Microsoft Word, one of the most popular programs to create, view, edit, share, and manage Word documents, is available for your Mac device. With a simple and clean interface, the program lets you manage everything easily and quickly. Whether you’re a student, journalist, blogger, columnist, writer, or project manager, you'll find Microsoft Word will be an excellent choice.
Enabling a document to be viewed in Windows is very easy and should you have Office Mac on your computer it is as simple as saving the file as (.doc) and choose Word 97-04 extension or if you want to be absolutely sure that the document will open on any computer save it as an (.rtf) rich text file.
- Even though PDF documents are often the default format for sharing files online unless you have the right know-how or the right software, editing a PDF document can be a challenge. The best course of action is usually to change PDF to Word on Mac.
- Select the Insert tab to subtly merge documents. Select Object, press a small triangle next to it, and then select Text from File from the dropdown menu. After that, you can select files to be merged into the current document. By pressing and holding Ctrl to select more than one document.
- Create a document Create a document in Word With Word on your PC, Mac, or mobile device, you can: Create documents from scratch, or a template.
Create and collaborate in real-time!
Designed for Mac, it’s all you need to manage Word documents.
Microsoft Word is one of the most popular word processing applications worldwide. It is the go-to app for document creation and management. While you’ll find several word processing apps on the App Store, Microsoft Word is the better choice for all its robust and advanced features.
Using the program, you can conveniently spell check, insert pictures, merge data from MS Excel spreadsheets, display charts, and choose from several embedded objects. One of the most important characteristics of Microsoft Word is the WYSIWYG interface. It instantly matches the text on screen with the final output on the page.
For those who are concerned that the design may look unfamiliar from the original Windows version, you can count that the transition from one platform to the next will be smooth and intuitive.
Simple and clean interface
Among the most popular word processing programs for Mac, Microsoft Word has the cleanest interface. In fact, it’s supported by the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, making it easier to work on lengthy documents. Since Word also supports the revamped macOS Mojave Dark Mode, it allows you to eliminate distractions while working on important documents throughout the day.
Rich feature list and formats
Word for Mac comes with a wide range of pre-designed templates so you can start working instantly on projects, blogs, assignments, scripts, letters, notes, and CVs. With several layout options and rich formatting to express your thoughts and ideas, it’s the best program for document editing. Unlike its competitors LibreOffice and Pages, Microsoft Word retains the pristine layout and aesthetics on all devices.
Reduced errors with intuitive tools
Microsoft Word is packaged with several intuitive tools to help you with editing and proofreading. While using Word, you won't need tools like Grammarly, since the program gives grammar, spelling, and stylistic writing suggestions as you type. With numerous tools available, you can switch among pen, paper, and digital inking conveniently.
Real-time collaboration for project management
Create Word Document On Mac
With its real-time collaboration features, Microsoft Word takes the lead. Office 365 gives you the ability to work on the Cloud and ensure seamless integration among several apps. With just a single click, you'll be able to share your documents with anyone, anywhere.
By the same token, anyone who opens the document will be able to add comments or edit in real time.
Easy sharing options
While most word processing programs provide you with easy sharing options, Microsoft Word goes a step ahead. With just a few clicks, you can give each person a different kind of access and permission.
In general, a main problem with sharing options in other programs is the distortion of formatting in email messages. However, when you copy the content from your Microsoft Word document to an email message, there’s no distortion. You can even attach and share documents over email without worrying about the recipient receiving error messages or misrepresented formatting.
Where can you run this program?
Microsoft Word for Mac is available both as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package and as a standalone app. Both options will require you to purchase an Office 365 subscription. Microsoft Word for Mac is compatible with Mac OS 10.12 and above.
Is there a better alternative?
While Microsoft Word is a good choice for Mac, you might want to consider a few alternatives. The Mac OS already has a good word processor called Pages. It offers some great collaboration features and lets you export files to Word format. However, exchanging documents with people who work on Word can be tedious. Moreover, the app doesn’t have advanced features, such as master documents and mail merges.
If you’re considering an alternative for Microsoft Word, Google Docs will be your best bet. In fact, Google Drive offers Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which together become the perfect alternative for the entire Office suite. The only drawback is that Mac doesn’t support a desktop app for these programs. When you can’t find a good option, it’s best to settle with Office.com. It gives you free Microsoft Office for Mac. Office.com is Microsoft’s basic and free browser-based service.
Our take
While Microsoft Word is synonymous with Microsoft Windows, most people don’t know that it was first released on the Mac. Though both companies have shared a constant rocky relationship, Microsoft Word has always been a mainstay on Mac devices. With ample features, clean interface, and rich formatting, Word is still a viable option for creating, editing, and managing documents on Mac.
Should you download it?
Yes, without a doubt! Microsoft Word is an excellent word processing app backed by one of the most trusted companies in the world. Over the years, updates have introduced several new features, including integration with Office 365.
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Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Note
This article suggests ways in which you can recover a lost, unsaved, or corrupted Microsoft Word document.
If you're looking for information about how to recover recent Office documents, see the following articles:
If you're looking for information about how to recover recent Office documents, see the following articles:
- Recover your Office files (for Word versions through Office 2019)
Note
For more information about earlier versions of Word, see the following Knowledge Base article:
Quick resolution
Try the following options to help recover your lost, unsaved, or corrupted Word document. Select the image at the left or the option heading to see more detailed instructions about that option.
Search for the original document Windows 10 and Windows 7
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Search for Word backup files
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Check the Recycle Bin Check the Desktop Recycle Bin to see if your document is there.
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Search for auto-recover files
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Search for temporary files
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Search for '~' files Windows 10 and Windows 7
Scroll through the files, and look for any files that may match the last few dates and times that you edited the document. |
How to troubleshoot damaged documents For information about how to troubleshoot damaged Word documents, see How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word. |
Additional resources
If you experience specific issues when you use Word, go to the following website to search for more information about your program version:
Detailed view of the options
The following section provides more detailed descriptions of these options.
Option 1: Search for the original document
Type the document name, in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
- If the File list contains the document, double-click the document to open it in Word.
- If the File list does not contain the file, go to Option 2.
Option 2: Search for Word Backup files
Word backup file names end with the .wbk extension. If you have the option Always create Backup copy selected, there may be a backup copy of the file.
Note
To locate this option:
- Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013:Select File, then Options, and then Advanced. Scroll down to the Save section and select Always create backup copy.
- Word 2010:Select File, then Options. In the Save tab, select Always create backup copy.
To find the backup copy of the file, follow these steps:
- Locate the folder in which you last saved the missing file.
- Search for files that have the .wbk file name extension.
- Right-click the backup file that you found and select Open.
If there are no .wbk files in the original folder, search the computer for any .wbk files. To do this, follow these steps.
- Select Start, type *.wbk in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows). Then, press Enter.
- If the File list contains the backup file, repeat the steps in Option 2 to open the file.
- If the File list does not contain the backup file, go to Option 4.
If you find any files that have the name 'Backup of' followed by the name of the missing file, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you're running.
Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013
- On the File menu, select Open > Browse. (In some versions of Word, select Computer > Browse.)
- In the Files of type list (All Word Documents), select All Files.
- Right-click the backup file that you found, and select Open.
Word 2010
- On the File menu, select Open.
- In the Files of type list (All Word documents), select All Files.
- Right-click the backup file that you found, and select Open.
Option 3: Check the Recycle Bin
Recovering deleted Word documents from the Recycle Bin
If you deleted a Word document without emptying the recycle bin, you may be able to restore the document.
- Double-click the Recycle Bin on the Desktop.
- Search through the list of documents to see if the deleted word file is still there. If you don't know the name, look for file types such as DOC, DOCX, DOT, etc.
- Right-click the Word file and select Restore to recover it.If you have emptied the recycle bin after deleting files, the deleted Word file may have been permanently removed. If so, go to Option 4.
Restore a SharePoint item from the Microsoft 365 site collection Recycle Bin
- Open the Recycle Bin, depending on the type of site you are using:
- Modern Team and Classic sites (or subsites): In the left pane, select Recycle Bin.
- Modern Communication sites: Select Site contents, and then select Recycle Bin in the top navigation bar.NoteIf you don't see the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:
- Select Settings > Site settings. (If you don't see Site settings, select Site information > View all site settings. Some pages might require you to select Site contents > Site settings.)
- On Site settings, under Site Collection Administration, select Recycle bin.
- At the bottom of the Recycle Bin page, select Second-stage recycle bin.NoteYou need administrator or owner permissions to use the site collection Recycle Bin. If you don't see it, then either you don't have permission to access it or it may have been disabled. Mac tools logo.
- Select the check icon to the right of each document to recover, and then select Restore.
If you restore an item that was originally located in a deleted folder, the folder is recreated in its original location and the item is restored in that folder.
Option 4: Search for AutoRecover unsaved or corrupted files
AutoRecover file names end in the .asd file name extension. By default, Word searches for auto-recover files every time that it starts, and then it displays any files found in the Document Recovery task pane.
- Use Word to automatically find the auto-recovered files. To do this, follow these steps:
- Right-click the taskbar, and select Task Manager.
- On the Processes tab, select any instance of Winword.exe or Microsoft Word, and then select End Task or End Process. Repeat this step until you have exited all instances of Winword.exe and Word.
- Close the Windows Task Manager dialog box, and then start Word.
If Word finds the auto-recovered file, the Document Recovery task pane opens on the left side of the screen, and the missing document is listed as 'document name [Original]' or as 'document name [Recovered].' If this occurs, double-click the file in the Document Recovery pane, select File > Save As, and then save the document as a .docx file. To manually change the extension to .docx, right-click the file, and select Rename.
Manually search for auto-recovered files
If the Document Recovery pane does not open, manually search for auto-recovered files. To do this, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you're running.
Word for Office 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013
- On the File menu, select Open, and then Browse. (In Word 2013, select File > Open > Computer > Browse.)
- Browse to the folder where you last saved your document and look for files that end in .asd.
- If you don't see your document listed, select File > Info > Manage Documents (or Manage Versions) > Recover Unsaved Documents.
Word 2010
- On the File menu, select Recent.
- If you don't see your document listed, select Recover Unsaved Documents.
Search for .asd files
If you can't locate an auto-recovered file in the location that is identified in the Folder name list, search your whole drive for any .asd files. To do this, follow these steps:
Type .asd in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
- If the File list does not contain auto-recovered files, go to Option 5.
- If you find any files that have the .asd extension, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you're running:Word 2019, Word 2016, or Word 2013
- On the File menu, select Open, and then Browse. (In some versions, you may have to select Computer and then Browse.)
- In the Files of type list (All Word Documents), select All Files.
- Select the .asd file that you found, and then select Open.
Word 2010- On the File menu, select Open.
- In the Files of type list (All Word Documents), select All Files.
- Select the .asd file that you found, and then select Open.
Note
In the Recovery pane, if you find an auto-recovered file that does not open correctly, go to Option 6 for more information about how to open damaged files.
Option 5: Search for temporary files
Temporary file names end in a .tmp extension. To find these files, follow these steps:
- Type .tmp in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
- On the Show only toolbar, select Other.
- Scroll through the files and search for files that match the last few dates and times that you edited the document. If you find the document that you're looking for, go to Option 7 to find out how to recover information from the file.
Option 6: Search for '~' files
Some temporary file names start in a tilde (~) character. To find these files, follow these steps:
- Type ~ in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
- Select See more results.
- Scroll through the files, and look for any that match the last few dates and times that you edited the document.
Mac To Word Documents Electronically
If you find the document that you're looking for, go to Option 7 to find out how to recover information from the file.
For more information about how Word creates and uses temporary files, see Description of how Word creates temporary files.
Option 7: How to troubleshoot damaged documents
For information about how to troubleshoot damaged Word documents, see How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word.
More information
In certain situations, it's possible to completely lose a Word document. For example:
- If an error occurs that forces Word to close
- If you experience a power interruption while editing
- If you close the document without saving your changes
Note
The whole document may be lost if you have not recently saved the document. If you have saved your document, you may lose only the changes that you made since the last save. Be aware that some lost documents may not be recoverable.
The AutoRecover feature in Word performs an emergency Backup of open documents when an error occurs. Some errors can interfere with the auto-recovery functionality. The AutoRecover feature is not a substitute for saving your files.
Mac To Word Documents Download
We do not provide any utilities to recover deleted documents. However, some third-party utilities to recover deleted documents might be available from the internet.
For more information about AutoRecover, see the following articles:
Third-party information disclaimer
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
Still need help? Go to Microsoft Community.