How to open a .abw file (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Q: Why can't I open my .abw file?

Usually your computer lacks an app that understands AbiWord. Install one of the apps listed here, or convert the file to a more common format.

A .abw file is a AbiWord Document. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads AbiWord yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.

Open a .abw file step by step

Confirm the file really is a .abw. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
On Windows, open it with LibreOffice Writer (import) or any text editor (raw XML).
On Mac, use LibreOffice Writer (import) or any text editor (raw XML).
On Linux, try AbiWord or LibreOffice Writer (import).
Still stuck? Convert the .abw to odt, which opens more widely.

Best apps to open .abw files

Windows

LibreOffice Writer (import)
any text editor (raw XML)

macOS

LibreOffice Writer (import)
any text editor (raw XML)

Linux

AbiWord
LibreOffice Writer (import)

Before you open it: Safe. An .abw file is XML text describing a document; it does not execute.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I open my .abw file?

Almost always because no installed app understands AbiWord. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.

How do I open an .abw file without AbiWord?

LibreOffice Writer imports .abw documents; open and save as ODT or DOCX. In a pinch, open the file in a text editor: the content is readable XML.

What is a .zabw file?

A gzip-compressed AbiWord document. Decompress it (it is a normal gzip stream) and you get the same XML an .abw file contains.