.DOC file extension What are they and how to open this type of file?

This type of extension is mainly related to Microsoft Word, it was created and published by the company of Microsoft Corporation in its versions of Word between 1997 and 2003.

It is worth mentioning that this type of extension is already obsolete, that is, that .DOC was created to withstand templates created between 1997 and 2003. However, in newer versions of Microsoft Word, this type of .DOC format they can easily open data on them.

So if you have any .DOC document on your PC or mobile phone and you don’t know how to open it, here we are going to show you how you can do this and a little more about what this type of extension is.

What is it and what are files with the .DOC extension used for?

.DOC extensions are a type of binary file which is basically made up of the frames and records that focus on the texts, that is, this type of extension is responsible for storing all the information of formatting, graphics, text, scripts, images, tables, undo information, among other. All this content can be created and edited by the different specialized programs to open and edit these files.

These .DOC files they can also be printed in different sizes, and the same can be viewed by different programs on different operating systems. East .DOC format since its launch it has been presenting some changes, especially in the most recent versions of Microsoft Word, it’s like in the Word version of 2007 was replaced by another type of extension, which is based on XML, being this .Docx or Docm.

Despite all this type of action, it is important to clarify that the .DOC extension is compatible with all versions of Microsoft Word. However, due to updates to each version already the binary Encodings, Not all DOC functionality is available for Word or other programs like Apple Pages and Open Office.

How to open and view .DOC files on smartphones or computers?

One of the biggest problems when getting a doc file, is with what type of program we can open and view. This is because as it is a deprecated extension and which has been replaced over time, many users are unaware of it or have seen very little of it.

So they don’t know how to open this type of document. That is why here we will explain how you can view this type of file either in your computer or SmartphoneTo do this, follow each of the following methods.

On Windows PCs

For the windows users they are recommended to use a program called wordpad, known as a simple software of text processing and which is included in almost all windows versions.

It is worth mentioning that Microsoft for some years ago eliminated any possibility of saving a document with the .doc extension in WordPad and other programs.

However, in the case of this program, it currently does not have the ability to open a document with the new .docx extension, but if you can continue to open document with the old extension .doc.

In this way, here we explain step by step how open a doc document in Windows using the WordPad program, To do this, follow these steps that we will explain below:

• To start you will have to click on the “Search bar” located in the Windows taskbar.
• There you must write “WordPad” and once it appears on the screen you must click on the icon to start the program.

• When you are inside the program you will have to click on the option “File, Archive”.
• Select the option from the drop-down menu “Open”.

• There the window will open. “Windows Explorer”the next thing is to find the .DOC document that you want to open. Once you have found it, click on “Open” and automatically the file will appear on the screen.

On Mac computers

A way to open .DOC documents on Mac is through pagesfor this it is important to have the most recent version of pagesin case you don’t have it, you can download it from the App Store.

This program is specialized to open formats with .doc and .docx extension. therefore, it becomes a very good solution for mac users be able to open these types of files, where you can not only open them but also edit.

To do this, follow the steps that we will teach you below:

• Enter the App Store on Mac to download “Pages” in case you do not have it installed on the PC.

• When it’s already been installed on the computerr the next thing will be to open it.
• Once inside Pages click on “File, Archive” and there choose the option “Open” or in that case “To import”.

• There a new window will open where you will have to search for the .doc file that you want to open. Automatically the file will appear on the screen of pages.

On Android mobile phones

When we want open a Doc document in Android we find that these cannot be configured automatically so that they can be read and edited on the mobile device. For this, it is necessary to have a Google account and with the Adobe Reader application, which can be downloaded from playstore.

In the event that you do not have a Google account or the application, here we will teach you how to get it so that you can start open your Doc files from the Smartphone.

• For create a google account you will need to enter the mobile store of “PlayStore”, you will find it in the menu of your applications.

• There you will be asked to add your google accountIf you don’t have it, you must create it. However, if you already have a Google email address, just click on the option “Existing”. There you will have to add your data to be able to access the account.

• Once you have entered Play Store you must click on the “Search bar” located at the top of the screen.
• There you must write Adobe Reader and click on the magnifying glass.

• The next thing is to click on the option “Install”.

• When you have installed the app on your device, you should open it and try to open your document.
• For this you will have to enter the option of “My document”, there you will look for the doc file that you want to open.
• When you have found the file, click on it and it will automatically open on your mobile screen.

On iPhone devices with iOS

In the case of iPhone devices they do not have an integrated app that is capable of open files with a .doc extension. However, you have the opportunity to view these files through applications that, if they are native to the ios system, among them we can find the safari browser and email apps.

All this can be done using the option preview, which can be supplemented using third party data processing applicationsin case you want edit the document.

In order to open this type of file on your iPhone, you will need to follow these steps:

• For this you will need to start the iPhone’s “Mail” app.

• There you will have to allow check for new messages.
• Now you must find the mail that contains the file with the extension Doc.
• Click on the button that contains the name of the file in the inbox. The file will begin downloading to your computer and a preview of the same. In this way, you can start view your Doc document from your iPhone.

in case you want open the extension through the Safari browser you will have to do the following:

• To do this, go to the app Safari browser.

• Now in the search box write a term that is related to the document you want to view, this in the event that the file is stored in a Web page. In case you do not know the exact web address, copy it and paste it in the “address bar” and press the option “To go”.
• press on it extension link and the document will begin to download automatically to your iPhone and one will open preview of the same, in this way you can view said file on your computer.

If you don’t want to view the file only, but also you want to edit itthen you will have to use a third party application.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Enter the App Store on your iPhone, there you must look for an app compatible with the type of doc formatfor this there are programs like Documents To Go, Documents Free or Connect By QuickOffice.
• The next thing will be to download one of these three applications in your Smartphone.

• When it has already been installed in the terminal, connect the equipment to the computer through the USB Cable.
• Then start the program “iTunes” on your PC, and select the iPhone device that appears on the screen.
• Now click on the option “Applications” and scroll until you get the section of “File sharing”.
• Select the app you downloaded earlier from the App Store and click “Add” within the menu of “Documents”.
• Look for the doc document you want to open, when you find it click on “Open” this document will be transferred from PC to Smartphone.
• Lastly, from your iPhone you enter the application that you have downloaded compatible with the extension and select the document you want to see. This way you can open your doc files, so much for view and edit since your iPhone device.

List of the best applications and alternative programs to open a document with a .Doc extension without using Word or Microsoft Offices

The doc documentsor also known as Word formats, have been one of the most used, since they are considered the international standard for the text documents. However, it is worth mentioning that this type of extension is a thing of the past and has currently been renewed by Docx.

In such a way, open this extension type doc is still possible and for this there are different programs or applications which we can use already from the computer or Smartphone. That is why here we will teach you how to view this type of file without having to use Microsoft Offices or Microsoft Word.

WordViewer

You can get this program from free form and is available for both computers and mobile devices. It is mainly characterized by being a program that occupies few resources and for how easy it is to handle. bears a certain resemblance to Microsoft Word and like that program is compatible with doc and docx formats.

However, once WordViewer is installed you must download the package Microsoft office so that all these files can be opened automatically and easily. Therefore, WordViewer It is one of the simplest options that we can use to open files with extensions of this type. An excellent option to carry out this type of process quickly and easily.

On the cloud

Another way that we can find to be able to open this type of file with extensions. Doc is using the tool the cloud or Cloud. Among the best known we can find Google Docs or Google Drive. Both not only allow view documentsbut it will also give you the possibility to create documents from scratch or modify them. They allow you to work with different formats, including Doc.

Perhaps one of the cons of this type of platform is that it will only work for you through a internet connection, therefore, this can become an inconvenience for those moments where a network is not available. However, this is still a really attractive option and one that you can use from the PC or Smartphone.

open-office

Another option that we have available to open this type of file is using a free software as it is open-office. This program will allow you create and open native Microsoft Word documents, as well as other types of formats. open-office you can install it on your computer for free and start using it either for create text edits, databases, make vector drawings among others.

Thus, open-office becomes another of the options that we can handle when we want to open some type of file with doc extension However, you need a Internet connection in order to view that content.

Free Office

It’s a free and open source software, considered one of the most important and powerful office tools on the market. With Free Office you can start putting all your creativity into gear. This program will allow you create texts, use spreadsheets, print, has a drawing application and flowcharts, among many other totally interesting tools that you can use for each of your documents.

It has a very attractive and interesting interface, thanks to each of its tools to make the work of each of its users the most complete. It has compatibility with Doc and Docx formats, as well as with another great variety of formats on the market.

AbiWord

AbiWord is mainly characterized by being a software that occupies few resources and which in turn is considered one of the fastest and most complete on the market in terms of word processors. Among its most outstanding features we can find its interface, which is very manageable and comfortable for its users, has a spell checker, page and paragraph formatting, embed text styles, include images, Find and Replace functionamong other.

Generally, files created and saved in AbiWord has a kind of .abw extension, which allows them to be visible in any text reader. But, this processor is compatible with different text formats as it is Doc or currently docx. Therefore, if you are looking for a way to be able to open the doc files on your computerthen with AbiWord You can do it in a very simple and fast way.

What are the differences between .Docx and .Doc files? Can they be converted?

The .doc documents have been created by the application of Microsoft Word, belonging to the package MicrosoftOffice. This extension has already ceased to be used by Word and for which for many it has already become obsolete.

However, this does not mean that it no longer exists, since you can still find a large number of files with this type of extension and which are still visible thanks to different programs available on the market.

Precisely in the year 2007, Microsoft Word began to use what would be his new extension, now called Docx and with which each of your created documents would be saved. This extension is much more advanced than the previous one and which allows compress the document much more.

The docx format which is XML-based has become the default extension of Word when saving a document. And which has been applied since version 2007 onwards. All this made us think that this was a strategy to Word be able to remove all versions prior to 2007, mainly because none of them were able to open a docx file.

However, this was not entirely true, since the version 2003 if he is able to read xml files and all the updates and compatibility were successively applied to the other versions.