How to Convert ODT to DOCX: LibreOffice to Word Format

The ODT-to-DOCX Conversion Problem

You have been working in LibreOffice Writer -- maybe by choice, maybe because your organization uses open-source software, maybe because you are on Linux. Your document looks perfect. Then someone asks you to send it in Word format, or you need to share it with a collaborator who uses Microsoft Office, or you are submitting it to a system that only accepts DOCX files. Suddenly, your perfectly formatted ODT file needs to become a DOCX file, and you need the conversion to work without destroying your layout.

ODT (Open Document Text) and DOCX (Office Open XML Document) are both open standards for word processing documents, but they were developed by different organizations with different design philosophies. ODT comes from the OASIS consortium and is the native format for LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice. DOCX comes from Microsoft and is the native format for Microsoft Word. While they overlap significantly in capabilities, the differences in how they handle styles, fonts, spacing, and advanced features mean that conversion between them is not always seamless.

The good news is that for most documents -- letters, reports, essays, basic business documents -- the conversion works well and requires little or no cleanup. The challenges arise with complex formatting: custom styles, advanced table layouts, embedded objects, macros, and fonts that exist on one platform but not the other.

This guide covers every practical method for converting ODT to DOCX, with honest advice about what converts cleanly, what might need manual adjustment, and how to avoid the most common formatting pitfalls.

ODT vs DOCX: Technical Differences

Understanding the technical differences between the formats helps you predict and prevent conversion issues.

Both formats are ZIP archives containing XML files, images, and metadata. The structural similarity means conversion is fundamentally possible -- the challenge is mapping between the two different XML schemas accurately, especially for features where the formats handle things differently.

Method 1: Convert Using LibreOffice (Save As DOCX)

The simplest and most common method is using LibreOffice Writer itself to save the file in DOCX format.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your ODT file in LibreOffice Writer
2. Go to File > Save As (or File > Save a Copy)
3. In the file type dropdown, select Microsoft Word 2007-365 (.docx)
4. Choose a file name and location
5. Click Save
6. LibreOffice may display a compatibility warning noting features that may not convert perfectly -- review these warnings and click Use Word Format! to proceed

Setting DOCX as Default Format

If you frequently need DOCX output, you can configure LibreOffice to save in DOCX format by default:

1. Go to Tools > Options (or LibreOffice > Preferences on macOS)
2. Navigate to Load/Save > General
3. Under "Default File Format and ODF Settings," change the document type to Text document and the format to Microsoft Word 2007-365 (.docx)
4. Click OK

This means every new document you create will save as DOCX by default, eliminating the conversion step entirely. The trade-off is that you lose some ODT-specific features that DOCX does not support.

Compatibility Mode

When LibreOffice opens or saves a DOCX file, it operates in a compatibility mode that adjusts its behavior to match Word's rendering more closely. This includes changes to default spacing, paragraph handling, and table width calculations. The compatibility mode is not perfect, but it reduces the number of visual differences between the LibreOffice and Word rendering of the same file.

Method 2: Convert Online with ConvertIntoMP4

For users who do not have LibreOffice installed or prefer a browser-based workflow, the document converter handles ODT-to-DOCX conversion:

1. Navigate to the DOCX converter
2. Upload your ODT file
3. The tool converts the file to DOCX format
4. Download the converted file

This method works on any device with a browser and requires no software installation. It is particularly useful when you receive an ODT file and need a quick conversion without installing LibreOffice.

Method 3: Using Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word can open ODT files directly (since Word 2007 SP2):

1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Go to File > Open and browse to your ODT file
3. Word imports the ODT and displays it as an editable document
4. Go to File > Save As and select Word Document (.docx)
5. Save the file

Word's ODT import is competent for basic documents but less reliable than LibreOffice's DOCX export for complex formatting. This makes sense -- LibreOffice created the ODT file and understands its own format best, while Word is parsing a foreign format.

Method 4: Using Google Docs

Google Docs provides a free, browser-based conversion path:

1. Upload the ODT file to Google Drive
2. Right-click the file and select Open with > Google Docs
3. Google Docs converts the ODT to its internal format
4. Go to File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx)
5. The file downloads as DOCX

Note that this conversion goes through an intermediate format (Google Docs internal format), which means it is effectively two conversions: ODT to Google Docs, then Google Docs to DOCX. Each conversion step can introduce small formatting changes, so the result may be slightly less faithful than a direct ODT-to-DOCX conversion.

Method 5: Command-Line Conversion

For batch processing or automated workflows:

# Single file conversion
libreoffice --headless --convert-to docx document.odt

# Batch convert all ODT files in a directory
libreoffice --headless --convert-to docx /path/to/odt-files/*.odt

# Convert to a specific output directory
libreoffice --headless --convert-to docx --outdir /output/ document.odt

LibreOffice's headless mode runs without a graphical interface, making it ideal for server-side conversion, automated pipelines, and batch processing. For more on batch file processing, see our batch processing guide.

What Converts Well (and What Does Not)

Elements That Convert Cleanly

Most standard document elements convert without issues:

• Body text with basic formatting (bold, italic, underline, font size, color)
• Headings and heading hierarchy
• Numbered and bulleted lists
• Basic tables with simple cell content
• Inline images
• Page margins and orientation
• Headers and footers (basic)
• Hyperlinks
• Footnotes and endnotes

Elements That May Need Adjustment

Fonts: The Most Common Issue

Font handling is the single most frequent source of conversion problems between ODT and DOCX. LibreOffice on Linux often uses fonts like Liberation Sans, Liberation Serif, and Deja Vu -- fonts that are standard on Linux but not installed on Windows or macOS. When a Word user on Windows opens the DOCX, Windows substitutes these fonts with its defaults (typically Calibri or Times New Roman), which have different character widths and line spacing, causing text to reflow and page breaks to shift.

The solution:

1. Use cross-platform fonts. If your document needs to look identical in both LibreOffice and Word, use fonts available on all platforms: Arial, Times New Roman, Courier New, Verdana, Georgia, or Google Fonts like Roboto, Open Sans, and Noto Sans.

2. Embed fonts in the DOCX. LibreOffice can embed fonts during DOCX export. This makes the file larger but ensures the recipient sees the exact fonts you used, regardless of their system.

3. Check for font substitution. After conversion, open the DOCX in Word and check the fonts used. If you see unexpected fonts (especially Calibri where you used Liberation Sans), the font was substituted. Reformat with an available font or install the original font.

Handling Specific Document Types

Academic Papers

Academic documents often use footnotes, bibliographies, cross-references, and mathematical equations -- all elements that require careful handling during conversion. Footnotes and endnotes generally convert well. Cross-references (like "see Section 3.2") may lose their dynamic linking and become static text. Bibliographies generated by tools like Zotero or Mendeley should be "frozen" (converted to static text) before the format conversion to prevent issues.

For mathematical content, ODT uses MathML while DOCX uses OMML. The conversion between these equation formats is imperfect, especially for complex multi-line equations. Review all equations after conversion.

Business Reports

Business reports with charts, tables, and corporate branding are generally straightforward to convert. The main risks are font substitution (if using custom corporate fonts), chart rendering differences, and the positioning of floating images and text boxes. Verify the visual layout in Word after conversion, paying particular attention to any pages where text wraps around images.

Government and Legal Documents

Many government agencies mandate ODT for internal documents but need DOCX for external distribution. For these scenarios, the formatting requirements are often strict, and even minor spacing differences are unacceptable. Consider converting to PDF instead of DOCX for external distribution -- PDF preserves the exact visual appearance regardless of the recipient's software. See our guide on how to convert Word to PDF for that workflow, or use the PDF converter directly.

Round-Tripping: ODT to DOCX and Back

A common scenario: you convert ODT to DOCX, send it to a Word user for editing, receive their DOCX back, and need to incorporate their changes into your ODT workflow. This "round-trip" -- ODT to DOCX to ODT -- introduces cumulative formatting drift with each conversion.

Each conversion step can slightly alter spacing, style definitions, and element positioning. After two or three round-trips, the document may look noticeably different from the original. To minimize this:

• Minimize round-trips. Convert once at the end of the editing process rather than going back and forth
• Use a common format. If both parties have access to Google Docs, collaborate in the cloud to avoid format conversion entirely
• Track changes carefully. After receiving the DOCX back, convert to ODT and carefully review every page for formatting shifts

For a broader perspective on document format choices and when to use each, see our PDF vs DOCX comparison.

Batch Converting ODT Files to DOCX

Organizations migrating from LibreOffice to Microsoft Office (or needing to maintain documents in both formats) often need to convert hundreds or thousands of ODT files.

LibreOffice Batch Conversion Script

#!/bin/bash
INPUT_DIR="/path/to/odt-files"
OUTPUT_DIR="/path/to/docx-output"

mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

find "$INPUT_DIR" -name "*.odt" | while read -r odtfile; do
    echo "Converting: $odtfile"
    libreoffice --headless --convert-to docx --outdir "$OUTPUT_DIR" "$odtfile"
done

echo "Conversion complete."
echo "Files converted: $(ls -1 "$OUTPUT_DIR"/*.docx 2>/dev/null | wc -l)"

Verification After Batch Conversion

After batch-converting, spot-check a representative sample:

• Open several converted files in Word and verify formatting
• Pay special attention to documents with tables, images, and custom styles
• Check font usage and look for unexpected substitutions
• Verify page counts match (a sign that text reflowed if they differ)

ODT vs DOCX: Which Should You Use?

The format you should use as your primary working format depends on your ecosystem:

Use ODT if: You primarily use LibreOffice or OpenOffice, your organization standardizes on open formats, you value open standards, or you are in a government agency that mandates ODF.

Use DOCX if: You or your collaborators primarily use Microsoft Word, your organization standardizes on Microsoft Office, or you regularly share documents with people who use Word.

Use both if: You need to maintain compatibility with both ecosystems. Keep the master document in your primary format and convert as needed for sharing.

For a detailed side-by-side comparison of the two formats, see our DOCX vs ODT comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose formatting when converting ODT to DOCX?

For most standard documents, formatting is preserved well. The elements most likely to change are fonts (if using fonts not available on the recipient's system), complex table layouts, drawing objects, and macros. Simple text documents with basic formatting convert cleanly.

Can Microsoft Word open ODT files directly?

Yes, Word 2007 SP2 and later can open ODT files directly. However, the rendering may differ from LibreOffice's rendering because Word and LibreOffice interpret some formatting elements differently. For best results, convert to DOCX using LibreOffice (which understands its own format best) rather than relying on Word's ODT import.

Should I convert ODT to DOCX or to PDF?

If the recipient needs to edit the document, convert to DOCX. If the recipient only needs to read or print it, convert to PDF -- PDF preserves the exact visual appearance and eliminates all formatting compatibility issues. Use the PDF converter or the document converter for either conversion path.

How do I convert DOCX back to ODT?

Open the DOCX file in LibreOffice Writer and save as ODF Text Document (.odt). The conversion follows the same principles as ODT-to-DOCX conversion, with the same types of potential formatting issues in reverse.

Are ODT files smaller than DOCX files?

Generally, yes, by a small margin. Both formats are ZIP-compressed XML, but ODT's XML tends to be slightly more compact. The difference is typically 5-15% and rarely matters in practice for standard documents.

Wrapping Up

Converting ODT to DOCX is a routine task that works smoothly for the vast majority of documents. LibreOffice's Save As function handles the conversion natively, the online document converter provides a quick browser-based alternative, and command-line tools enable batch processing for large collections.

The key to successful conversion is awareness of the potential issues: font compatibility, style mapping, and the handling of advanced features like macros and equations. For simple documents, just save as DOCX and you are done. For complex documents with precise formatting requirements, verify the output in Word and make any necessary adjustments. And for documents where visual fidelity is critical, consider converting to PDF instead -- the format that was designed specifically to look identical everywhere.