Rich Text Format is a way to save documents that keeps formatting like bold, italics, and colors when you move files between different programs

Rich Text Format, or RTF, is a file type that stores text along with basic formatting instructions. When you save a document as RTF instead of plain text, the file remembers whether words are bold, italicized, underlined, or in a different color. It also preserves things like font choices, text alignment, and straightforward lists. The catch is that RTF only handles basic formatting — it cannot store complex layouts, embedded images, or the advanced features you get in Microsoft Word.

RTF was created in the 1980s by Microsoft as a middle ground between plain text files (which store only letters and numbers) and fully formatted documents (which only work in specific programs). Because RTF is straightforward and widely supported, almost any word processor can open and save it. This makes RTF useful when you need to share a document with someone who uses different software than you do.

Key Takeaways

  • RTF files preserve basic formatting like bold, italics, colors, and fonts when you move them between different programs.
  • RTF is simpler than Word documents and cannot store images, tables, or complex page layouts.
  • Almost every word processor — Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, LibreOffice — can open and save RTF files without losing the formatting.
  • RTF is most useful when you are sharing documents with people who use different software or older computers.

How RTF differs from other file types

Plain text files (like .txt) store only the letters, numbers, and punctuation you type. They contain no formatting at all — no bold, no colors, no font choices. If you open a plain text file in Notepad and then in Word, it looks identical in both places because there is nothing to change. RTF sits between plain text and full-featured formats like .docx (Word) or .odt (OpenDocument).

Word documents (.docx) can store images, complex tables, headers and footers, tracked changes, and styles that control how entire sections look at once. They also take up more space on your computer. RTF files are smaller and simpler — they handle bold and italics but not images or advanced page design. If you save a Word document with pictures as RTF, the pictures disappear, though the text and its formatting stay.

Google Docs and similar cloud programs work differently from all of these. They store your document on the internet rather than on your computer, and they use their own format behind the scenes. When you read a Google Doc, you can choose to save it as Word, RTF, PDF, or plain text — the program converts it for you.

When and why you would use RTF

RTF is most useful when you are sharing a formatted document with someone whose software you do not know. If a colleague uses an older version of Word, or a Mac user sends you a document and you use Windows, RTF often works when other formats cause problems. Because RTF has been around for decades and the format is straightforward, even old programs can usually open it.

Some people use RTF for long-term storage of documents that need to stay readable. Since RTF is a published standard and not owned by any single company, a file you save today should still open in any word processor twenty years from now. Word formats change with each version of Microsoft Office, and proprietary formats sometimes become obsolete. RTF is less likely to become unreadable.

RTF is also common in publishing and editing workflows. Some editors ask writers to submit work in RTF because it preserves formatting without the extra complexity of Word files. The editor can then import it into their own layout program without worrying about hidden formatting or compatibility issues.

How to save a document as RTF

In Microsoft Word, open the document you want to save. Click File in the top left, then click Save As. A dialog box opens asking where to save the file and what name to give it. Below the filename field, you will see a dropdown that says Save as type (on Windows) or Format (on Mac). Click that dropdown and select Rich Text Format or .rtf. Then click Save.

In Google Docs, click File at the top, then hover over read. A submenu appears with options including Rich Text Format (.rtf). Click that option and the file downloads to your computer. In Apple Pages, click File, then Export To, then select RTF from the list of formats.

When you save as RTF, the original document stays open in your program. You now have two files — the original in its native format and a copy in RTF. If you make changes to one, the other does not update automatically.

What formatting RTF keeps and what it loses

RTF preserves text formatting like bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, and font color. It keeps font choices (Arial, Times New Roman, and so on) and text size. It stores alignment — whether text is left-aligned, centered, or right-aligned. straightforward lists with bullets or numbers stay intact. Page margins and basic spacing between paragraphs are preserved.

RTF does not store images, charts, or embedded objects. If your document contains a photo, a graph, or a video link, those disappear when you save as RTF — only the text remains. Complex tables may lose some formatting. Headers and footers (text that repeats at the top or bottom of each page) usually do not survive the conversion. Tracked changes, comments, and styles defined in Word are also lost.

If you open an RTF file in a program that does not recognize a particular font, the program substitutes a similar font automatically. The text stays readable, but it may not look exactly as intended. This is one reason RTF is less precise than Word format for documents where appearance is critical.

RTF and compatibility across devices and programs

RTF is one of the most compatible file formats in existence. Microsoft Word opens it on Windows and Mac. Google Docs can import RTF files. Apple Pages, LibreOffice, and OpenOffice all support RTF. Even older word processors from the 1990s can usually open RTF files. This broad compatibility is why RTF remains useful despite being decades old.

The main limitation is that very old computers or very specialized software may not recognize all the formatting instructions in a modern RTF file. In practice, this is rare. If you send an RTF file to someone and they report that the formatting looks wrong, the issue is usually a font that is not installed on their computer, not a problem with the RTF format itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RTF the same as a Word document?

No. Word documents (.docx) can store images, complex tables, and advanced formatting that RTF cannot. RTF is simpler and more compatible across different programs, but it loses some features when you convert a Word document to RTF. If you need to preserve everything in a Word file, save it as .docx instead.

Will I lose my formatting if I save as RTF?

You will lose images, complex tables, and some advanced formatting, but basic formatting like bold, italics, colors, and fonts will stay. If your document is mostly text with straightforward formatting, RTF is safe. If it contains pictures or intricate layouts, use Word format or PDF instead.

Can I open an RTF file on my phone?

Most phones do not have built-in RTF readers, but you can open RTF files in word processing apps like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Pages if you have those installed. Some phones also have generic document readers that handle RTF. If you need to share a document with someone on a phone, PDF is usually a better choice.

Should I use RTF or PDF for sharing documents?

Use PDF if you want the document to look exactly the same on every device and you do not need the recipient to edit it. Use RTF if the other person needs to make changes to the text and formatting. PDF is better for final versions; RTF is better for documents still being worked on.

Why would anyone use RTF instead of just emailing a Word document?

RTF is smaller, more compatible with older software, and less likely to cause formatting problems when moving between Windows and Mac. It is also safer if you are concerned about hidden metadata or tracked changes in a Word file. For straightforward text documents with basic formatting, RTF is often the better choice.