.odt

What is a .odt file?

ODT is the open-standard word processing format — a free, ISO-standard alternative to Microsoft's DOCX.

Safe format
Type Document
By OASIS / ISO
MIME application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text

Drop any file to identify it

No upload. No signup. No sending your file halfway across the internet.
We tell you what it is, right here in your browser.

What is it

You have an .odt file — an OpenDocument Text file. It's the open-standard equivalent of DOCX, used by LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs (for export), and OpenOffice. The format is an ISO standard, free from any single company's control, and a perfectly capable word processing format.

ODT files are ZIP archives containing XML content, styles, and embedded media — the same architecture as DOCX, just with a different XML schema. The format supports everything you'd expect: headings, paragraphs, tables, images, footnotes, track changes, and styles. Cross-format compatibility with DOCX is good but not perfect — complex formatting, embedded fonts, and advanced table layouts sometimes shift when opened in a different application.

LibreOffice Writer (free) is the primary ODT editor and handles the format natively. Google Docs imports and exports ODT. Microsoft Word can open ODT files (File → Open) with reasonable fidelity. For maximum compatibility with Word users, save as DOCX. For document archival and government submissions (some jurisdictions mandate open formats), ODT is the appropriate choice.

Technical details
Full Name
OpenDocument Text
MIME Type
application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text
Developer
OASIS / ISO
Magic Bytes
50 4B 03 04
Safety
.odt is a known, safe format.
What opens it
LibreOffice Writer
FREE All
Google Docs
FREE Web
Microsoft Word
Subscription All
FAQ
Can I open ODT in Microsoft Word?
Yes. Word opens ODT files directly. Most formatting translates well — text, headings, tables, images. Complex styles and track changes may convert imperfectly. Save as DOCX if you need to continue editing in Word.
What's the advantage of ODT over DOCX?
ODT is an ISO standard not controlled by Microsoft. It's free to implement, guaranteed to be readable by future software, and required by some government agencies. The tradeoff is that most workplaces expect DOCX.
Related formats