Open a DOCX file in three steps
- Click Choose a file or drag your Word document onto the box.
- The DOCX opens as pages, with its fonts, headings, tables, lists and pictures.
- Scroll through it, or click Print or save as PDF.
What is a DOCX file?
DOCX is the standard Microsoft Word format since Office 2007 (Office Open XML). Inside, it is a compressed package of XML files holding the text, styles, images and page settings. Because the format is open, a browser can read it, which is how this viewer shows Word documents without Word. Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice and WPS Office all save DOCX files.
What the DOCX viewer shows
- Text with its fonts, sizes, bold, italic and colours
- Headings, numbered and bulleted lists
- Tables
- Pictures, headers, footers and page breaks
Comments and tracked-change marks are not shown. If the document uses a font that is not on your device, a similar font is used, which can move a line or a page break.
DOCX files you might need to open
On a careers site, the Word files people open most are CVs and résumés, cover letters, experience certificates, application forms that some departments publish in Word, and offer or appointment letters. Viewing them here keeps them private: nothing is stored or shared.
Checking a CV in DOCX format
Before you send a Word CV, open it here to see what the recruiter will see. Look for:
- a layout that holds: no section split awkwardly across pages;
- readable fonts (Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman are safe);
- your phone number and email on the first lines;
- no leftover comments or highlighted text.
Then get feedback from the free CV Analyzer, or build a clean CV in the free CV Maker and download it as a PDF, which looks the same on every device.
DOCX or PDF: which should you send?
Send a PDF when the layout must look exactly the same everywhere, for example a CV or a signed form. Send a DOCX when the employer asks for Word or needs to edit the file. When in doubt, follow the job advertisement: many government and private adverts say which format they accept.
Need another format? Use the PDF viewer, the Excel and CSV viewer, or the all-in-one document viewer.