Check How to open Docx files without Word. If we have received a DOC or DOCX file and we do not have Word, we must find a way to open Docx files without having Word installed on our PC. Luckily there are many methods available online. All of this without having to pay for an Office 365 subscription.
Here’s a rundown of the best methods and options to open and edit Word documents on any device without Microsoft Word installed. or just how to open Docx files without Word.
1. WordPad and text editing
We already have this installed on the PC and it is always the first option. We can open any Word document with nothing more than WordPad or TextEdit. However, it is important to remember that both programs have limited compatibility with the DOC and DOCX formats, so there will be no problems with simple text files, but it will be a problem if we have a more elaborate or even long document.
This is very useful when we want to view content quickly, but not if we want to work on it. To open it, just double click on a Word file and it should open in WordPad or TextEdit automatically. On Mac, just select the document and press Space. You can then read the entire content of the document through Quick Look.
2. Word Mobile (solo Windows)
Word Mobile is an application created for touch devices, such as tablets and phones, but they work on any PC without any problems. However, it comes with limited features in its free version. The app allows you to edit files as long as you pay for an Office 365 subscription. However, if all you want is to read a DOCX file without formatting errors, installing Word Mobile is a great option.
3. OpenOffice o LibreOffice
The heavyweights. Both OpenOffice and LibreOffice are two free open source alternatives to Microsoft Office. Complete office suites. Within their programs, OpenOffice Writer and LibreOffice Writer support DOC and DOCX formats, so you can open and edit any Word document easily and without having to pay for it.
LibreOffice outperforms OpenOffice with better features and a faster update cycle. But if you want a long-term (free) solution for opening and editing Word documents on a desktop device, any word processor should do the trick. Remember that both are complete suites and do not come with just the text editor. They are the best long-term option, maybe not for something quick.
4. Google Documents (Google Docs)
The solution also comes from Google. Google Docs is a browser-based word processor similar to Word Online and has full support for DOC and DOCX formats. All you need is a Google account to get started. You can then upload any Word file to Google Drive (which provides 15GB of free storage), open it in Google Docs, and start reading and editing it.
You can also convert the file to Google Docs’ native GDOC format for maximum compatibility, and save it back to several popular formats (including DOCX). Compared to Word Online, Google Docs has a lot going for it with superior performance and functionality.
5. Apple Pages
In the Mac world, there is a powerful option. The native Mac word processor, Pages, not only offers extensive word processing capabilities, but it’s completely free to use. It also supports DOC and DOCX formats. Just grab it from the Mac App Store and all your Word documents will open automatically.
Also, you can use the online version of Apple Pages via iCloud.com to view and edit Word documents without Word installed, even from a Windows PC. You need an Apple ID, but you don’t have to have an Apple product to create one.
6. Smallpdf and ZamZar
If we cannot open it directly, we can always convert it to another format for reading, the first option is PDF. That helps minimize formatting errors and is a great way to avoid compatibility issues when sharing files with others. Just upload the file to an online converter like Smallpdf or ZamZar, specify that you want to convert from Word to PDF, and wait until the conversion procedure is complete before downloading it again and opening it with your favorite PDF reader.
7. Documents (Android) and Pages (iOS) Apps
If you have an Android phone or iOS device, you can use the native Google Docs (Android) or Apple Pages (iOS) apps to open and edit Word documents. You can also download Google Docs on the iPhone. Word documents can be previewed using the Files app on iOS.
We have many free options for opening and editing Word documents. However, if neither works, we can always sign up for a free trial of Office 365 . You can then use the full version of Word on any platform (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) for up to 30 days.
