If you've used Microsoft Word for work, school or leisure over the years, then you'll likely have worked with .DOC files before. In this guide, we'll teach you everything you need to know about the .DOC file, including what a .DOC file is and how to open a .DOC file - with and without Microsoft Word.
A DOC file is a word processing document created by Microsoft Word. DOC files use the .DOC extension and have generally been used to make and save various types of written documents such as letters, CVs, essays and brochures. Other written documents like cover letters for example, typically use PDFs . Primarily, they have been accessed with Word - but third-party DOC readers also exist.
DOC is an abbreviation of ‘document’. Essentially, it indicates a word processing document used within Microsoft Word or exported to other word processing programmes such as OpenOffice Writer or Apple Pages. As well as text, DOC files can also contain images, charts, graphs and various other page formatting and print settings.
Microsoft created the DOC file for its industry leading word processing software, Microsoft Word. First introduced in 1997, it became the default file format for Microsoft Word until 2007, when the software giant released an updated version. In 2007, Microsoft replaced the DOC file format with DOCX. The DOCX file is now the standard format for saving documents in Word.
You can use DOC files at work, home and for school or college for an array of tasks, such as:
When you create a document in Microsoft Word, you have the option to save, view and edit it in the .DOC file format. Microsoft Word then creates a DOC file to store the document content, which you or another user can open and close again at any time for further editing.
DOC files are used to store data native to Microsoft Word such as formatted text, images, tables and charts.
Sometimes, a programme - especially email software - will create or alter a .DOC file’s saved extension to _DOC. This is especially likely if the filename coming before the extension has a full-stop at the end of it.
It is, for all intents and purposes however, still the same type of Word file.
To open a _DOC file, you may need to first re-name the file extension to .DOC. Afterwards, you should then be able to open, edit and view the document as normal - using Microsoft Word or a compatible DOC reader.
Discover more document file types.
If you’re thinking about using a DOC file for your next project, it may be helpful to balance the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros.
Cons.
Microsoft Word, supported by Windows and macOS, is the primary programme for opening DOC files.
To open a .DOC file in Word:
Alternatively, you can read DOC files with other word processors such as Apple Pages and Corel WordPerfect. Just remember that some of the original document formatting may be lost or modified. You can also open DOC files with various web programmes such as Google Docs and a free online version of Word.
You can use Microsoft Word to create and edit a DOC file.
To create a .DOC file in Microsoft Word:
Additionally, you can upload a DOC file to Google Docs, where you can edit and convert the document, free of charge.
It’s easy to convert a DOC file to a PDF. In fact, you can use the Adobe Acrobat online converter tool to convert a .DOC to a PDF in minutes. To get started, select the file button or drag and drop your DOC file into the drop zone. Watch Adobe Acrobat do its magic, then sign in to download your PDF.
Discover more about the standard, modern format for saving documents in Microsoft Word.
Learn more about one of the most common file types for saving data in spreadsheets.
Discover everything you need to know about the .PAGES file format created by Apple Pages.
Find out more about the web file format widely used online and displayed in most web browsers.
Adobe Acrobat Online has all the tools you need to do more with your documents.
You may not be able to open a DOC file for several reasons. First, the file may be damaged, in which case the ‘Open and Repair’ command in Microsoft Word can help you repair and recover it. Second, the file may be saved under ‘Protected View’. To fix this, navigate to ‘Trust Centre Settings’ in Word, open the ‘Protected View’ tab and untick all the boxes. Third, the format may not be compatible with parts of the file, so you may need to convert it to a different format..
DOCX files are the more modern standard used by Microsoft Word. The main difference between .DOC and .DOCX is that DOCX files store data in the Open XML document format, which Microsoft introduced with Word in 2007 to make documents more accessible. They are generally more efficient as a result.
Yes, you can open a .DOC file without Word. If you don’t have access to Microsoft Word, you can open a .DOC file with various other word processors and web programmes, known as DOC readers. Just be aware that some of the formatting of the original documents may be modified or missing.
No, a .DOC file is not the same as a PDF. A .DOC file is a word processing document format used to save a document in Microsoft Word, while a PDF is a multi-platform document created by Adobe Acrobat. PDFs are a much more versatile format as they can be easily read and exchanged, regardless of what software, hardware or operating system you’re using.
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