What is a .pages file?
Apple Pages Document · Document · Apple · 2005
A .pages file is a document from Apple's Pages word processor. Modern Pages files are ZIP packages holding the text, images and layout, and they open on Mac, iPad, iPhone and iCloud.
What is a .pages file used for?
Pages is Apple's answer to Word, part of the free iWork suite. A .pages file bundles the document as a package; on the Mac it is even a folder shown as a single file.
The catch is compatibility: Windows has no native Pages app. The usual fix is to export to Word (.docx) or PDF from Pages, or open the file through iCloud in a browser.
How to open a .pages file
The .pages format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .pages file.
Windows
- iCloud Pages (web)
- convert to DOCX first
macOS
- Apple Pages
- Preview (quick look)
Linux
- iCloud Pages (web)
Web
- iCloud.com Pages
How to convert a .pages file
You can convert a .pages file to docx, pdf, epub using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.pages file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .pages file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for Pages. For a full breakdown, see the Pages file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 50 4B 03 04 | 0 | ZIP package (PK..) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .pages file?
A .pages file is a document from Apple's Pages word processor. Modern Pages files are ZIP packages holding the text, images and layout, and they open on Mac, iPad, iPhone and iCloud.
How do I open a .pages file on Windows?
Windows has no Pages app. Open it through iCloud.com in a browser, or ask the sender to export it as Word (.docx) or PDF from Pages.
How do I open a .pages file?
On Apple devices, the Pages app opens it directly. Elsewhere, use iCloud Pages in a browser or convert it to DOCX or PDF.
Can Word open a .pages file?
Not directly. Export the document from Pages to .docx first, then Word opens it.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: