4 Free Ways to Open DOCX Files on Your Mac

The wide usage of DOCX files makes us greatly dependent on the Microsoft ecosystem. But not as much as you might think. Luckily, you don't necessarily need to install the Microsoft Office suite to open such files.

Here are a few simple and free ways you can view and edit Word documents on your Mac.

Open Word Files With No Hassle

When opening DOCX files on your Mac using any word processing tool except for Microsoft Word, there may be issues with displaying complex graphic elements or formatting correctly. However, the tools listed here will usually display such files without any problems.

1. Pages

One of the easiest ways to open and edit files DOCX on your Mac is using a built-in app—Pages. It does a great job in showing special formatting so that the document will be as close to the original Word version as possible.

To open such a document in Pages, local the file that you need and right-click it. Then move the mouse cursor to Open With and select Pages from the list of available apps.

If you want to not just view the document but also make some changes and then share it with others, you'll need to correctly export it so that Windows users won't have any issues opening it.

Related: Keyboard Shortcuts for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on Mac

Go to File > Export to > Word. A new window will open up in Pages where you can choose whether you want to save the document in the DOCX format or DOC (compatible with 1997-2004 Word).

The DOCX format is chosen by default, so if you need to save the file as a DOC, click Advanced options, choose the other format, and click Next.

It is possible to set Pages as the default application to open DOCX files so that it will be even faster for you to open such files. Here's how to do this:

1. Right-click on any DOCX file on your Mac.
2. Select Get Info from the list.
3. Look for Open with in the new popup window and click on it.
4. From the available applications, choose Pages. Then click Change All.
5. A new window will appear asking you to confirm the changes, click Continue.

Now, whenever you open a Word document, it will automatically open in Pages.

2. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free tool that can open various Microsoft file types, including DOCX. It can handle all file formats and is an excellent alternative to both Microsoft Office and Apple's built-in apps.

Since this is a third-party app, you need to download and install it first. To do this, visit the official LibreOffice website, choose macOS as your operating system, and click Download. Then follow the steps to install it.

When it is all set up, you can use this application to view files of any format. To do this, locate the needed file and right-click it. Choose Open With, and from the list, click on LibreOffice.

If you decide that you want to make this suite the default for all your DOCX files, you can set it up in a couple of steps. Simply right-click on any document of this format and choose Get Info. From the list of settings, select Open and click on LibreOffice from the list of available applications. Then select Change All and finalize your decision by clicking on Continue in the popup window.

3. Google Docs

If you're not a fan of Pages and don't want to install anything new on your Mac, you can try an online word processor—Google Docs. This tool is entirely free to use and does an incredible job in handling various file types.

To open a Word document using Google Docs, you need two things: an internet connection and a Google account. While being connected to Wi-Fi may not be an issue, not having a Gmail address may make things a bit more complicated. Therefore before being able to use this service, you need to sign up for Gmail. Then you can use the same login details to access Google Docs.

Related: How to Check the Word Count on Google Docs

Here's how to view a DOCX file on Google Docs:

1. Open the Google Docs website and log in to your account.
2. Click on the plus icon to start a new document.
3. Head to File > Open > Upload.
4. Drag and drop a file directly into the window or click Select a file from your device to open your Mac's file and double click on the needed one.

If you made some changes to the document and need to share it with someone else, you can either export the file or get a link to the document to share it online without downloading it.

So, to download the file, go to File > Download and click on the needed format.

If you'd instead share the online version of the document, click on Share at the top-right corner of the screen and add the needed person's Gmail address in the blank field. You can also get a shareable link by clicking on Change to anyone with the link. Then copy the link and click Done.

4. Word Online

Word Online is a free web-based version of Microsoft Word and a direct competitor of the Google Docs service. It is a great way to view and make simple edits to DOCX files. One of its advantages is that you can save your documents in OneDrive, share them with anyone, and even work together on a document online at the same time.

However, just like with any other online word processing tool, you'll need to be connected to the internet to use it. You'll also have to create a Microsoft account if you don't already have one.

To view and edit a DOCX file using the online Word version, head to onedrive.live.com and use your Microsoft account to sign in. Click on Upload > Files and choose the needed document on your Mac. Then click on the uploaded file for it to open in the web-based Word version.

Use the Right Tool for Word Files

Whether you prefer to view DOCX files on your Mac using a built-in app, third-party app, or an online word processing tool, you can be sure that it is no less worse than the Microsoft Office suite. You can use them not only to open such files but also to edit them and share with others.