Documents conversion
Convert DOCX to RTF
Updated Jul 2026
DOCX is the format Word saves documents in, and RTF is an older, simpler format that almost any word processor can open. To convert DOCX to RTF, open the file in a converter and export it as RTF. Doing this on your own computer means the document, and everything written in it, never has to be uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .docx
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
Convert DOCX to RTF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert DOCX to RTF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DOCX file you want to convert. Add one document or a whole folder at once.
- Choose RTF as the output format.
- Convert. The RTF file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
DOCX vs RTF: what actually changes
| DOCX | RTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs Word or a compatible app | Yes, almost any word processor, even very old ones, can open it |
| File size | Smaller, compressed under the hood | Larger, often several times bigger |
| Formatting support | Full, including complex tables, styles, and embedded objects | Basic to moderate, advanced layout can be simplified |
| Comments and tracked changes | Kept | Not kept |
| Author and edit history | Yes | Mostly stripped |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOCX to RTF when you need to open a document in an app, printer driver, or older system that doesn't understand Word's format, or when you want a plain rich-text file that's easy for other software to read.
Keep the DOCX if the document has comments, tracked changes, or complex Word-specific formatting you still need, because RTF doesn't carry all of that over.
Why not just use an online converter?
A DOCX file can carry the author's name, company, edit history, and comments left by other people, all stored inside the document itself. An online converter receives all of that along with the text. Converting on your own computer means the document and everything attached to it stay on your machine.
Questions
Does converting DOCX to RTF lose formatting?
Basic text formatting, fonts, and simple layout carry over fine. Complex tables, embedded objects, and some advanced styling can get simplified in the process.
Do comments and tracked changes survive the conversion?
No. RTF doesn't have a way to store comments or tracked changes, so they're dropped when you convert.
Is RTF still used today?
Yes, mostly as a lowest-common-denominator format for moving text between different word processors or older systems that can't read DOCX.
Will the RTF file keep the original author's metadata?
Mostly no. RTF doesn't support the same metadata fields as DOCX, so author name and edit history are typically stripped.
Can I convert DOCX to RTF without uploading the document?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the document never travels over the internet.
Morphjet converts DOCX, RTF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.