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How to Open docx Files
Without Word 2007
This Word Tip is Part 2 of How to Open docx files. Use this tip if you do not have Word 2007 installed.
For general background information about opening docx files including troubleshooting tips, see Part 1, How to Open docx files.
Opening docx files without Word 2007
Click the statement that best describes your software set up. The link takes you to a short tutorial:
- I have Word 2007 installed (link opens new page)
- I have a previous version of Word installed
- I do not have Word installed
Opening docx files with a previous version of Word
If you own a previous version of Word (2000, 2002, 2003, XP), you can open documents with the .docx file extension. But to do it, you need to install the Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack.
After downloading the pack, not only can you open and edit Word 2007 docx files, but also Excel 2007 (.xlsx) and PowerPoint 2007 files (.pptx).
YOU WILL NOT be able to edit all features in a docx file using a previous version of Word. The Compatibility Pack is essentially a workaround—if you need to edit everything in a docx file, you have to install Word 2007.
If your version of Word is OLDER THAN 2000, you will not be able to open and edit Word 2007 documents using the Compatibility Pack. But you can install the Word viewer and open and print documents. See the section, Open a docx file without Word.
The download link takes you to the Microsoft website where you can install the Compatibility Pack. Follow the directions carefully! Do not skip the steps for installing High-Priority updates. Skipping the updates may result in error messages and the inability to open docx files.
If you already installed the Compatibility Pack without downloading the updates, uninstall it and start over.
After downloading the Compatibility Pack, download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 1 (SP1). It includes bug fixes and security updates for the Compatibility Pack.
Download the Compatibility Pack
Download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack
Opening docx files without Word
If you don’t have Word installed, or your version of Word is older than 2000, you can still open and print a docx file using the Word 2007 viewer in addition to the Compatibility Pack.
You must have both the Microsoft Word reader and the compatibility pack installed to open docx files.
The download links take you to the Microsoft website where you can install the Word viewer and the Compatibility Pack. Follow the directions carefully! Do not skip the steps for installing High-Priority updates. Skipping the updates may result in error messages and the inability to open Word 2007 files.
Download and install the Word viewer first, then the Compatibility Pack.
If you already installed the Compatibility Pack without downloading the Word viewer or the updates, uninstall it and start over.
After downloading the Compatibility Pack, download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 1 (SP1). It includes bug fixes and security updates for the Compatibility Pack.
Download the Compatibility Pack
Download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack
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