What an ODT file is

ODT (OpenDocument Text) is an open standard for word-processor documents. It's the default in LibreOffice and OpenOffice Writer, and you'll be sent it by councils, schools and anyone who uses those programs. Inside it's a zip of XML files, so a plain text editor shows nonsense.

Open it in your browser

  1. Open Rich Text Editor in your browser.
  2. Choose Open and pick the .odt file. It's read on your computer; nothing is uploaded.
  3. Edit it - fonts, bullets, tables and pictures.
  4. Save it as .odt again, or as .docx, .rtf or PDF.

Make .odt files open with a double-click

  1. Install Metre2 Rich Text Editor free from the Microsoft Store.
  2. Right-click an .odt file and choose Open with > Choose another app.
  3. Pick Metre2 Rich Text Editor and select Always.

Convert ODT to Word or PDF

  • To .docx: open it and save as .docx, which Word opens.
  • To PDF: open it and use Save as PDF; text stays searchable.
  • Complex layouts - text boxes laid over pictures, tracked changes, macros - may not come through exactly, and the editor tells you if something can't be kept.