What is a .wpd file?
WordPerfect Document · Document · WordPerfect Corporation / Corel (Alludo) · 1980s
A .wpd file is a WordPerfect document. WordPerfect ruled word processing in the late 1980s before Word took over, and it remains in daily use in parts of the legal world, so .wpd files still circulate.
What is a .wpd file used for?
WordPerfect documents start with the bytes FF 57 50 43, the letters WPC after a flag byte. The program's signature feature, Reveal Codes, shows the formatting codes inline, one reason law offices stayed loyal to it for decades.
Corel still sells WordPerfect Office, and modern Word and LibreOffice Writer both import .wpd files reasonably well, though complex legal formatting can drift. For archival exchange, PDF or DOCX conversion is the safe path.
How to open a .wpd file
The .wpd 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 .wpd file.
Windows
- Corel WordPerfect
- Microsoft Word
- LibreOffice Writer
macOS
- LibreOffice Writer
- online converters
Linux
- LibreOffice Writer
How to convert a .wpd file
You can convert a .wpd file to docx, pdf, rtf, odt using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.wpd file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .wpd file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for WordPerfect. For a full breakdown, see the WordPerfect file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FF 57 50 43 | 0 | ÿWPC prefix |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .wpd file?
A .wpd file is a WordPerfect document. WordPerfect ruled word processing in the late 1980s before Word took over, and it remains in daily use in parts of the legal world, so .wpd files still circulate.
How do I open a .wpd file without WordPerfect?
Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer both import .wpd directly: use File > Open and pick the file. Check the layout afterwards, as complex formatting can shift.
Why do law firms still use WordPerfect?
Habit plus features: Reveal Codes gives precise control over formatting codes, and decades of legal templates and pleadings exist in .wpd form.
How do I convert .wpd to Word or PDF?
Open it in Word or LibreOffice and save as DOCX or export to PDF. Corel WordPerfect itself can also publish directly to PDF.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: