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An ODT file is an OpenDocument Text document. You can open and save it in supported desktop versions of Microsoft Word, but formatting may change when the file moves between applications. After editing, reopen the saved ODT and check the layout before sharing it.
What does ODT mean?
ODT stands for OpenDocument Text, a text-document format in the OpenDocument family. The OpenDocument standard is XML-based and can represent office documents containing text, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical elements. OASIS lists OpenDocument Version 1.3 as approved on 30 October 2020. OASIS OpenDocument
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How to open an ODT file in Microsoft Word
Microsoft documents ODT opening in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. The exact experience can depend on the Word version and platform. Microsoft’s ODT instructions
- In Word, select File > Open.
- Select Browse.
- In the file type dropdown, choose OpenDocument Text.
- Select the ODT file, then open it.
You can also double-click the file in your file manager if your computer is configured to open ODT files with Word. Microsoft’s separate format reference also lists Word 2013, alongside Word 2016, 2019, and 2021; that reference should not be read as a guarantee for every installation or platform. Word file-format reference
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How to edit and save an ODT file
Once opened, edit the document as you would other Word files. To save an ODT copy, use File > Save a Copy or File > Save As, choose a location, select OpenDocument Text in the file type list, enter a name, and save. If you also need a Word-format version, keep that copy before saving or converting to ODT. Microsoft’s ODT instructions
Why formatting can change—and how to check it
Word and the application that created an ODT file may support different features and formatting options. As a result, a document opened in Word may not look exactly as it did in its original application. Microsoft also cautions that editing an ODT in Word for the web and then opening it in desktop Word for Windows can produce formatting differences. Microsoft Support ODT and Word format differences
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- Save the edited document in OpenDocument Text format.
- Close it, then reopen the saved ODT in Word.
- Inspect page breaks, alignment, fonts, tables, and any other formatting important to the document.
- If the layout is not acceptable, compare the saved file with the original in the application used to create it and adjust or preserve a separate version as needed.
Choosing an app for an ODT workflow
There is no compatibility ranking established by the cited official sources. For a document that must retain specific formatting, check the actual workflow rather than assuming that opening and saving support guarantees a perfect round trip.
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- Can the app open ODT files?
- Can it save changes back to ODT?
- Do the features and layout you rely on survive opening, editing, saving, and reopening?
- Does the app’s desktop or web version suit the way you need to work?
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