Documents conversion
Convert DOCX to DOC
Updated Jul 2026
DOCX is the format modern Word uses, and DOC is the older binary format from Word 97 through 2003. To convert DOCX to DOC, open the file in a converter and export it as DOC. Doing this on your own computer keeps the document, and whatever author names or comments are stored inside it, off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .docx
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .doc
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert DOCX to DOC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert DOCX to DOC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DOCX file you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose DOC as the output format.
- Convert. The DOC file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
DOCX vs DOC: what actually changes
| DOCX | DOC | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Needs Word 2007 or newer, or a compatible app | Opens in any version of Word, including very old ones |
| File format | Zipped XML | Older binary format |
| File size | Smaller, compressed | Larger for the same content |
| Newer formatting features | Fully supported | Simplified or approximated on save |
| Keeps author, comments, edit history (metadata) | Yes | Yes |
| Quality | Lossless | Lossless, though some modern styling can shift |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOCX to DOC when you need to send a document to someone running an old copy of Word, or when a piece of software, a legal filing system, or a template only accepts the older .doc format.
Keep the DOCX if everyone involved uses a current version of Word, since DOC can't represent some newer formatting and layouts may shift slightly when they're simplified down to fit the older format.
Why not just use an online converter?
Word documents carry metadata you don't see on the page, including the author's name, the company the file was created under, edit history, and sometimes leftover comments or tracked changes. An online converter receives all of that along with the file itself. Converting on your own computer means the document, and everything recorded inside it, never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting DOCX to DOC lose formatting?
Mostly no, but DOC is an older format, so some newer styling, fonts, or layout features can get simplified when they don't have a direct equivalent. Basic text, tables, and images carry over cleanly.
Will the DOC file keep comments and track changes?
Yes, they're stored in the converted file, though they may be represented slightly differently since DOC predates some of the newer commenting features in Word.
Does the DOC file still have the author's name and metadata?
Yes. Author, company, and edit history stored in the DOCX carry over to the DOC file unless you remove that information first.
Why would I still need the old DOC format?
Some older software, government or legal systems, and templates were built before DOCX existed and still only accept .doc files.
Can I convert DOCX to DOC without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts DOCX, DOC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.