The fastest way depends on what you have installed

If you have Microsoft Word on your computer, open the document by double-clicking it or by opening Word first and selecting File > Open. The document appears ready to edit — click anywhere in the text and start typing, deleting, or rearranging words the way you would in any text editor.

If you do not have Word installed, you have two other routes: use a free online version through Microsoft 365 online, or use a free alternative like LibreOffice Writer or Google Docs. Each one works slightly differently, but all three let you make the same basic changes — adding text, removing text, changing formatting, and saving your work.

The choice between them usually comes down to what you already have access to and whether you want to work on your computer or in a web browser. Desktop versions (Word and LibreOffice) save files to your hard drive. Online versions (Microsoft 365 online and Google Docs) save to the cloud, which means you can access them from any device with internet.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, and Google Docs all open and edit .docx files, though formatting may shift slightly when moving between them.
  • Desktop editors like Word and LibreOffice save files to your computer; online editors like Microsoft 365 online save to the cloud and sync across devices.
  • To edit text, click where you want to make a change, then type, delete, or select and replace — the same as any word processor.
  • Formatting tools (bold, italics, font size, colors) are in the toolbar at the top of the screen in all three editors.
  • Always save your work before closing — use Ctrl+S on Windows or Command+S on Mac, or click File > Save.

Editing text in Microsoft Word

Open your Word document by double-clicking the file or by opening Word and going to File > Open > Browse. Once the document is open, click anywhere in the text where you want to make a change. A blinking cursor appears at that spot. Type new text, or use Backspace to delete characters to the left of the cursor, or Delete to remove characters to the right.

To change existing text, click and drag to select the words you want to replace, then type the new text — the selected text disappears and your new text takes its place. To move text from one place to another, select it, then use Ctrl+X (Windows) or Command+X (Mac) to cut it. Click where you want it to go and use Ctrl+V or Command+V to paste.

Formatting buttons are in the toolbar at the top: Bold, Italic, Underline, font size, font color, and text highlighting. Select the text you want to format first, then click the button. To remove formatting, select the text and click the button again, or select the text and press Ctrl+M (Windows) or Command+M (Mac) to clear all formatting at once.

Editing in LibreOffice Writer (free desktop option)

LibreOffice Writer works almost identically to Word. Open the program, go to File > Open, and browse to your .docx file. Click in the text to position your cursor, then type, delete, or select and replace text the same way as Word. The toolbar at the top has the same formatting buttons — Bold, Italic, font size, and color.

One difference: LibreOffice sometimes shifts the layout or spacing of a document that was created in Word, especially if it uses complex formatting or embedded objects. The text content stays intact, but margins, line spacing, or image placement may change slightly. If you plan to send the document back to someone using Word, open it in Word afterward to check how it looks before you send it.

Save your work the same way: Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), or File > Save. LibreOffice saves to your computer by default, so your file stays on your hard drive unless you manually move it to cloud storage.

Editing in Google Docs (free online option)

Go to Google Drive (drive.google.com), sign in with your Google account, and look for your Word document. If it is not there, click New > File Upload and select the .docx file from your computer. Google Docs converts it to its own format automatically. Click the document to open it.

Editing works the same way: click where you want to make a change, type or delete text, select and replace, or cut and paste. The formatting toolbar is at the top — Bold, Italic, font size, and color buttons are all there. One advantage of Google Docs is that it saves automatically as you type, so you do not have to remember to press Ctrl+S.

If you need to read the edited document back to your computer as a Word file, click File > read > Microsoft Word (.docx). Google Docs preserves most formatting when you convert back to Word, though some advanced features (like tracked changes or complex tables) may not transfer perfectly.

Formatting and styling your document

All three editors let you change how text looks. Select the text you want to format, then use the toolbar buttons: Bold makes text darker and heavier, Italic slants it, Underline adds a line beneath it. You can combine these — select text and click Bold and Italic together to make it both bold and italic.

To change font size, select the text and click the font size dropdown (usually shows a number like 12 or 14). Larger numbers make text bigger; smaller numbers make it smaller. To change the font itself (the style of the letters), click the font dropdown — it usually shows the current font name like Calibri or Times New Roman.

To change text color, select the text and click the text color button (usually a letter A with a colored bar underneath). To highlight text with a background color, click the highlighting button (usually a marker icon). Both let you pick from a color palette.

Saving your document and keeping track of versions

In Word and LibreOffice, save your work by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), or by clicking File > Save. The first time you save, you choose a location and filename. After that, the same keyboard shortcut or menu option saves over the existing file with your new changes.

In Google Docs, the document saves automatically every few seconds as you type, so you do not need to manually save. If you want to keep an older version of the document, click File > Version history > Save current version, and Google Docs stores a snapshot you can return to later.

If you are working on a document that multiple people need to edit, Google Docs is usually the easiest choice because everyone can open the same file at the same time and see each other's changes in real time. Word and LibreOffice are better if you work alone or if you need to send the file back and forth by email.

Troubleshooting common editing problems

If text is not appearing where you expect it, make sure the cursor is in the right place. Click exactly where you want the text to go, and you should see a blinking line. If you see a blinking line somewhere else, click again at the correct location.

If formatting looks wrong after you open a Word document in LibreOffice or Google Docs, the editors sometimes interpret spacing or fonts differently. Open the document in the original program (Word) to see how it is supposed to look, then decide whether the changes matter for your purpose. If they do, edit in the original program instead.

If you cannot find a button or feature, check the menu bar at the top. Click Format to find styling options, Insert to add images or tables, or Tools to find spelling and grammar checking. Hovering your mouse over a toolbar button usually shows a small label explaining what it does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a Word document on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Microsoft offers free mobile apps for Word on iPhone and Android that let you open and edit .docx files. Google Docs also works on mobile browsers and has its own app. Desktop editors like LibreOffice do not have mobile versions, so you would need to use an online option instead.

What happens if I open a Word document in Google Docs and then save it?

Google Docs converts the file to its own format when you upload it. If you read it back to your computer as a Word file, most formatting stays intact, but some advanced features may not transfer perfectly. For straightforward documents with just text and basic formatting, the conversion usually works fine.

Can I undo a change I made by accident?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo the last change. Press it again to undo the change before that. You can usually undo dozens of changes this way. In Google Docs, you can also click File > Version history to see older versions of the document and restore one if needed.

Do I need to install anything to edit a Word document in Google Docs?

No. Google Docs runs in your web browser, so you only need internet access and a Google account. You do not need to install Word or any other software. Just go to drive.google.com, upload your document, and start editing.

What is the difference between Save and Save As?

Save (Ctrl+S) overwrites the existing file with your changes. Save As (File > Save As) lets you save a copy with a new name or in a new location, leaving the original file unchanged. Use Save As when you want to keep both the original and a modified version.