Documents conversion
Convert DOCX to ODT
Updated Jul 2026
DOCX is the Word document format most people already use, and ODT is the OpenDocument format used by free office suites. To convert, open the file in a converter and export it as ODT, which keeps the text and formatting intact. Doing this on your own computer means the document never leaves your machine.
- Extension
- .docx
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .odt
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- LibreOffice / OpenOffice
Convert DOCX to ODT on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert DOCX to ODT
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DOCX file, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose ODT as the output format.
- Convert. The ODT file is written next to the original, and nothing leaves your machine.
- Open the ODT and skim it for any shifted spacing or table formatting before you send it on.
DOCX vs ODT: what actually changes
| DOCX | ODT | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, the default format for Microsoft Word and widely supported | Yes in free office suites, and Word can open it too, with some formatting differences |
| File size | Compact, zipped XML | Similar, also zipped XML, usually within a few percent of the DOCX |
| Formatting fidelity | Native to Word's layout engine | Text and basic styles carry over cleanly, complex layouts can shift slightly |
| Underlying standard | Proprietary Microsoft format | Open, vendor neutral standard maintained by OASIS |
| Metadata | Author, edit history, comments stored in the file | Carries over, stored in ODT's own metadata fields |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOCX to ODT when you're moving to a free office suite, or when an organization you work with, many European government agencies and public institutions among them, standardizes on the open ODT format.
Keep the DOCX if you or the people you're sending it to work mainly in Microsoft Word, since round tripping through ODT can shift fonts, spacing, and complex layouts like tables, columns, or tracked changes.
Why not just use an online converter?
A DOCX file carries metadata you don't see on the page, including the author's name, the company it was created under, edit history, and sometimes comments or earlier revisions left in the file. An online converter would receive all of that along with the document's content to produce your ODT. Converting on your own computer keeps the document, and everything embedded in it, on your machine.
Questions
Does converting DOCX to ODT lose any formatting?
Text, headings, bold and italic, and paragraph styles come through cleanly. Complex layouts, like tracked changes, unusual fonts, or intricate table styles, can shift slightly, so it's worth a quick check after converting.
Will the ODT keep the author name and other metadata from the DOCX?
In most cases, yes. Author name, creation and edit dates, and any comments or revision history embedded in the DOCX typically carry over into the ODT's own metadata fields.
Can I open an ODT file in Microsoft Word?
Yes, Word can open and save ODT files, though formatting fidelity isn't perfect for pages full of tables, columns, or custom fonts. free office suites open ODT natively without any conversion needed.
Is converting DOCX to ODT reversible?
Yes. Both formats store text as structured, readable content rather than a flattened image, so you can convert back and forth without losing text, though it's worth checking formatting each time.
Can I convert DOCX to ODT without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts on your own computer, so the document's content and metadata never travel over the internet.
Morphjet converts DOCX, ODT, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.