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RTF Converter – Transform Rich Text Documents

Convert RTF documents to Word, PDF, and other formats.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format

Step 3: Convert files

Read Terms of use before using

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format

Step 3: Convert files

Read Terms of use before using

500+ Formats

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What is RTF?

RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format developed by Microsoft in 1987 for cross-platform document exchange. It was designed to work with any word processor on any operating system.

Unlike plain text, RTF supports formatting including fonts, colors, bold, italic, underline, paragraph alignment, and basic tables. Unlike proprietary formats, RTF is documented and can be read by virtually every word processing application ever made.

RTF served as the universal exchange format before PDF became dominant, and it remains useful when you need formatted documents that work everywhere without conversion issues.

Why Convert RTF Files?

RTF's universal compatibility comes with limitations that conversion can address:

Modern features – DOCX and ODT support advanced formatting, styles, and features RTF lacks
Professional sharing – PDF format is now the standard for finalized documents
Legacy file updates – Convert old RTF documents to modern formats for continued use
File size – RTF files are often larger than equivalent DOCX files
Creating RTF – Convert from other formats to RTF when maximum compatibility is needed
Plain text extraction – Convert to TXT when you only need the text content

Convert RTF to Other Formats

Transform your Rich Text documents to modern formats:

RTF to DOCX

Upgrade to Microsoft Word's native format for full editing capabilities, advanced styles, and modern document features. Perfect for continued editing in current software.

RTF to PDF

Create finalized documents that preserve your formatting exactly. Ideal for sharing completed documents, printing, or archiving.

RTF to DOC

Convert to legacy Word format when sharing with users who have older Microsoft Office installations.

RTF to TXT

Strip all formatting to get plain text. Useful for extracting content for programming, data processing, or text-only applications.

RTF to ODT

Convert to OpenDocument format for editing in LibreOffice, OpenOffice, or other open-source office applications.

RTF to HTML

Transform Rich Text documents to web format for publishing content online or in content management systems.

Convert Other Formats to RTF

Create RTF files for maximum word processor compatibility:

DOCX to RTF

Convert modern Word documents to RTF when you need guaranteed compatibility with older or alternative word processors.

DOC to RTF

Transform legacy Word files to RTF for use in non-Microsoft software or cross-platform sharing.

PDF to RTF

Make PDF content editable in any word processor. RTF output works with software that might not open DOCX files.

TXT to RTF

Add formatting capabilities to plain text files. RTF allows you to apply fonts, styles, and formatting to text content.

ODT to RTF

Convert OpenDocument files to RTF for sharing with users who don't have LibreOffice or ODT support.

HTML to RTF

Transform web content into editable rich text documents that work in any word processor.

RTF Technical Specifications

Full name: Rich Text Format
Developer: Microsoft Corporation
First released: 1987
File extension: .rtf
MIME type: application/rtf or text/rtf
Structure: Text-based markup (human-readable)
Compression: None (uncompressed)
Features: Fonts, colors, basic formatting, tables, images
Limitations: No macros, limited advanced formatting

RTF Compatibility

Software That Opens RTF Files

Microsoft Word (all versions)
WordPad (Windows, built-in)
LibreOffice Writer
Apache OpenOffice Writer
Apple TextEdit and Pages
Google Docs (import)
Virtually every word processor ever made

RTF Advantages

Works with any word processor on any platform
No compatibility issues between software versions
Human-readable format (can view source in text editor)
Cannot contain macros (safer than DOC/DOCX)

How to Convert RTF Files

Upload your RTF file – Drag and drop your Rich Text file or click to browse. We handle all RTF versions.
Choose your output format – Select DOCX for modern editing, PDF for sharing, or other formats based on your needs.
Download your converted file – Conversion is instant. Download your file with formatting preserved.

Expert Tips for RTF

Pro Tip

RTF files are human-readable text. If you open an RTF file in a plain text editor, you'll see the formatting codes. This makes RTF useful for troubleshooting document issues or programmatically generating formatted documents.

Common Mistake

Using RTF for complex documents with advanced formatting. RTF only supports basic formatting—tables, images, and styles may not transfer perfectly. Use DOCX for complex documents, RTF only when compatibility is critical.

Best For

RTF is perfect when you need guaranteed compatibility across different word processors and operating systems, or when sharing documents with people who may not have Microsoft Office.

Not Recommended

Avoid RTF for documents with complex layouts, multiple images, or advanced formatting. The format's limited feature set means some elements may not display correctly. Use DOCX or PDF instead.

About RTF

RTF Format

file extension

.rtf

file category

Document file

stands for

Rich text format

developer

Microsoft

links

en.m.wikipedia.org

overview

RTF is a file format which can be used to write text. This saved file can be used at different operating systems which means it supports cross-platform document Interchange. Most of the word processors support this format, thereby, one can easily read and write. It should be noted that it is meant solely for the addition of text, hence, no videos, images and audios can be added to this file. Although, a standardized file consists of only 7-bit ASCII, yet, by using escape sequences it can encode other characters as well. The formatting in it is very simple that is why the non-RTF program can open this file and make it readable for the users. An example of the same is Notepad. Most of the versions support interoperability which means that it can work with other products or OS.

technical description

The syntax of RTF is dominated by the TeX typesetting language. This format is completely different from the enriched text (media type ‘text/enriched' of RFC 1896), its forerunner Rich text (media type ‘text/enriched' of RFC 1341 and 1521) and IBM's RFT-DCA (Revisable format text document content architecture) and it possesses varied specifications. There are few extensions of images that are supported by it. It includes JPEG, PNG, EMF (Enhanced Metafile), WMF (Windows metafile) ; etc. In addition to this, it is programmed using groups (enclosed within braces i.e. opening brace tells about the initiation of the group and closing brace indicates the end of it), a control word (programmed commands like \b0 coveys that the bold text is off, \b1 tells that the bold text is on) and a delimiter (it can be either space, digit or hyphen or character).

Frequently asked questions

RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format created by Microsoft that works with any word processor. It supports formatting like fonts, colors, and bold text, but is simpler than DOCX. RTF files can be opened by virtually any text editing software.

Almost every word processor opens RTF files, including Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Apple Pages, Google Docs, and even Windows WordPad. RTF was designed specifically for universal compatibility.

Use DOCX for documents you'll edit in Microsoft Word or need advanced formatting. Use RTF when sharing with people who might not have Word, or when you need guaranteed compatibility with older or alternative software.

Yes, upload your RTF file to ChangeMyFile and select PDF as your output format. The conversion preserves your formatting and creates a PDF that looks identical to your original RTF document.

RTF files are uncompressed and store formatting information verbosely. A DOCX file with the same content is typically smaller. Convert to DOCX if file size is a concern.

No. TXT files contain only plain text with no formatting. RTF files support fonts, colors, bold, italic, and other formatting. RTF can be thought of as 'formatted text' while TXT is 'plain text.'

Yes, convert RTF to DOCX for the modern Word format or DOC for the legacy format. Both preserve your RTF formatting and allow full editing in Microsoft Word.

RTF is safer than DOC or DOCX because it cannot contain macros. However, some malware has exploited RTF vulnerabilities, so always be cautious with files from unknown sources.

Yes, Google Docs can import and edit RTF files. Upload your RTF to Google Drive or open it directly in Docs. You can also export from Google Docs to RTF format.

Macs open RTF files natively with TextEdit (included free). You can also use Apple Pages, LibreOffice Writer, or Microsoft Word for Mac. Double-clicking an RTF file usually opens it in TextEdit automatically.