Documents conversion
Convert ODT to RTF
Updated Jul 2026
ODT is the document format many word processors use by default, and RTF is an older, simpler format that almost any word processor on Mac or Windows can open. To convert, open the ODT file in a converter and export it as RTF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the file, and its author details, off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .odt
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- LibreOffice / OpenOffice
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
Convert ODT to RTF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ODT to RTF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ODT file you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose RTF as the output format.
- Convert. The RTF file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
ODT vs RTF: what actually changes
| ODT | RTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs a compatible word processor | Yes, opens in nearly any word processor, old or new |
| File size | Smaller, a compressed package | Larger, plain text based markup |
| Formatting fidelity | High, keeps styles, sections, and complex layouts | Good, but some advanced formatting can simplify or shift |
| Metadata kept | Yes, author, revision history, custom properties | Limited, basic properties only |
| Embedded images and objects | Yes, embedded natively | Yes, though embedded spreadsheets or objects may convert to plain images |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ODT to RTF when you need to send a document to someone whose word processor doesn't open ODT, or when you want a file format that virtually any app, old or new, can read.
Keep the ODT original if you're staying within the same word processing tool, since ODT preserves styles, sections, and revision history that RTF simplifies or drops.
Why not just use an online converter?
ODT files often carry the author's name, comments, and a revision history of every edit made to the document. Sending that file to an online converter means all of that lands on a stranger's server along with the text itself. Converting on your own computer keeps the document, and everything recorded inside it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting ODT to RTF lose formatting?
Basic text, fonts, and layout carry over well. Some advanced formatting, like certain paragraph styles, sections, or embedded objects, can simplify or shift slightly, since RTF is a simpler format than ODT.
Will comments and tracked changes carry over?
No, generally not. RTF doesn't support the kind of revision tracking ODT uses, so comments and tracked changes are usually dropped or flattened into the final text.
Why convert to RTF instead of just keeping the ODT file?
RTF is an older, simpler standard that almost any word processor can open, even ones that don't understand ODT. It's useful when you're not sure what app the other person is using.
Does RTF keep the document's metadata?
Only the basics. Simple properties may carry over, but ODT's revision history and custom document properties generally don't survive the conversion.
Can I convert ODT to RTF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts ODT, RTF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.