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How to Save a Word Document in a Different File Format

Tap through each step to save your document in the exact format you need.

  1. Open "Save As"

    Press F12, or go to File > Save As.

  2. Open the file format dropdown

    In the Save dialog, click the "Save as type" dropdown menu.

  3. Choose the format you need

    Select from options such as plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or an older Word format (.doc).

  4. Understand what gets lost in conversion

    Saving as a plain text file strips out all fonts, images, and formatting, leaving only the raw text.

  5. When you actually need a different format

    This is useful for compatibility with older software, or whenever you need plain, formatting-free text for another application.

Not every recipient or system needs a .docx file

Older software, certain content management systems, or simple text-processing scripts may not read the modern .docx format at all. Saving as .rtf keeps most formatting while working across nearly any word processor, and saving as .txt strips everything down to text that any system on earth can open.

Check what survives before you rely on it

Rich text format (.rtf) preserves fonts, bold and italic styling, and basic layout, but can lose more advanced features like tracked changes, comments, or complex table formatting. Before sending a converted file somewhere important, open the saved version yourself to confirm nothing critical was dropped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my document still look the same after saving as .rtf?

Mostly yes β€” fonts, basic formatting, and images are preserved, but advanced features like tracked changes or certain complex layouts may not carry over exactly.

How do I know which format the recipient actually needs?

When in doubt, ask them directly, or default to .docx for modern word processors and .pdf when you want the layout to stay fixed no matter what software opens it.