DOC file: How can I open a .DOC file?
The table below provides useful information about the .doc file extension. It answers questions such as:
- What is the .doc file?
- What program do I need to open a .doc file?
- How can the .doc file be opened, edited or printed?
- How can I convert .doc files to another format?
We hope you find this page helpful and a valuable resource.
✅ Microsoft Word Document

The DOC file is a Microsoft Word Document. Microsoft Word uses a proprietary file format to store its documents. There is no official documentation available. Because the file format is very complex, most applications that can handle Word documents rely on Microsoft Word itself.
✅ Corel WordPerfect Document

The WP file is a Corel WordPerfect Document. Corel WordPerfect is a word processing application.
✅ WordStar 2000 Document

The WSD file is a WordStar 2000 document. WordStar was a word processor application, published by MicroPro, originally written for the CP/M operating system but later ported to DOS.
⚠ Be careful with .doc files.
It's important to know that the .doc file extension can be used by various programs, not just the ones you expect. This includes potentially harmful software or malware that might create .doc files. Be cautious when dealing with .doc files from unknown sources.
🔄 .doc converters
The following softwares are capable of converting .doc files to other formats:
For example, using the softwares above, a .doc file can be converted into one of the following formats:
🚫 The .doc file extension is often given incorrectly!
According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:
Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?
We found the following similar file extensions in our database:
🔴 Can't open a .doc file?
When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:
Select an app to open this .doc file
It means that the operating system does not have a default app associated with the .doc file type. To resolve this issue and open the file, you can take the following steps:
- Right-click on the .doc file. A context menu will appear.
- From the context menu, select Open with. Windows will display a list of recommended apps.
- If the desired app is listed, select it from the provided options.
- If you cannot find the appropriate app, you may need to install software that supports the specific file type.
If you don't know how to change the default app for the .doc file, check the FAQ.
🔴 Can I change the extension of files?
Changing the filename extension of a file is not a good idea. The extension of a file serves as a hint to the operating system and various software programs about the type of data contained within the file. When you alter a file's extension, you essentially modify how software applications interpret and handle that file. Every file has a specific format, also known as its file type or file format. The problem is, changing the file extension does not change the file format.
If you have helpful information about the .doc file extension, write to us.