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

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

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

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

Open a .docx file step by step

Confirm the file really is a .docx. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
On Windows, open it with Microsoft Word or LibreOffice.
On Mac, use Word or Pages.
On Linux, try LibreOffice or OnlyOffice.
Still stuck? Convert the .docx to PDF, which opens more widely.

Best apps to open .docx files

Windows

Microsoft Word
LibreOffice
Google Docs
WordPad

macOS

Word
Pages
LibreOffice
Google Docs

Linux

LibreOffice
OnlyOffice
Google Docs

Web

Google Docs
Office on the web

Before you open it: Mostly safe, but DOCX files can contain macros. If a document asks to enable macros and you did not expect it, do not.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I open my .docx file?

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

Why won't my DOCX file open?

Common causes: a very old Word (before 2007) needs Microsoft's free Compatibility Pack; the file was renamed from another type; or the download finished incomplete. Since a DOCX is a ZIP underneath, a corrupted one can look like a broken archive, so try opening it in LibreOffice or Google Docs, which are more forgiving.

How do I open a DOCX without Word?

Use the free LibreOffice, Google Docs or Apple Pages. All open and edit DOCX files faithfully.