Differences between the OpenDocument Text (.odt) format and the Word (.docx) format

OpenDocument (.odt) files are compatible with Word and open source applications like OpenOffice and LibreOffice, but you might see formatting differences and some Word features aren't available in .odt files. Word documents (.docx) are compatible with most applications.

Switch your default file format

1. Select File >Options.
2. Select Save.
3. Under Save documents, in the Save files in this format list, select the file format you want to use by default.

What is supported when I save a Word document in the OpenDocument Text format?

The table below shows which Word features are fully, partially, or not supported in the OpenDocument (.odt) format.

• Supported Both Word and the OpenDocument Text format support this feature. Content, formatting, and usability won’t be lost.
• Partially Supported Both Word and the OpenDocument Text format support this feature, but formatting and usability might be affected. No text or data are lost, but formatting and how you work with text or graphics might be different.
• Not Supported This feature isn’t supported in the OpenDocument Text format. Don't use the feature if you plan to save your Word document in the OpenDocument Text format, because you risk losing content, formatting, and usability in the part of your document that the feature affects.

To see information about graphic features, see the Graphic Elements table at the end of this article.

Level of support