How to open .DOCX files on Windows
To open .DOCX files on Windows, open with Microsoft Word by double-clicking the file.
Step-by-step instructions
- Open with Microsoft Word by double-clicking the file.
- If Word is not installed, use LibreOffice Writer or Google Docs online.
Recommended software
- Microsoft Word
- LibreOffice Writer (free)
- Word for the web (free with a Microsoft account)
Common issues
Formatting issues when opened in different software
Fonts and styles may appear differently across various office suites.
- Ensure all necessary fonts are installed.
- Use the original software for editing if possible.
- Convert the document to PDF for consistent viewing.
Corrupted DOCX file
The file may not open or display an error message.
- Use the 'Open and Repair' feature in Microsoft Word.
- Attempt recovery through cloud storage version history.
"Word found unreadable content in file.docx. Do you want to recover the contents of this document?"
Word shows this when part of the file's XML is damaged, often after an interrupted download, a sync conflict or a crash while saving.
- Click "Yes" to let Word recover what it can, then save the result under a new name.
- If that fails, use File → Open → Browse, select the file and choose "Open and Repair" from the Open button's arrow.
- Open the file in LibreOffice Writer or Word for the web; they sometimes read files Word rejects.
- As a last resort, rename a copy to .zip and extract word/document.xml; it contains the raw text.
The document opens in Protected View and you cannot edit it
Word marks files from the internet or email as untrusted and opens them read-only.
- Check that the file comes from a trusted sender.
- Then click "Enable Editing" in the yellow bar at the top.
Still can’t open your .DOCX file?
Repair a damaged .DOCX file
If the file opens with errors or not at all, a dedicated repair tool can often rebuild it. Work on a copy and keep the original file untouched.
Recover a deleted or lost .DOCX file
If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.
Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.
Wondershare RecoveritWindows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.
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Security note
Avoid opening DOCX files from unknown email attachments.