---
title: ".wpd file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .wpd file is a WordPerfect Document. The word processor format that ruled offices before Word, still used in some US law firms. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/wpd/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .wpd files

**.wpd file: WordPerfect Document**

The word processor format that ruled offices before Word, still used in some US law firms.

## What opens a .wpd file

- **Windows:** Corel WordPerfect, LibreOffice Writer, Microsoft Word (older versions only)
- **macOS:** LibreOffice Writer
- **Linux:** LibreOffice Writer, AbiWord

## What a .wpd file is

WPD is Corel WordPerfect's document format, dominant in the 1980s and early 1990s and still entrenched in parts of the American legal profession because of its reveal-codes formatting control. LibreOffice Writer imports WPD well and is the practical free answer on any platform. WordPerfect itself is Windows-only today.

## Converting it

A .wpd 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:** .wpd
- **Full name:** WordPerfect Document
- **Category:** Documents
- **MIME type:** application/vnd.wordperfect
- **Created by:** Corel / WordPerfect Corporation
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

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

On Windows use Corel WordPerfect; on macOS use LibreOffice Writer; on Linux use LibreOffice Writer. The word processor format that ruled offices before Word, still used in some US law firms.

### What is a .wpd file?

WordPerfect Document. WPD is Corel WordPerfect's document format, dominant in the 1980s and early 1990s and still entrenched in parts of the American legal profession because of its reveal-codes formatting control. LibreOffice Writer imports WPD well and is the practical free answer on any platform.

### Can I convert a .wpd 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/)
- [.doc — Word Document (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/doc/)
- [.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/)

## Sources

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