All about DOC Files

The DOC file type is primarily associated with Word.

DOC	File extension: DOC
	File type:	document

What is a DOC file

DOC files mostly belong to Word by Microsoft. DOC filename extension is mainly associated with the binary format used by some versions of Word document processor. Some text documents saved in Open Document Format and WordPerfect Text format also have DOC filename extension. Plain and/or XML-encoded text files with DOC filename extension typically contain documentation used by applications such as Mastercam and Lucene. Applications like TextEdit and Jarte can create or open a DOC document saved in Rich Text Format (RTF) or Rich Text Format Directory (RTFD) format. Some versions of FrameMaker technical content creation system uses an XML-encoded DOC file to save a documentation project.

How to open DOC files

You need a suitable software like Word to open a DOC file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your DOC file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DOC file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

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How to convert DOC files to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, ...

You can convert DOC files using our online DOC file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do so, click the "Choose your .doc file to view" button above.
Your DOC file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Select the office format (e.g. PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODF, HTML, JPG, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert DOC files:

Word by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DOC files are often referred to as Word page layouts because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Acrobat (document) by Adobe
Acrobat is a cross-platform PDF authoring application for mobile and desktop platforms. It can open a DOC file saved in Portable Document Format (PDF). This file format is classified as Page Layout.
DeskMate (document) by Tandy
DeskMate is a discontinued graphical productivity software suite for TRSDOS. It saves a document in a DOC file. This file format is classified as Page Layout. Related links: Wikipedia DeskMate Page
DisplayWrite (document) by IBM
DisplayWrite is a discontinued word processor that was available as a command line program for the IBM PC and PCjr. It saved a document in a DOC file. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
FrameMaker (documentation project) by Adobe
FrameMaker is a technical content authoring and publishing software. Some versions of this application save documentation projects in DOC files. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Interleaf (document) by Interleaf
Interleaf is a discontinued integrated technical document and graphics authoring and publishing system. DOC is the filename extension of its native document format. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Jarte (document) by Carolina Road
Jarte is a word processor developed as an alternative to WordPad. It uses a DOC file to save a document in Rich Text Format. This file format is classified as Page Layout. Related links: Rich Text Format
Lucene (data) by Apache
Lucene is an open source search engine library for Java applications. It uses some data saved in a DOC file. This file format is classified as Data.
macOS (data) by Apple
macOS is a proprietary operating system for MacBooks. It uses a DOC file saved in AppleDouble format. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: AppleSingle and AppleDouble formats
Mastercam (tutorial/documentation) by CNC Software
Mastercam is a computer-aided design and manufacturing software for the mechanical industry. Its tutorials and documentation are saved in DOC files. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Palm Pilot (document) by Palm
PalmPilot is a line of discontinued portable personal digital assistant devices. Various PalmPilot versions saved a document in a DOC file. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Perfect Office (document) by Perfect Office
Perfect Office is a discontinued office productivity software suite. It used DOC files to store documents. This DOC file is not the same as DOC files created by Word. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Sublime (document/documentation) by Sublime
Sublime is a lightweight code editor compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems. It can save documentation as plain text or XML in a DOC file. This file format is classified as Simple text file.
TextEdit (document) by Apple
TextEdit is a word processor and text conversion application built into macOS. It can create and edit a DOC file containing Rich Text or information saved in Rich Text Format Directory format. This file format is classified as Page Layout. Related links: Rich Text Format Directory
Word (document) by Microsoft
Word is a word processor available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Word can open a DOC file containing a document saved in OpenDocument Text format. This file format is classified as Page Layout. Related links: Mime Content Types used in OpenOffice/ StarOffice, OpenDocument
WordPerfect (document) by Corel
WordPerfect is a word processor compatible with Windows desktop. It can open a WP document whose extension has been renamed to DOC. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
Writer (document) by Apache
Writer is the word processor in OpenOffice productivity software suite. It can create and read a DOC file saved in Opendocument Text format. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is an image viewer and organizer with editing and conversion capabilities. It can open a DOC file saved in JPEG format. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

DOC file extension format:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. If the file extension does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Below you will find our evaluation of the DOC files:

The DOC file extension is very common and primarily uses a special format that can be read by various programs. However, the following two file formats are common:

70% of all DOC files utilize the Microsoft Compound File format, which is also known as Compound File Binary File format (CFBF or CFB) or OLE2 Compound Document format. Microsoft Compound File is a complex container format used by some versions of Microsoft Office and other Windows-centric applications. It has features similar to those of a filesystem format. Header signature for the CFB format with 8-byte Hex value D0CF11E0A1B11AE1 (which looks like "DOCFILE"). DOC files contain an app name Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Word, WPS Office or Microsoft Macintosh Word. The CLSID (class identifier of a Windows component object) is 00020906-0000-0000-c000-000000000046 or 00020900-0000-0000-c000-000000000046. The file contains sections that are named something like WordDocument, SummaryInformation, DocumentSummaryInformation, CompObj, 1Table and Data. DOC files are between 22 KB and 410 KB in size. The file type was used 20 years ago but is still in use today. These files are often associated with form, letter, resume, word, sample, document, format, bill and list.
7% of all DOC files use ZIP compression, i.e. a DOC file contains several compressed files. DOC files contain from 5 to 21 compressed files. Customary file names are [Content_Types].xml, \_rels\.rels, \docProps\app.xml and \docProps\core.xml. A little tip: If you rename the file extension to .zip and then double-click, you will see the included files and images. The files are on average 40 KB in size and range from 1 KB to 860 KB. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. [Content_Types].xml. Files like these have the following tags: notes, sdoc, adoc, memo, docx, assignment, dokumentas and proposal.

The remaining 23% of all DOC files are files with no common format, frequently e.g. Microsoft Word for Windows, IBM DisplayWrite Document, Microsoft Word for DOS Document, RTF, PDF, WordPerfect, Mac2OSX, XML, HTML, UTF-8, JPG, LNK, rtfd and MakerFile. Tagged as auto, application, report, template, soba or exam. You can get all the details of your DOC file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .doc file to view" above.

Technical Data for DOC File Extension

File classification:

Page Layout

Related files:

docx, check, ole2, biff, asd, pdf, sdoc, dos, adoc, ole, pptx, doc_completed, xlsx, txt, unknown, world, cfb, dw4, dok, rpt, mso

Mime type:

application/vnd.wordperfect, application/msword, text/plain

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: 602Text.Document, FileType: 602Text Document, AppName: 602Text
EXEFile: 602Text.exe

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.11, FileType: CorelDRAW 11.0 Graphic, AppName: CorelDRAW(R)
EXEFile: coreldrw.exe

ProgramID: Frigate3.view, FileType: HTML Document, AppName: Frigate3

ProgramID: soffice6.doc, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: OpenOffice.org 1.1.0

ProgramID: Word.Document.6, FileType: Microsoft Word 6.0 - 7.0 Document

ProgramID: Word.Document.6, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: Microsoft Word for Windows® 95

ProgramID: Word.Document.8, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: Microsoft Office Word

ProgramID: Word.Document.8, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: Microsoft Word
EXEFile: WINWORD.EXE

ProgramID: Word.Document.8, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: Microsoft Word for Windows® 97

ProgramID: Word.Document.8, FileType: Microsoft Word Document, AppName: Microsoft Word Viewer for Windows® 97
EXEFile: wordview.exe

ProgramID: WordDocument, FileType: Microsoft Word 2.0 Document

ProgramID: WordPad.Document.1, FileType: Wordpad Document, AppName: Rights Management Add-on for Internet Explorer

ProgramID: WordPad.Document.1, FileType: Wordpad Document, AppName: WordPad
EXEFile: WORDPAD.EXE

ProgramID: wp10doc, FileType: WordPerfect 10 Document, AppName: WordPerfect(R) 10

ProgramID: 602Text.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Software602\602Pro PC SUITE\602Text\exec\602Text.exe %1

ProgramID: Word.Document.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE /n /dde

ProgramID: Wordview.Document.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WORDVI~1\OFFICE11\WORDVIEW.EXE /n /dde

ProgramID: soffice6.doc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\OpenOffice.org1.0.2\program\soffice.exe -o %1

ProgramID: EasyWord.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EasyOffice\EASYWORD.EXE %1

ProgramID: WordPad.Document.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessoires\WORDPAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: WP12Doc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WordPerfect Office 12\Programs\wpwin12.exe %1

ProgramID: AbiSuite.AbiWord
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\AbiSuite2\AbiWord\bin\AbiWord.exe %1

ProgramID: wp10doc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2002\Programs\Wpwin10.exe %1

ProgramID: Atlantis.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Atlantis\Atlantis.exe %1

ProgramID: WP13Doc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\WordPerfect Office X3\Programs\wpwin13.exe

ProgramID: GoogleToolbar.doc.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MOZILL~1\firefox.exe -GoogleToolbar .doc

ProgramID: OpenOffice.org.doc
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\OpenOffice.org 2.2\program\soffice.exe -o

ProgramID: rtffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessoires\WORDPAD.EXE

ProgramID: docFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office2007\Office12\WINWORD.EXE

ProgramID: GoogleToolbar.doc.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox 3.5 Beta 4\firefox.exe -GoogleToolbar .doc

Show all 30 listings To Top

a doc document is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DOC files

Associate the DOC file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open documents. Because only the current version supports the latest DOC file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available Word update.
To make sure that your DOC file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .DOC file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.