How to Open an RTF File on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone

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Your guide to opening Rich Text Format files on desktop and mobile

Co-authored by Garnik Ovsepyan and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: November 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using a Desktop App
|
• Using Google Docs
|
• Using Google Drive on Mobile
|
• Using Jumpshare
|
• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Rich Text Format (RTF) files were developed to store text files with extra data that includes fonts, format styles, and even images. They were developed to allow the transfer of text files between different programs and computer operating systems while preserving the text format style. This wikiHow article teaches you how to open RTF files on any platform.

How to Open RTF FIles

1. Right-click the RTF file you want to open.
2. Click Open With.
3. Click a text editor or word processor, such as WordPad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Desktop App

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1. 
   1
   Find and right-click the RTF file you want to open in your files. Locate the file in your folders, and right-click on its name or icon to see your options on a drop-down menu.
2. 
   2
   Hover over Open with. It's in the menu that appears when you right-click on a file. Recommended applications for this file type will pop up on a sub-menu.
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3. 
   3
   Select a text editor on the app list. Click any text editor app on the app list to open your RTF text file, and view the formatted text contents in this file. You can use a simple text editor like TextEdit on Mac or WordPad on Windows. You can also use a word processor like Microsoft Word, LIbre OpenOffice or Pages on Mac.

   • If you don't see any text editors on the app list here, click Other or Choose another app at the bottom of the list.
   • Any text editor that supports formatted text will open the RTF file format.
   • Alternatively, you can open the text editor or word processing application and click File in the menu bar at the top, followed by Open. Then select the file you want to open.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Garnik Ovsepyan

   Computer Specialist

   Garnik Ovsepyan is a Computer Specialist and the Owner of HeliX PC based in Burbank, California. With over 25 years of experience, Garnik specializes in custom computer builds, computer repairs, virus removal, computer tune-ups, hardware and software troubleshooting and installations, diagnostics, and data backup and recovery.

   

   Garnik Ovsepyan
   Computer Specialist

   Try a free word processing app if you don't have Microsoft Word. OpenOffice and LibreOffice are both free apps that open DOCX files. They're great options if you don't have a subscription to Microsoft Word.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Google Docs

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1. 
   1
   Open Google Docs in your internet browser. To do so, navigate to https://docs.google.com in your web browser.

   • If you are not logged in automatically, click Sign In at the top and log into your Google account.
   • Google Docs technically doesn't support RTF files. When you open an RTF file in Google Docs, it will be converted to Google Docs format.
2. 
   2
   Click the folder icon. This button is located in the upper-right corner of your "Recent documents" list, next to the AZ button. It will open a new pop-up window, and allow you to open a new file.
3. 
   3
   Click the Upload tab. This button is on the right-hand side of the tab bar at the top of the pop-up window. You can upload and open a file from your computer here.
4. 
   4
   Click the Browse button. This is a blue button in the middle of the Upload window. It will open a new file explorer window, and allow you to select the file you want to open.

   • Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file into the window in the center of the screen.
5. 
   5
   Select "All Files" in the file type drop-down menu. It's located next to the "File name" bar at the bottom of the screen. This will display all files in your current folder.
6. 
   6
   Select the RTF file you want to open. Find your RTF file in the file explorer window, and click on its name or icon to select the file.
7. 
   7
   Click the Open button on the bottom-right. This will upload your RTF file to your Google Docs account, and open it in your internet browser as a Google Doc file.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Google Drive on Mobile

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1. 
   1
   Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone, iPad or Android. The Google Docs icon looks like a triangle with yellow, green, and blue edges. You can find it on your home screen, in an app folder, or on the Apps tray.

   • If you don't have the Drive app, you can download it from the App Store for iPhone & iPad or from the Play Store for Android.
2. 
   2
   Tap the colored + button. This is the "Add" button in the lower-right corner of your screen. It will open a pop-up panel at the bottom.
3. 
   3
   Tap Upload on the pop-up panel. This option will allow you to add new files to your Drive.

   • If you're using an iPhone or iPad, you'll have to select Browse here when you're prompted.
4. 
   4
   Find and tap your RTF file. Locate your RTF file in your mobile folders, and tap on it to upload it to your Drive.
5. 
   5
   Find and tap the uploaded RTF file in your Drive. This will open the RTF document, and allow you to view it on your phone or tablet.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Jumpshare

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1. 
   1
   Go to https://jumpshare.com/viewer/rtf in a web browser. Jumpshare is an online file viewer that allows you to open and view RTF files in your web browser. Open the Jumpshare website in your web browser. You can use Jumpshare to view RTF files on a computer or mobile device.

   • You can use Jumpshare to view RTF files, but it will not let you edit them.
2. 
   2
   Click or tap Choose RTF File. It's the blue button in the center of the page.

   • Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file into the window in the center of the screen.
3. 
   3
   Select your RTF file and click Open. This will upload the RTF file.
4. 
   4
   Click View Your Document. It's the blue button in the center of the page. This displays your RTF file in your web browser.
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Expert Q&A

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Add New Question

• Question

  What is an RTF file?

  

  Garnik Ovsepyan
  Computer Specialist

  Garnik Ovsepyan is a Computer Specialist and the Owner of HeliX PC based in Burbank, California. With over 25 years of experience, Garnik specializes in custom computer builds, computer repairs, virus removal, computer tune-ups, hardware and software troubleshooting and installations, diagnostics, and data backup and recovery.

  

  Garnik Ovsepyan

  Computer Specialist

  Expert Answer

  RTF stands for Rich Text Format—this is a file that Windows creates. It can be read by most modern operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
• Question

  Is TXT same as RTF?

  

  Garnik Ovsepyan
  Computer Specialist

  Garnik Ovsepyan is a Computer Specialist and the Owner of HeliX PC based in Burbank, California. With over 25 years of experience, Garnik specializes in custom computer builds, computer repairs, virus removal, computer tune-ups, hardware and software troubleshooting and installations, diagnostics, and data backup and recovery.

  

  Garnik Ovsepyan

  Computer Specialist

  Expert Answer

  No, it's not. TXT files, made by programs like Notepad, are much more basic than RTF files.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2

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