How to Open a DOCX File on Mac
Your Mac can open Word files for free, even without Microsoft Word. Apple builds in a few tools that read DOCX files, and there are free apps and online viewers too.
This guide shows every easy way to open a DOCX file on a Mac. You’ll also learn how to set which app opens Word files, and what to do if a file won’t open.
Quick answer
| Option | Free | Edit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Look (space bar) | Yes | No | A fast peek |
| Apple Pages | Yes | Yes | Editing on a Mac |
| TextEdit | Yes | Basic | Simple text files |
| Online DOCX viewer | Yes | No | Accurate, private reading |
| Microsoft Word for Mac | Paid | Yes | Heavy Word users |
| LibreOffice | Yes | Yes | Free full office suite |
Method 1: Quick Look
Quick Look is the fastest way to see what’s in a Word file.
- Open Finder and find your DOCX file.
- Click the file once to select it.
- Press the space bar.
A preview window pops up. You can scroll through the pages. Press the space bar again to close it. Quick Look can’t edit, and complex layouts may look simpler than in Word, but it’s perfect for a quick check.
Method 2: Apple Pages
Pages is Apple’s free word processor. It’s on most Macs already. If not, you can get it free from the App Store.
- Right-click the DOCX file.
- Choose Open With, then Pages.
- Pages opens a copy of the document for editing.
Pages turns the file into a Pages document while you work. When you’re done, go to File, Export To, Word to save it as a Word file again. Don’t just press Save, or you’ll get a Pages file instead.
Method 3: TextEdit
TextEdit comes with every Mac. It can open DOCX files, but it only understands simple formatting.
- Right-click the file.
- Choose Open With, then TextEdit.
Text, bold and basic lists usually show fine. Tables, headers, footers and pictures may be missing or look wrong. Use TextEdit for plain letters, not complex documents.
Method 4: A free online DOCX viewer
If Pages or TextEdit mess up the layout, try an online viewer. It works in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Go to opendocxfile.com.
- Drag the DOCX file from Finder onto the box, or click Choose file.
- Read the document page by page.
The viewer keeps page breaks, tables, headers and footers close to how they look in Word. You can zoom, copy text, print or save as PDF. The file stays on your Mac, since your browser opens it locally.
Method 5: Microsoft Word for Mac
If you have Microsoft 365, Word for Mac opens DOCX files perfectly. Double-click the file, or right-click and choose Open With, then Microsoft Word.
Without a subscription, Word for Mac may open files in read-only mode. You can still read them, but you can’t edit.
Method 6: LibreOffice for Mac
LibreOffice is a free office suite that runs on Mac. Download it from libreoffice.org, install it, then open your DOCX file with LibreOffice Writer. It’s a good choice if you work with Word files often and don’t want to pay.
When you first open LibreOffice, your Mac may warn that it was downloaded from the internet. Click Open if you downloaded it from the official site.
How to change the default app for DOCX files on Mac
If DOCX files keep opening in TextEdit or the wrong app, change the default.
- Select any DOCX file in Finder.
- Choose File, then Get Info, or press Cmd+I.
- Find the Open with section.
- Pick the app you want, like Pages or Word.
- Click Change All, then Continue.
Now every DOCX file on your Mac will open in that app.
How to see the file extension on Mac
Mac often hides extensions. To check a file’s real type, select it and press Cmd+I. Under Name & Extension, you’ll see the full name.
To always show extensions, open Finder, click Finder in the menu bar, choose Settings, click Advanced, and tick Show all filename extensions.
If the name ends in something odd, like .docx(1), see our guide on fixing strange DOCX file names.
How to save a Pages document as Word
This trips a lot of people up. Pages saves in its own format by default. To send a Word file to someone:
- In Pages, choose File, then Export To, then Word.
- Click Advanced Options and check that the format is .docx.
- Click Next, name the file, and click Export.
You can also export to PDF the same way. See how to convert DOCX to PDF for other ways.
Troubleshooting on Mac
“The document could not be opened”
The file may be damaged or the download may not have finished. Download it again. If it still fails, see why won’t my DOCX file open.
The layout looks wrong in Pages
Pages doesn’t support every Word feature. Try an online viewer or Word for the web for a more accurate view.
The file is an old DOC file
Pages can open DOC files too. For other options, read how to open a DOC file.
Pages isn’t on my Mac
Open the App Store, search for Pages, and download it. It’s free.
Opening DOCX files from Mail on a Mac
If a Word file comes as an email attachment in Apple Mail, you have a few choices:
- Quick look: hover over the attachment and click the small eye icon, or select it and press the space bar.
- Open it: double-click the attachment. It opens in your default app for DOCX files.
- Save it: drag the attachment to your desktop or a folder in Finder.
Attachments you open straight from Mail are stored in a hidden folder. If you edit them there, you might lose your changes. It’s better to save the file first, then open it.
Which Mac option keeps the layout best?
Here’s what you can generally expect from each Mac option:
| Option | Simple letter | CV with columns | Report with tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Look | Good | Okay | Okay |
| Pages | Good | Some changes | Good |
| TextEdit | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Online viewer | Good | Good | Good |
| Word for Mac | Perfect | Perfect | Perfect |
If you need an exact match and don’t have Word, Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account. See how to open a DOCX file in Word online.
Using iCloud Drive with Word files
Save your DOCX file to iCloud Drive, and you can open it on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. On the Mac, iCloud Drive appears in the Finder sidebar. On iPhone, it’s in the Files app. This is handy when someone sends you a file on your phone but you want to read it on a bigger screen.
Opening DOCX files on an older Mac
If your Mac runs an older version of macOS, the newest Pages may not install. You still have options:
- The App Store may offer an older version of Pages that works with your Mac.
- Quick Look and TextEdit work on older Macs too.
- An online viewer works in any modern browser. If Safari is out of date, try the latest Firefox or Chrome that your Mac supports.
Older Macs also can’t always run the latest LibreOffice. Check the system needs on its website before you download.
Whatever Mac you have, you can always read a Word file in the browser. That makes an online viewer the most reliable backup plan when apps won’t cooperate.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Mac open DOCX files for free?
Yes. Pages, TextEdit and Quick Look are built in or free. You can also use an online DOCX viewer or LibreOffice.
What’s the best free app to open Word files on a Mac?
Pages for editing, and an online viewer for accurate reading. Compare more in the best free DOCX viewers.
Can I edit a Word document on a Mac without Word?
Yes. Use Pages, LibreOffice, Google Docs or Word for the web. See how to open a DOCX file without Word.
Why does my Word file open in TextEdit?
TextEdit is set as the default app. Change it using Get Info and Change All, as shown above.
Can I open DOCX files on my iPhone the same way?
Similar, but the steps differ. Read how to open a DOCX file on iPhone.
Tips for Mac users
- Use Quick Look to check a file before opening it in a bigger app.
- Keep Pages updated through the App Store for the best Word support.
- When sending files to Windows users, always export as Word or PDF, not as a Pages file.
- Use iCloud Drive to open the same Word file on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.