Free online WPS to ODT converter

A Microsoft Works document may need conversion when it must be edited in LibreOffice or submitted to a system that accepts OpenDocument Text files. Saving an editable .odt copy also avoids relying on discontinued Works software.

What WPS files are

WPS is most often the filename extension for word-processing documents created by Microsoft Works, a discontinued consumer productivity suite. A Works .wps file can contain text, character and paragraph formatting, page layout, tables, images, headers, and other word-processing content.

The extension is not unique to Microsoft Works. WPS Office has also used .wps for its own Writer documents, and those files may require WPS Office rather than a Microsoft Works importer. Check the application that created the file, or try opening it in its original software before converting a large collection.

What ODT files are

ODT is OpenDocument Text, the standard editable document format used by LibreOffice Writer, Apache OpenOffice, Collabora Office, and other OpenDocument-compatible editors. An .odt file is a ZIP-based package containing XML text and styles, images, metadata, and other document resources.

ODT is suitable for editable sharing and long-term storage because its specification is openly documented. It is not intended to preserve every application-specific feature from Microsoft Works or WPS Office.

Convert the file

Upload the .wps file to the free converter on 101convert.com, select ODT as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting .odt file. Do not upload confidential documents unless the site's handling terms meet your requirements.

Open the converted file in LibreOffice Writer and inspect it before sharing or replacing the original. Keep the source .wps file until the converted document has been checked.

Convert locally with LibreOffice

LibreOffice can import some Microsoft Works WPS documents, but support depends on the specific Works version and file contents.

1. Open the .wps file in LibreOffice Writer.
2. Check the text, tables, images, headers, page breaks, and page count.
3. Select File → Save As.
4. Select ODF Text Document (.odt) as the file type.
5. Save to a new filename, such as document-converted.odt.

For files that LibreOffice imports correctly, a command-line conversion can be used after testing one file:

soffice --headless --convert-to odt --outdir output input.wps

Create the output directory first. An import or conversion error usually means that LibreOffice does not support that WPS variant or that the file is damaged.

When the file will not open

Current Microsoft Word versions should not be assumed to open Microsoft Works .wps files. Older Word releases could use Microsoft's Works 6–9 File Converter, but that legacy component is not a dependable option on current Office installations.

If the original Microsoft Works installation or the program that created the file is available, open the document there and use File → Save As to create an .rtf or .doc copy when those formats are offered. Open that intermediate file in LibreOffice Writer, then save it as .odt. RTF is often the safer intermediate format for basic text and formatting; complex layouts may still change.

Compatibility checks

Plain text, paragraphs, basic formatting, and simple tables usually convert most accurately. Missing fonts can change line wrapping, page breaks, table widths, and pagination.

Complex page layouts, decorative text, linked or embedded objects, form controls, macros, spreadsheet or database objects, and application-specific features may be changed or lost. Compare the ODT against the source, especially where pages contain tables, images, or headers.

If an exact visual record is required, retain the original file and create a PDF reference copy from the checked ODT using File → Export As → Export as PDF. PDF preserves a fixed-layout view but is not a replacement for an editable ODT file.