How to open a .rtf file
Rich Text Format · Document
An .rtf file is a formatted document that almost every word processor opens. On Windows this got harder recently: Microsoft removed WordPad, so use LibreOffice, Word or the web.
What a .rtf file actually is
RTF was created by Microsoft in 1987 as a format any program could read, keeping bold, italics and basic layout without locking you into one application.
It is technically plain text with markup, so a text editor shows the content surrounded by control codes. Ugly, but readable in an emergency.
Why it will not open
For years the answer on Windows was WordPad, which was installed by default. Microsoft removed it in Windows 11 version 24H2, so a lot of advice about RTF is now out of date and double-clicking may open nothing.
Renaming it to an extension you can open will not help: changing the extension does not convert the file, it only changes what Windows tries to open it with.
Step by step
Windows
- 01Install LibreOffice Writer or ONLYOFFICE, both free, and open the file.
- 02Or upload it to Google Docs or Word for the web, neither of which needs anything installed.
- 03Notepad opens it too, but shows the raw control codes rather than formatted text. Useful only to confirm the content is there.
- 04Do not go looking for WordPad. It was removed from Windows 11 24H2 and is not coming back.
macOS
- 01Double-click. TextEdit opens RTF natively and preserves formatting, since RTF is TextEdit's own default format.
- 02Pages and LibreOffice both open it as well.
What usually goes wrong
WordPad no longer exists
Microsoft deprecated WordPad and removed it in Windows 11 version 24H2. Any guide that tells you to open an RTF with WordPad predates that change. LibreOffice is the free replacement.
Programs that open .rtf
Our pick, in order. Every one links to the publisher's official download URL and the SHA-256 hash of the installer. Once you have downloaded it, you can check the file against our index before you run it.
If you end up downloading one of these from somewhere other than the publisher, what you can and cannot verify about that is worth two minutes.
- LibreOfficeLibreOffice is a free and powerful office suite, and a successor to OpenOffice.org (commonly known as OpenOffice). Its clean interface and feature-rich tools help you unleash your creativity and enhance your productivity.v26.2.5.2 · 3 hashed installers100
- ONLYOFFICE Desktop EditorsAll the tools you need to work with text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and fillable forms on Windows, Linux, and macOS.v9.4.0 · 3 hashed installers95
Also registers .rtf in its manifest
Taken straight from publisher manifests. Some of these handle the format for a narrow purpose rather than as their main job.
Common questions
- How do I open an RTF file on Windows 11?
- Use LibreOffice Writer or ONLYOFFICE, both free, or Word for the web. WordPad, which used to be the default answer, was removed from Windows in version 24H2.
- What is the difference between RTF and DOCX?
- RTF is an older, simpler format that nearly every word processor reads, but it cannot store modern features like tracked changes or embedded fonts. DOCX is richer and is the current standard.