Documents conversion
Convert DOC to DOCX
DOC is the older binary format word processors used before 2007, and DOCX is the newer format that current word processors and most other software expect by default. To convert DOC to DOCX, open the file in a converter and save it in the new format. Doing this on your own computer keeps the document and anything stored inside it off someone else's server.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .doc
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .docx
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert DOC to DOCX on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert DOC to DOCX
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DOC file you want to convert, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose DOCX as the output format.
- Convert. The DOCX file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
DOC vs DOCX: what actually changes
| DOC | DOCX | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Only in a word processor with support for it, often with a compatibility warning | Yes, current word processors and most modern software open it natively |
| File format | Binary format specific to older word processor versions | Zip-based XML format, more standard and easier for other software to read |
| File size | Larger, no built-in compression | Usually smaller, since the underlying XML is compressed |
| Editing in a current word processor | Opens in compatibility mode, some newer features unavailable | Full support for all current features |
| Keeps formatting and metadata | Yes | Yes, formatting and document metadata carry over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOC to DOCX when you need to edit the file in a current word processor without a compatibility warning, or when a form, portal, or system specifically asks for a DOCX file.
Keep the DOC file if it's an old document you're just archiving and it already opens fine wherever you keep it.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old DOC files often carry author names, edit history, and other document metadata left behind by whatever word processor created them. Uploading the file to a website converter sends the document, and all that metadata, to that site's server. Converting on your own computer means the file, and anything stored inside it, never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting DOC to DOCX lose any formatting?
Usually no. DOCX supports everything the older DOC format did and more, so the conversion is generally lossless. Very old or unusual formatting, like obscure fonts or old macros, can occasionally shift slightly and is worth a quick check.
Will the DOCX keep the document's metadata?
Yes. Author name, edit dates, and other metadata stored in the DOC carry over to the DOCX unless you deliberately remove it first.
Why does my word processor show a compatibility warning when I open a DOC file?
Word processors switched to the DOCX format around 2007. Files saved in the older DOC format still open, but newer features stay limited until you convert or save it as DOCX.
Can I convert DOC to DOCX without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet does the conversion on your own computer, so the document never travels over the internet.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.