Free online DOC to RTF converter

Some records systems, legacy applications, and editors require .rtf files but cannot import older Microsoft Word .doc documents. Converting the file preserves editable text and common formatting for exchange or import.

DOC format

DOC is Microsoft Word's legacy binary document format. It was the default Word format through Word 2003; current Word releases normally save new documents as XML-based .docx files.

A DOC file can store formatted text, tables, images, headers, footnotes, comments, tracked changes, embedded OLE objects, and, in some cases, VBA macros. Old office archives, templates, and documents produced by legacy Windows software commonly use the .doc extension.

RTF format

RTF (Rich Text Format) is a text-based document interchange format developed by Microsoft. Its content uses readable control words and escaped character data, allowing many word processors and import systems to interpret standard formatting.

RTF supports ordinary fonts, character styles, paragraph formatting, lists, tables, page breaks, headers, footnotes, and basic images. It is suitable for editable documents when the receiving software explicitly requires .rtf or supports RTF more reliably than Word's binary DOC format.

RTF is not a replacement for a fixed-layout format such as PDF, and it is not inherently smaller than DOC. Files containing embedded images can be substantially larger after conversion.

Convert a DOC file to RTF

Convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software: upload the .doc file, select RTF as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting .rtf file. Open the downloaded file in the application that will receive it and check its contents before submitting or sharing it.

Microsoft Word provides the most direct desktop conversion:

1. Open the .doc file in Word.
2. Select File → Save As.
3. Choose Rich Text Format (*.rtf) from the file type list.
4. Choose a new filename and location, then save.
5. Review any compatibility warning before confirming the save.

LibreOffice Writer can also convert DOC files. Open the document, select File → Save As, choose Rich Text Format (.rtf), and confirm that the file should use RTF when prompted. For scripted conversion with LibreOffice installed, use:

soffice --headless --convert-to rtf --outdir /path/to/output /path/to/input/file.doc

The command creates an .rtf file in the output directory and does not alter the source DOC file. Password-protected DOC files must be opened and decrypted with the password before they can be converted.

Compatibility checks

RTF preserves common document formatting, but it cannot fully represent every Word feature. VBA macros, embedded Excel or other OLE objects, content controls, modern comments, tracked-change data, SmartArt, advanced charts, and complex floating-object layouts may be removed, flattened, or changed.

Different RTF readers implement different subsets of the format. A file that looks correct in Word can display differently in another editor, particularly for tables, numbered lists, images, headers, footnotes, and non-Latin text.

Missing fonts can change line wrapping, page breaks, table widths, and pagination. Check these elements after conversion, retain the original DOC as the editable source, and distribute a PDF separately when exact page appearance is required.