How to Open an RTF File Without Microsoft Word
Someone sent you a .rtf file, you don't have Microsoft Word. You don't need it. RTF has been a universal exchange format since 1987, so practically every operating system has at least one free way to open it. Pick by what you want to do: read it, edit it, or turn it into a PDF.
Free desktop app for full editing and PDF export. Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Came with Windows 10 and older. Removed from Windows 11 in the 24H2 update.
In the browser, free with a Microsoft account. Fine for everyday documents.
TextEdit is already on every Mac. Pages, free from the App Store, for real editing.
Upload the file to Google Drive and open it anywhere; editing from any device.
Just need to read or share the file? Convert it to a PDF in two clicks, free.
On Windows
- LibreOffice Writer — free and open source; opens, edits, and exports RTF to PDF. The standard choice.
- WordPad — Windows' built-in editor with RTF as its native format, on Windows 10 and older. Microsoft removed it from Windows 11 in the 24H2 update (2024), so on a fresh PC it isn't there anymore.
- Word Online — free with a Microsoft account in the browser; handles everyday RTF documents fine.
On Mac
- TextEdit is already on your Mac; double-click the file. For real editing, Pages opens RTF too and is free from the App Store.
- LibreOffice Writer — if you want the closest thing to Word without paying for it.
On Linux, ChromeOS, and in the browser
- LibreOffice Writer — the default document app on most Linux distributions.
- Google Docs: upload the file to Google Drive and open it; formatting survives the common cases, and you can edit from any device.
On a phone or tablet
Android or iOS: open the file from the Google Docs app (it arrives via Drive or email attachment), or use the free LibreOffice viewer apps. Both render the formatting, not just the text.
Quick comparison
| Option | Price | Offline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice Writer | Free | Yes | Full editing, any desktop system |
| Google Docs | Free | No | Quick view and edit, sharing |
| TextEdit / Pages (Mac) | Free | Yes | Already on the Mac |
| WordPad (Win ≤10) | Free | Yes | Older Windows PCs |
| Word Online | Free | No | Microsoft account holders |
If you only need to read or share it
Often the RTF file is not the goal — a readable, unchangeable copy is. In that case converting it to PDF is simpler than installing a word processor: the free RTF to PDF extension for Chrome turns the file into a PDF on your device, with the formatting intact and nothing uploaded. PDFs open on every phone, tablet, and computer ever made.
Turn that RTF into a PDF in two clicks — right in the browser
Get RTF to PDF for Chrome — freeFrequently asked questions
Can Notepad open an RTF file?
It can open it, but you will see raw RTF markup (backslash codes mixed with the text) instead of the formatted document. Notepad reads plain text and has no idea what to do with formatting instructions. Use a word processor instead.
How do I open an RTF file on Android or iPhone?
Upload it to Google Drive and open it with the Google Docs app, or open it directly in the free Google Docs / LibreOffice viewer apps on either platform. Both render RTF formatting on mobile.
Can Chrome open RTF files by itself?
Not natively — a browser tab has no word processor in it. Two browser-friendly options: convert the RTF to PDF with the free RTF to PDF extension and read the PDF in the browser, or upload the file to Google Docs.
Is Microsoft Word free online?
Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account at microsoft365.com and opens RTF files, though very complex documents are better handled by the desktop app or LibreOffice.
What happened to WordPad?
WordPad, which used RTF as its default format, was removed from Windows 11 by Microsoft in the 24H2 update (2024). On Windows 10 and older it is still present; on current Windows, use LibreOffice or Word instead.
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