Convert Word to RTF — Free Online Converter
Convert Microsoft Word (.word) to Rich Text Format (.rtf) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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Upload your .docx file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .rtf file when it's ready.
About DOCX to RTF Conversion
Converting Microsoft Word documents to RTF (Rich Text Format) produces files with maximum cross-application compatibility while preserving essential formatting. RTF was created by Microsoft in 1987 as a universal document interchange format, and it remains the only rich-text format that opens correctly in every word processor across every operating system — Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and even mobile text editors. When you need to share a formatted Word document with recipients whose software environment is unknown, RTF is the safest choice.
The conversion strips Word-specific features (macros, content controls, SmartArt) and retains standard formatting that all word processors understand: fonts, sizes, bold, italic, paragraph alignment, lists, tables, and images. The result is a lean, universally readable document that preserves the essential content and appearance of the original Word file.
Why Convert DOCX to RTF?
RTF is the format of last resort when compatibility is paramount. Some legal systems, government agencies, and healthcare organizations enforce strict email attachment policies that block DOCX and DOC files (which can contain macros and active content) but allow RTF. Converting Word documents to RTF ensures they pass through these security filters while retaining formatting.
RTF is also the preferred import format for many specialized applications outside the office suite world. Legal document management systems (iManage, NetDocuments), medical records software, academic reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley), and publishing submission systems often support RTF as their primary document import format. Converting Word to RTF provides a clean input for these specialized systems.
Common Use Cases
- Share formatted Word documents through organizations with email policies blocking DOC/DOCX attachments
- Import Word content into legal document management systems that prefer RTF input
- Submit Word manuscripts to academic journal and publisher submission portals that accept RTF
- Convert Word documents for use in medical records systems that import RTF formatted text
- Distribute formatted documents to recipients with unknown software environments for guaranteed compatibility
How It Works
LibreOffice imports the Word document (DOC or DOCX) and exports it through the RTF writer filter. The RTF output uses backslash-prefixed control words in a text-based file format: \par for paragraphs, \b for bold, \i for italic, \fs for font size, and \pard for paragraph formatting reset. Font tables, color tables, and stylesheet definitions are included in the RTF header. Images are embedded using \pict with WMF, EMF, or PNG encoding. The output complies with RTF specification 1.9.1 for maximum reader compatibility.
Quality & Performance
Standard formatting transfers reliably: fonts, character formatting (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough), paragraph alignment, line spacing, bullet and numbered lists, tables, images, headers, and footers. Word-specific features that RTF cannot represent — content controls, SmartArt, embedded OLE objects, theme colors, and advanced typography (ligatures, kerning) — are either simplified or omitted. For typical business documents, the visual difference between the Word original and RTF conversion is minimal.
Device Compatibility
| Device | DOCX | RTF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Use RTF when email security filters block DOC/DOCX — RTF passes through most attachment policies
- 2Strip unnecessary images before converting to RTF to reduce the typically larger file size
- 3For legal document management systems, verify their preferred RTF version compatibility before bulk conversion
- 4RTF is text-based and can be version-controlled with git, unlike binary DOC files
- 5If the recipient will read but not edit the document, PDF is a better choice than RTF for consistent rendering
Related Conversions
Word to RTF conversion produces the most universally compatible rich-text output, ideal for environments with strict attachment policies, specialized application imports, and cross-platform document sharing with unknown recipient software.