How to Save Word File as ODT Format

You need to share a Word document with someone who uses LibreOffice or OpenOffice, and they have asked for an ODT file. The ODT format is the standard file type for Open Document Text, used by many free office suites. Word can export documents directly to ODT without any extra software. This article explains how to save a Word file as ODT format using the built-in Save As dialog and shows you what formatting might change during the conversion.

What the ODT Format Is and Why You Would Use It

ODT stands for Open Document Text. It is the default file format for LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice Writer. These are free open-source office suites that many businesses and government agencies use to avoid licensing costs. The ODT format is based on an open standard, which means anyone can implement it without paying royalties.

Word can open and save ODT files, but it does not use ODT as its native format. Word uses the DOCX format by default. When you save a Word file as ODT, Word converts the content into the ODF (Open Document Format) specification version 1.3. This conversion is not perfect. Some advanced Word features are not supported in the ODT specification and will be lost or modified during the conversion.

You do not need to install any add-ins or third-party tools to save as ODT. The feature is built into Word starting from Word 2010 through the latest Word for Microsoft 365. Both Windows and Mac versions support ODT export, though the menu labels may differ slightly between platforms.

Steps to Save a Word File as ODT

1. Open the document in Word
   Launch Word and open the file you want to convert. You can also start with a blank document after you finish editing.
2. Click File on the ribbon
   Go to the top-left corner of the Word window and click the File tab to open the backstage view.
3. Select Save As
   In the left sidebar, click Save As. If you see a list of recent folders, click Browse to open the standard Save As dialog box. Alternatively, you can click This PC and then Browse.
4. Choose a location for the ODT file
   Navigate to the folder where you want to save the ODT copy. Use the folder tree on the left or the address bar at the top.
5. Open the Save as type dropdown
   At the bottom of the dialog, locate the field labeled Save as type. Click the dropdown arrow to see the full list of supported formats.
6. Select OpenDocument Text (odt)
   Scroll down or type ODT to jump to the entry. Click OpenDocument Text (odt) to select it. The file name field will still show your original document name with a .docx extension, but Word will change it to .odt when you save.
7. Click Save
   Press the Save button. Word will display a compatibility warning dialog explaining that some features may be lost. Read the summary, then click OK to proceed.
8. Verify the ODT file
   Open the saved ODT file in LibreOffice, OpenOffice, or back in Word to confirm the conversion worked. Check that text, images, tables, and basic formatting are preserved.

Alternative Method Using Export

Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2021 offer a shorter path through the Export menu. Click File > Export > Change File Type. In the Document File Types section, double-click OpenDocument Text. Word will open the Save As dialog with the ODT format already selected. Choose a folder and click Save.

What to Check After Saving as ODT

ODT File Does Not Open in LibreOffice

If the ODT file fails to open in LibreOffice, the file may be corrupted during the export. Try the conversion again using a simple document with minimal formatting. If the problem persists, update Word to the latest version. Microsoft has improved ODT compatibility in recent updates. Also ensure that LibreOffice is updated to version 7.0 or later, as older versions may not fully support ODF 1.3.

Text Formatting Looks Different in the ODT Version

Fonts, paragraph spacing, and table borders often shift during ODT conversion. Word uses proprietary font metrics and spacing algorithms that do not exist in the ODF specification. To minimize differences, use common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. Avoid unusual paragraph styles and manual line breaks. After conversion, open the ODT file in the target application and adjust formatting there.

Tracked Changes Are Missing in the ODT File

Word tracks changes using its own data structures. The ODT format does support change tracking, but the two systems are not compatible. If you need to share a document with tracked changes, send the DOCX file instead. Alternatively, accept all changes before saving as ODT.

Images or Charts Are Broken or Missing

Embedded images and charts usually transfer correctly, but linked images will break. Before saving as ODT, embed all linked images. Right-click a linked image and select Save as Picture, then reinsert it using Insert > Pictures. For charts, copy the chart and paste it as a picture using Paste Special > Picture (PNG).

Word DOCX vs ODT: Key Differences When Saving

Item	Word DOCX	ODT
Native format	Word default since 2007	LibreOffice and OpenOffice default
Change tracking support	Full, with author names and timestamps	Partial, may lose author details
Macro support	VBA macros stored in file	Not supported, macros are removed
Font embedding	Supported	Not supported, fonts revert to defaults
SmartArt and WordArt	Rendered as native objects	Converted to static images
Table of contents	Dynamic, updatable	Converted to plain text or static fields
File size	Generally smaller	Slightly larger due to XML structure

You can now save any Word file as ODT using the Save As or Export command. Before sharing the ODT file, open it in the target application and verify that all critical content is intact. For documents with heavy formatting or tracked changes, consider sending the original DOCX file instead. As an advanced tip, you can automate ODT conversion by creating a macro that calls the SaveAs2 method with the odt format parameter, saving you time when converting multiple files.