You"re here because you have a file that has a file extension ending in .docx. Files with the file extension .docx can only be launched by certain applications. It"s possible that .docx files are data files rather than documents or media , which means they"re not meant to be viewed at all.
what is a .docx file?
The DOCX file extension is related to Microsoft Word developed by Microsoft Corporation in its version of 2007 and 2010. This new document format has also the same purpose as to the file extensions .DOC and .DOCM respectively. It uses the open XML formatting and utilizes the ZIP compression files for multiple documents. Microsoft Word is a program contained in Microsoft Office Suite widely used by users for their office and organizational works. It allows them to create documents needed in their everyday management of tasks and other related concerns. Microsoft Word offers a multitude of writing tools that users find easy to execute when creating a document. They also have a complete hand of macros which automate their everyday work on a document. Shortcut keys that give quick actions to whatever they would like to do. It is composed of basic commands that users can easily access and very useful in various documents created and edited.
how to open a .docx file?
Launch a .docx file, or any other file on your PC, by double-clicking it. If your file associations are set up correctly, the application that"s meant to open your .docx file will open it. It"s possible you may need to download or purchase the correct application. It"s also possible that you have the correct application on your PC, but .docx files aren"t yet associated with it. In this case, when you try to open a .docx file, you can tell Windows which application is the correct one for that file. From then on, opening a .docx file will open the correct application.
applications that open a .docx file
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor program that is packed in the Microsoft Office Suite. It is developed by Microsoft Corporation, generating a .doc file extension when the file is saved. A document file format (.doc) is a text or binary file format for saving documents on a storage media, mainly for computer use, like typing text, charts, tables, page formatting, graphs, images and other documents whose content is created and edited. Contents of these documents are printable in any sizes and are capable of opening in other devices provided that its operating system is able to read DOC files. This .doc file extension has become extensive de facto standard for office documents, but it is an owned format and is not always totally supported by other word processors. A variety of programs that is able to open this type of file, and different operating systems and have installed programs that can open a 1ST file are: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Word, IBM Lotus WordPro, and Corel WordPerfect. 
Microsoft Write
Microsoft Write
Microsoft Write (MS Write) software is a word processing application, created for earlier versions of Microsoft Windows, and has a new counterpart word processing program, the Microsoft WordPad, which is bundled with later versions of Microsoft Windows. It uses files with .wri extension as output files that are generated by the software. These files are word documents and MS Write can develop its visual presentation with the use of .wri documents where users are able to format and make layouts. Early versions of Microsoft Works application as a word processing software can be used to open and view the contents of .wri format. Other applications that are able to open and view .wri files are Corel WordPerfect Office X6 and some word and text editors for Microsoft Windows based system, such as Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Notepad, and Planamesa NeoOffice application or the so called Microsoft Word 2011 in the Mac version. 
Microsoft Works
Microsoft Works
Microsoft Works is incorporated package software that was developed by Microsoft. It is less expensive, smaller, and has fewer features than Microsoft Office or other office suites. Its central functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet and a database management system. Newer versions have a calendar application and a dictionary while older versions included a terminal emulator. Files with WPS extension is utilized for output files of the Microsoft Works word processing application. These files are classified as text documents that can be created, saved, viewed and edited using the Microsoft Works program. Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Publisher 2010, Planamesa NeoOffice, and OxygenOffice Professional are some of the applications that are able to open and view the content of these WPS files. The contents of these WPS files can also be exported to other compatible word document formats. This promotes convenience and efficient document presentation, group collaboration and sharing between users of different systems and word processing applications; however, WPS document cannot be applied with macros and other formatting options available in Microsoft Word; so Microsoft discontinued support and development of the Microsoft Works application with its version 9 and the release of Microsoft Word 2010. 
Microsoft Office Word Viewer
Microsoft Office Word Viewer
Microsoft Word Viewer is a separate freeware program for Microsoft Windows that lets users (who do not own Microsoft Word), view and prints documents that were made in Microsoft Office. Microsoft Word Viewer is not available for sale but it can be downloaded from the Microsoft website for free. In order to check over viewed documents it is required to copy the text to the clipboard and paste into an alternative editor. According to the terms of the Microsoft Word Viewer 2003 license agreement, the software may be installed and used to view and screen print documents made with Microsoft Office software. It may not be used for any other purpose. Supported file formats in Microsoft Word Viewer are: doc, docx, docm, dot, rtf, wri, txt, htm, html, mht, mhtml, XML, wpd, and wps. For viewing Office Open XML text documents (docx, docm), the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" must be installed.Microsoft Word 2010
Microsoft Word 2010
Microsoft Word 2010 is a tool being used for word processing which is a part of the Microsoft office 2010 which was developed by Microsoft. It has improved features which aim to help its users in creating documents of skilled-quality and at the same time providing its user easier ways to access files. It was specifically designed with premium formatting tools which aid in the organization and writing of documents in an easier manner. Microsoft Word 2010 offers it users a wide variety of new and enhanced tools. It has customizable themes which aim to coordinate fonts, graphic formats as well as colors in a document. It has a wide variety of SmartArt graphics which includes several layouts in order to organize picture diagrams as well as charts. It offers an enhanced version of Find tools as well as Navigation Pane which makes it easier to search, reorganize and browse documents.Docx is a format based on xml and uses zip compression, which saves storage space. It replaced the outdated binary doc, which was used up to and including MS Word 2003. Docx contains not only text, but also raster graphics, charts, tables, font options and much more. Since docx uses compression, it can be opened with any archiver. Inside you will find an .xml file, as well as the docProps, Word, and _rels folders, which store document data and the relationships between them. Docx can be opened by most word processors; in addition, you can use special universal programs for viewing documents. Below are free programs for viewing electronic document docx.
What free programs can open a docx file?
- is a free program from Microsoft that allows you to view and print docx documents. The Word viewer allows you to copy text from a document for later use in other applications.
- TextMaker Viewer is a completely free tool for viewing electronic documents. It supports a huge number of formats, so once you download this program, you won’t have to look for software to view documents in the future. The program's interface is pleasant and concise, even a little similar to acrobat reader. The functionality of the program is thought out to the smallest detail, there are document tabs like in a browser, zooming in and out of documents, text search and much more.
- – a text editor from the LibreOffice office suite. All known document formats are supported, both its own odt and docx. The program can create, edit, print, and view electronic documents. The interface is similar to MS Word 2003, however, the functionality is at the level of MS Word 2013. A very interesting feature is the automatic selection of possible word endings while typing.
Everyone knows that when working with text documents in Microsoft Office Word 2003, files are saved with the doc extension. But times change, new programs are created with additional functionality, and Microsoft is no exception. New versions of programs have been created Microsoft Office 2007/2010/2013, which are saved with the new docx extension. Therefore, office workers and ordinary users are interested in how to open docx.
Every person does not like change, since in a new program, for example, the interface may change, but why change something that has long become familiar. But what if you have MS Word 2003 installed on your computer, and your colleague or friend gave you a file with the docx extension, but it is not possible to open it, since the MS Word 2003 version cannot open the format created in the Microsoft Office version 2007/2010/2013. Therefore, these users cannot open docx files.
I will offer you 3 ways to solve this problem. Whichever one will be closer to you, choose the one.
Ask the user to resave the document
In new versions of MS Word, you can save files with the *.doc extension; to do this, you need not just click on the save button, as we usually do, but indicate with what extension you want to save the file.
Now select the file type: “Word 97-2003 *.doc Document” and then click the “Save” button.
This method is suitable for those users who can ask another user for this action. After he saves it in the desired file type, he can safely send you this document, because this time you will successfully be able to open it and make changes to it.
Add-on package for Microsoft Office
How to open a docx file if you can't ask a friend to forward the file? This option actually solves the problem. You don't have to ask anyone! By installing this software product on your computer, you will do everything yourself.The problem that we are now discussing is not only yours, and therefore Microsoft has created compatibility software specifically for such users, with which you can open files created in MS Word 2007/2010/2013 without any problems. After installing this package, you will be able to save files in Microsoft Office 2003 and then work with this document.
The compatibility pack can be downloaded. Check the box below and click “Continue”.
The installation of the package will begin. After installation, a message will appear indicating that the installation is complete. Click "OK".
We are trying to open files that until recently could not be opened.
Free on-line service
Above we figured out how to open docx. But also don’t forget about services that can come in handy when you don’t have time to download and install programs.
The last method I wanted to talk about is an online converter. There is such a wonderful site with which you can do the conversion for free docx file in doc.
So, first we need to indicate which docx the file needs to be converted. To do this, click on the “Browse...” button, a window will appear where we indicate the path to the file *.docx and click the “Open” button.
If the file is small, the conversion will be quick. And with a large file, the process may take longer, so keep this in mind. After uploading your file to the service, wait a couple of seconds until the message “File converted!” appears, which means the file has been processed.
To download the file, click on the “Download” button, which is located just below.
In the methods listed above, I told you how to open docx in word 2003. But if there are other programs that may be installed on your computer, then you can also use them for your own purposes. If you have the free OpenOffice text editor installed, you can use it to open/save doc and docx files. OpenOffice is free, has a user-friendly interface and can work with this format.
This brings us to the end of our short review of how to open a docx file. As I said above, the choice of how to open the file is yours.
Many when downloading or saving test documents created using the application Microsoft Office, are faced with concepts such as doc and docx format. At first glance, the difference is just one extra character, but if the installed service can only support a certain type of file, a lot of inconvenience often arises.
Most often today you can find files with the docx extension, but the previously popular .doc files are no less relevant. True, they are gradually used less and less. And the office of more modern models is able to open both types of files, which cannot be said about more outdated versions of the software product.
Defining two file types
Before you start talking about the differences between formats such as .doc and .docx, you should understand the designation of each of them.
By doc we understand a certain type of electronic documents that are generated when working with Microsoft Word. At first it was just an extension for a group of files, but later it began to refer to a series of individual Microsoft formats,
Docx is an abbreviation that stands for Office Open XML. This extension of text documents is used to create electronic documents using a software package from Microsoft.
Key differences between the two file types
First of all, the difference between files with these formats is manifested in the possibility of their use in different versions of packages from Microsoft. Software products released earlier than 2003 (including the product of the specified year) will not be able to open and allow you to work with the docx format. Using files with this resolution is only possible in Office versions from 2007. At the same time, a package of any year can recognize files with the doc extension.
But it is worth remembering that starting with Microsoft Word 2007, there are many more possibilities when creating text documents. Therefore, when opening the old .doc format in a more modern editor, the message “Reduced functionality mode” will appear, which will not allow you to use all the editor’s capabilities, because you won’t be able to save them in doc anyway. In order to fully work with the document, you should save it in the improved docx format.
To solve the issue of opening a docx file, a special converter has been created, which, when used, unpacks the required file with the further possibility of adjustment if necessary. After all, in essence, docx files are special zip archives that contain the actual document in XML form, as well as all the graphs, drawings, tables and diagrams. There are also files that define the structure and parameters of the document’s content. Version 2003 and earlier cannot handle the unpacking process itself.
It is this compression that is considered one of the main differences between the two types of office documents. True, thanks to it the file size becomes significantly smaller. The difference is especially noticeable in files that contain a large number of pictures or graphs. Docx is much more convenient for storing because it takes up little space on your hard drive.
It is also worth paying attention to the compatibility of files with other word processors. The docx format is partially supported in them, but doc opens very poorly. There is one software product that can easily open a file with a docx extension.
Also, the docx format cannot be used with fonts that are drawn from right to left. And this type of Files only supports Microsoft's own formats, without paying attention to established standards.
The main differences between doc and docx formats
From the information received, the following can be highlighted:
- A text document in docx format can be opened exclusively by Microsoft products since 2007, while doc can be opened by various versions of Word.
- The docx file uses a zip container that contains the document in XML form.
- Doc does not assume a compression function at all.
- Third-party programs are not (or very poorly) compatible with the doc extension.
Knowing the distinctive features of such files, it is now easy to navigate the advisability of using each of them.
Doc is the standard extension for files created text editor Microsoft Word from version 97 to version 2003, or applicationWordPad. Such formats are now virtually obsolete.
Versions Word editors since 2007 have been working with documents that have extensiondocx. Accordingly, the standard program for opening a file in the old format will be the version of Word up to 2003 inclusive or WordPad, and in the new one - Word 2007 or more modern.
How do document formats differ?
doc files are binary(binary) files that may have different structure, depending on the specific version of the program that created them. Documents created by WordPad differ from Word towards primitiveness.
File type docx is based on the format Office Open XML. It is different from its predecessors expanded possibilities for recovery in case of damage. At its core, it is a zip archive of XML text and supporting documents located in folders. If you open primer.docx with a 7-zip archiver, you will see something like this:
What do the doc and docx extensions open?
What other applications can open documents with doc and docx extensions? The list is quite large, but there are some nuances when using them. Microsoft Corporation has traditionally closes its developments from free use, so third-party developers often have compatibility issues.
But primer.docx with similar content suffered some losses - text inscription below disappeared. In general, Writer from OpenOffice.org should be used very carefully when working with Word texts.
The text inscription is lost. When trying to edit service warns that the result will be saved as docx.