How to open a .hwp file
Quick, free ways to open HWP on any system.
A .hwp file is a Hancom Hangul Word Processor Document. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads HWP yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .hwp file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .hwp. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Hancom Office Hangul or Hancom Office Viewer.
- On Mac, use Hancom Office for Mac or LibreOffice Writer (import).
- On Linux, try LibreOffice Writer (import).
- Still stuck? Convert the .hwp to pdf, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .hwp files
Windows
- Hancom Office Hangul
- Hancom Office Viewer
- LibreOffice Writer (import)
macOS
- Hancom Office for Mac
- LibreOffice Writer (import)
Linux
- LibreOffice Writer (import)
!
Before you open it: Caution with unexpected files: HWP attachments have been used in phishing campaigns against Korean targets, abusing embedded objects and scripts. Open unsolicited HWP files with a viewer, not the full suite, and keep it updated.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .hwp file?
Almost always because no installed app understands HWP. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open an .hwp file without Hancom Office?
Use Hancom's free viewer, or LibreOffice Writer, which ships an HWP import filter that handles most documents. Online converters to PDF also work for simple files.
What is the difference between .hwp and .hwpx?
.hwp is the binary OLE2-based format; .hwpx is the newer open XML-based format (OWPML). Recent Hancom Office versions read and write both.