Docx files are Microsoft Word documents created with Microsoft Word 2007 or later versions. If you don’t have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, you still have several options to open and view these files.
Use Microsoft Word Online
Microsoft offers a free web-based version of Word that allows you to view, edit, and share Word documents.
To use it:
- Go to office.com
- Click on “Word” to launch Word Online
- Click on “Open from Computer” then select your docx file to open it
- You can view, edit, download, print or share the docx file from Word Online
Word Online has most of the basic editing features of desktop Word. However, some advanced features may not be available.
Use Google Docs
Google Docs is a free web-based office suite that allows you to open and edit docx files.
To use Google Docs:
- Go to docs.google.com
- Click on “New” then “File upload”
- Select your docx file and click “Open”
- The file will open in Google Docs for viewing and editing
You’ll need to have a Google account to use Google Docs.
Use OpenOffice or LibreOffice
OpenOffice and LibreOffice are free, open source office suites similar to Microsoft Office. Their word processors can open and edit docx files.
To use them:
- Download and install OpenOffice or LibreOffice
- Open the word processor (Writer)
- Click File > Open and select your docx file
- You can view, edit and save the docx file
These tools do an excellent job of maintaining the original formatting of docx files. They are available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Use an Online DOCX Viewer
There are many free online tools that allow you to view docx files directly in your web browser without needing to install any software. Some popular options:
To use them:
- Go to the site and click on “Select a file” or “Upload”
- Choose your docx file
- The file content will load in the browser for viewing
These viewers generally don’t allow editing docx files. But they are handy for quick viewing.
Use Microsoft Word Mobile App
If you have an Android or iOS device, you can download the free Microsoft Word mobile app to open docx files.
To use it:
- Install Word from Google Play or Apple App Store
- Open the app and select “Open file location”
- Choose your docx file to open it
- You can view and edit the file from the app
The Word mobile app provides core Word features for viewing and basic editing.
Use WordPad or TextEdit
WordPad on Windows and TextEdit on Mac can open docx files with some limitations. They may not properly render complex formatting and layouts. But you’ll be able to view the textual contents.
To use them:
On Windows:
- Right click on the docx file and select Open With > WordPad
- The textual contents will open in WordPad
On Mac:
- Right click on the file and select Open With > TextEdit
- The textual contents will open in TextEdit
So if you just want to see the text, these basic text editors can get the job done.
Rename DOCX to ZIP
Since docx files use the Open XML format, they are actually ZIP archives containing XML documents and other files.
You can view the contents of a docx file by:
- Renaming the file extension from
.docxto.zip - Double click to open the zip archive
- Navigate to
word/document.xmlfile - Open this XML file in a text editor or browser to view contents
However, this will not properly render formatted text. It’s best for inspecting docx files.
Use Online File Converters
There are many free online file conversion tools that allow converting docx files to other formats like PDF, JPG, HTML, etc.
Some popular converters:
To use them:
- Go to the site and click on “Choose Files” or “Select a file”
- Choose your docx file
- Select the output format (PDF, JPG etc)
- Click on “Convert” and download the converted file
This allows viewing the docx file contents and format in other supported formats.
Repair Corrupted Docx Files
If your docx file is corrupted or damaged, it may fail to open in Word or other apps.
Specialized docx repair tools can fix such files. Some options:
- Stellar Repair for Word (Paid)
- Doc Repair (Paid)
- Recovery for Word (Free)
They scan the file, repair corruption errors, and restore the contents to open properly.
Conclusion
Microsoft Word is not required to open docx files. You can view, edit or convert docx files using free online apps, mobile apps, office suites and file conversion tools.
Simple options like Word Online and Google Docs allow fast viewing and editing. For advanced usage, desktop office suites like OpenOffice and LibreOffice provide full compatibility. Specialized tools can even repair corrupted docx files.
So with the wide range of alternative solutions available today, docx files can be easily accessible to anyone across different platforms.
