Convert RTF to Word (DOCX)
To convert RTF to Word, upload your .rtf file and choose Word (DOCX) as the target. Word can open RTF directly, but converting to DOCX gives you a modern file that fully supports styles, comments and track changes and opens consistently in Google Docs and Pages. LibreOffice converts it directly, carrying over formatting, tables and images.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files deleted within 30 minutes
- Up to 100 MB
Files are permanently deleted from our servers within 30 minutes.
How to convert RTF to Word
Upload your RTF file
Drag your RTF file onto the upload area or browse for it (up to 100 MB).
Keep Word as the target
Word is already selected in the menu; you can pick another format if you need one.
Convert and download
Press “Convert” and the download of the converted file starts automatically.
What is preserved?
Kept
- Bold, italic, underline and fonts
- Paragraph alignment and indents
- Tables and images
- Headers and footers
Changed
- Saved as a compressed DOCX package instead of text-based RTF
When to use it
Continuing work on WordPad or TextEdit documents
Letters and notes written years ago in WordPad or TextEdit can be converted to DOCX so you can keep editing them with Word's styles, comments and track changes, and share them more easily.
Editing RTF exports from older software
Accounting, hospital and case-management programs often export reports as RTF. Converting them to DOCX gives you a smaller, standard file that is easier to edit, share and archive.
Limitations to know
- Files that merely have an .rtf extension but are not actually RTF (or another Word format) are rejected as unreadable.
About the formats
What is RTF?
RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format published by Microsoft in 1987 that stores formatted text as plain text with control codes. It can carry bold and italic text, fonts, alignment, lists, tables and images. Its main strength is compatibility: RTF opens in WordPad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, LibreOffice and Word. It is less capable than DOCX for complex layouts, and its appearance can vary between the programs that open it.
What is Word (DOCX)?
DOCX is the default document format of Microsoft Word since Word 2007. It is based on the Office Open XML standard: the file is a ZIP package that stores text, styles, tables, images, headers and footers as separate XML parts. DOCX files open and edit in Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Pages, which makes it the most common format for exchanging editable documents. When a fixed layout matters, DOCX files are usually converted to PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to convert RTF at all if Word opens it?
Not if you only want to read it. If you plan to edit and share the document, DOCX is the better format: files with images are usually much smaller, comments and track changes work fully, and it opens more consistently in Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice.
Should I choose DOCX or DOC?
Choose DOCX unless the recipient uses Word 2003 or older; it is the default format of current Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice. DOC is only needed for legacy versions or systems that accept .doc alone, and for that you can use the RTF to DOC converter.
Are images in the RTF carried into the Word file?
Yes. Images embedded in the RTF are read by LibreOffice and inserted into the DOCX as pictures. Because RTF stores images as text, you will often notice that the same content becomes noticeably smaller once it is saved as DOCX.
Is converting RTF to Word free?
Yes, completely free. There is no account, subscription or watermark — just upload your file and convert it.
Is my file safe and when is it deleted?
Your file is transferred over HTTPS and stored on our server under a random code. The upload and the output are permanently deleted within 30 minutes, and the download link only works for whoever holds your unique code.