Documents conversion
Convert ODT to DOC
Updated Jul 2026
ODT is the document format used by free office suites, and DOC is the older format that Word used before it switched to DOCX. To convert ODT to DOC, open the file in a converter and export it as DOC. Doing this on your own computer means the document never has to leave your machine to make the switch.
- Extension
- .odt
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- LibreOffice / OpenOffice
- Extension
- .doc
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert ODT to DOC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ODT to DOC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ODT file you want to convert. You can add a single document or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose DOC as the output format.
- Convert. The DOC file is written next to your original, and nothing is uploaded anywhere.
ODT vs DOC: what actually changes
| ODT | DOC | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Mainly a free office suite, and recent Word versions | Yes, any version of Word, including very old ones |
| File size | Smaller, since it's a compressed XML format | Larger, older binary format |
| Formatting fidelity | Full, native format | Very good, though complex layouts, styles, or embedded objects can shift slightly on conversion |
| Editability | Fully editable | Fully editable |
| Keeps author and edit metadata | Yes | Yes, unless you strip it |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ODT to DOC when you need to send a document to someone using an older version of Word, or a system that only accepts the classic DOC format instead of ODT or DOCX.
Keep the ODT original if you're still editing in a free office suite, since converting back and forth between formats risks small formatting shifts you don't need to introduce yet.
Why not just use an online converter?
A document written in a free office suite can carry your name, past edits, and comments in its metadata. Uploading it to an online converter to get a DOC copy means that file, and whatever it holds, sits on someone else's server in the meantime. Converting on your own computer keeps the document, and everything in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting ODT to DOC lose formatting?
Mostly no. Basic text, headings, and simple layouts carry over cleanly. Complex styles, certain fonts, or embedded objects can shift slightly, since DOC and ODT don't structure documents in exactly the same way.
Will the DOC file keep the author and edit history?
Yes, the metadata stored in the ODT, like author name and modification dates, generally carries over to the DOC unless you strip it deliberately.
Why would I need DOC instead of DOCX?
DOC is the older Word format, still used by some older systems, templates, and software that hasn't moved on to DOCX. If whoever you're sending the file to specifically asks for DOC, that's usually why.
Can I convert ODT to DOC without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your own computer, so it's never sent over the internet. You could disconnect from wifi and it would still work.
Morphjet converts ODT, DOC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.