RTF File Extension - What Is An .rtf File And How Do I Open It?

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1. Rich Text Format File
   • More Information
   • Common Filenames
   • How to Open
   • How to Convert
   • Program List

Rich Text Format File

Developer	Microsoft
Popularity	3.5 | 543 Votes

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What is an RTF file?

An RTF file is a text document that supports font styling known as "rich text." Examples include bold, italicized, and underlined text, as well as different typefaces and font sizes. Rich text files also support page formatting options, such as custom line spacing, tab width, and document margins. Modern versions of the RTF format can also contain images, such as .JPG and .PNG files.

More Information

Microsoft introduced the Rich Text Format (RTF) in 1987 as an alternative to the standard plain text format. Over the next few decades, the company made several incremental updates to the format, such as adding embedded image support. While Microsoft stopped updating the RTF format in 2008, most word processors still support rich text files.

Since RTF is widely-supported, it is an ideal choice for those who need to transfer and edit documents across multiple operating systems and devices. For example, if you use a Windows PC at work but a Mac at home, you can save a Microsoft WordPad document as an RTF file on your work computer, email the file to yourself, and then open it in Apple TextEdit at home.

NOTE: You may encounter minor formatting discrepancies when opening an RTF file created by one program in another. These changes can be attributed to the different versions of the RTF format that various programs support.

Common RTF Filenames

New Rich Text Document.rtf - The default name given to new RTF files created via the Windows context menu (right click in a folder and choose New → Rich Text Document).

How to open an RTF file

You can open an RTF file with most word processing programs, including:

• Microsoft WordPad (Windows)
• Apple TextEdit (Mac)
• Microsoft Word (cross-platform)
• OpenOffice Writer (cross-platform)
• Google Docs (Web, ChromeOS, iOS, Android)

How to convert an RTF file

Most word processors can convert RTF files to other formats. For example, Microsoft WordPad can convert RTF documents to .DOCX, .ODT, and .TXT files.

Also, in the Windows and Mac versions of Microsoft Word, select File → Save As to convert RTF files to one of the following formats:

• .DOCX - Microsoft Word Document
• .DOC - Microsoft Word Document (Legacy)
• .PDF - Portable Document Format
• .ODT - OpenDocument Text Document
• .TXT - Plain Text
• .HTM, .HTML - HTML Webpage
• .XML - Extensible Markup Language
• .MHT, .MHTML - MIME HTML Archive
• .XPS - XML Paper Specification (Windows only)

Programs that open RTF files

Sort Pricing Program Name Platform Reset X Windows File Viewer Plus — Get it from MicrosoftFree+ Microsoft WordPad Microsoft Word 365Free Trial OpenOffice WriterFree Corel WordPerfect 2021Free Trial AbiSource AbiWordFree Any text editor that supports formatted text Mac Apple TextEditIncluded with OS Apple PagesIncluded with OS Microsoft Word 365Free Trial OpenOffice WriterFree AbiSource AbiWordFree Wondershare PDFelementFree Trial Any text editor that supports formatted text Linux AbiSource AbiWordFree OpenOffice WriterFree Les Hardy RTF EditorFree Web FileHelper.comFree Google DocsFree iOS Google DocsFree LibreOffice: Document ReaderPaid MobiSystems OfficeSuite ProFree+ Android Google DocsFree Microsoft WordFree+ LibreOffice & OpenOffice document readerFree+ MobiSystems OfficeSuite ProFree+ Chrome OS Google DocsFree Microsoft WordFree+

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Rich Text Format file format and Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page, please let us know.

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PAGE CONTENTS

1. Rich Text Format File
   • More Information
   • Common Filenames
   • How to Open
   • How to Convert
   • Program List