Documents conversion
Convert DOC to ODT
Updated Jul 2026
DOC is the older Word document format from before 2007, and ODT is the native format used by free office suites. To convert, open the file in a converter and export it as ODT. Doing this on your own computer means the document, and any personal details in its metadata, never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .doc
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .odt
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- LibreOffice / OpenOffice
Convert DOC to ODT on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert DOC to ODT
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DOC file you want to convert, or drop in a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose ODT as the output format.
- Convert. The ODT file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
DOC vs ODT: what actually changes
| DOC | ODT | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Larger, older binary structure | Smaller, compressed XML format |
| Opens in | Old and new Word, with compatibility mode | a free office suite, and modern Word with a converter |
| Formatting fidelity | Exact, as originally saved | Very close, though complex tables, macros, or unusual fonts can shift a little |
| Macros | Supported | Dropped on conversion |
| Keeps author and edit metadata | Yes | Yes, usually carried over |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOC to ODT when you're moving to a free office suite, need a more modern, widely supported format for old files, or want to standardize a folder of legacy Word documents before archiving them.
Keep the DOC original if you still work primarily in an older version of Word and don't want to risk any formatting quirks from a first-time conversion, since some macros or unusual layouts don't carry over perfectly.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old DOC files often carry author names, company details, and revision history buried in the file, sometimes from edits made years ago. Upload one to an online converter and that history goes to their server along with the text. Converting on your own computer with Morphjet keeps the document, and everything embedded in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting DOC to ODT lose any formatting?
Usually not, but complex documents with macros, unusual fonts, or intricate tables can shift slightly, since Word and OpenDocument use different underlying structures. Simple text documents convert cleanly.
Can a free office suite open DOC files directly?
Yes, but many people convert to ODT anyway so the file matches a free office suite's native format and behaves more predictably when edited or shared.
Will the ODT file keep the author and metadata from the DOC?
Yes, author name, creation date, and edit history usually carry over. If the document has sensitive history you don't want to share, check the properties before sending it on.
Do macros in the DOC file transfer to ODT?
No. Macros written for Word don't carry over to ODT, so any scripts in the original file need to be rebuilt if you need them in a free office suite.
Can I convert DOC to ODT without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts on your own computer, so the document never travels over the internet. You could even do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts DOC, ODT, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.