Documents conversion
Convert DOC to DOCX
Updated Jul 2026
DOC is the older binary format Word used before 2007, and DOCX is the newer format that current Word, Google Docs, 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.
- 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.
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 Word or compatible readers, often with a compatibility warning | Yes, current Word, Google Docs, and most modern software open it natively |
| File format | Binary format specific to older Word 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 current Word | 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 version of Word or Google Docs 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 version of Word 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 Word show a compatibility warning when I open a DOC file?
Word switched to the DOCX format in 2007. Files saved in the older DOC format still open, but Word limits certain newer features 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 converts DOC, DOCX, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.