTF 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 DOC". 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 DOC with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your RTF and the DOC by then.
Why convert RTF to DOC?
RTF files usually come from documents exchanged between different word processors. People convert them to DOC because some older Word versions, forms and upload portals still ask for the DOC format from Word 97 to 2003.
In short, RTF is good at what it was made for, and DOC is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. RTF opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, Pages and LibreOffice, while DOC opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer.
How to convert RTF to DOC on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your RTF files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each DOC is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the RTF files from Finder onto the drop zone and the DOC files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose RTF files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted DOC appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose RTF files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The DOC is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for RTF to DOC
There are no settings to choose: the RTF is opened and saved as a Word 97 to 2003 document (DOC), keeping as much of its formatting as the format allows.
Check the converted file before deleting the RTF. Simple documents convert exactly; unusual fonts, complex layouts and advanced features are where differences appear.
RTF vs DOC: the differences
| RTF | DOC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rich Text Format | Word 97 to 2003 document |
| Type | word-processing document | word-processing document |
| Created by | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| First released | 1987 | 1997 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | text with fonts, bold, italic and simple tables, written as readable control words | formatted text, images and tables in a binary file |
| In a browser | opens in Word, WordPad, TextEdit, Pages and LibreOffice | opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer |
| Common uses | documents exchanged between different word processors | older Word files, templates and documents from legacy systems |
| MIME type | application/rtf | application/msword |
About RTF and DOC files
What is an RTF file?
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.
What is a DOC file?
DOC is the binary Word format used before 2007. Unlike DOCX it is not a ZIP of XML files, so its contents cannot be read without a program that understands the binary layout.
RTF to DOC 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 RTF to DOC 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 to DOC converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting RTF to DOC?
The content is kept. Office formats do not match feature for feature, so complex layouts or advanced features in the RTF may shift slightly in the DOC.
Why is the DOC a different size from the RTF?
The two formats store text and pictures differently, so the DOC can be somewhat larger or smaller than the RTF. Images are carried over as they are.
Are my RTF files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful RTF to DOC 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 DOC as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several RTF files to DOC 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 DOC file?
DOC opens in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice Writer. DOC is common for older Word files, templates and documents from legacy systems.
Is this RTF to DOC 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 RTF to DOC 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 DOC is saved to your Downloads folder.