---
title: ".doc file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .doc file is a Word Document (legacy binary). The pre-2007 Word format — still readable, but Microsoft would rather you converted it. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/doc/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .doc files

**.doc file: Word Document (legacy binary)**

The pre-2007 Word format — still readable, but Microsoft would rather you converted it.

## What opens a .doc file

- **Windows:** Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, WPS Office
- **macOS:** Microsoft Word, Pages (built in), LibreOffice Writer
- **Linux:** LibreOffice Writer, OnlyOffice, AbiWord
- **In a browser:** Google Docs, Word for the web

## What a .doc file is

DOC is the binary Word format used from the early 1990s to Office 2003. Modern Word still opens it, though newer versions block it by default in some managed environments because the old binary formats are a common malware vector. LibreOffice and Google Docs read it too; anything with unusual embedded objects is safest converted to DOCX once and kept that way.

## Converting it

A .doc file is commonly converted to .docx, .pdf, .odt, .rtf or .txt. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .doc
- **Full name:** Word Document (legacy binary)
- **Category:** Documents
- **MIME type:** application/msword
- **Created by:** Microsoft
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .doc file?

On Windows use Microsoft Word; on macOS use Microsoft Word; on Linux use LibreOffice Writer. The pre-2007 Word format — still readable, but Microsoft would rather you converted it.

### What is a .doc file?

Word Document (legacy binary). DOC is the binary Word format used from the early 1990s to Office 2003. Modern Word still opens it, though newer versions block it by default in some managed environments because the old binary formats are a common malware vector.

### Can I convert a .doc file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .docx, .pdf, .odt, .rtf or .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.pdf — Portable Document Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/pdf/)
- [.docx — Word Document (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/docx/)
- [.xlsx — Excel Workbook (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xlsx/)
- [.pptx — PowerPoint Presentation (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/pptx/)
- [.txt — Plain Text File](https://atoneplace.net/file/txt/)
- [.xls — Excel Workbook (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xls/)
- [.ppt — PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/ppt/)
- [.md — Markdown Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/md/)
- [.rtf — Rich Text Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/rtf/)
- [.pages — Apple Pages Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/pages/)
- [.odt — OpenDocument Text](https://atoneplace.net/file/odt/)
- [.eml — Email Message](https://atoneplace.net/file/eml/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)