Microsoft Word Document

  



Word

  1. Microsoft Word Documents On This Computer
  2. Microsoft Word Document Free
  3. Microsoft Word 2010 Free Download

Sometimes called Winword, MS Word, or Word, Microsoft Word is a word processor published by Microsoft. It is one of the office productivity applications included in the Microsoft Office suite. Originally developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie, it was first released in 1983.

Training: With Microsoft Word on your PC or a mobile device, you can create, format, and edit documents, review with track changes, and share files. Watch this video. Open any file from Microsoft Word with Doc Viewer. Doc Viewer is a fast, free, simple app for viewing Doc, DocX, and other text files. Access your files in one click from the handy live tile, or share and print your document, all completely free.

Microsoft Word is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Android, and Apple iOS. It can also run on the Linux operating system using WINE.

What is Microsoft Word used for?

Microsoft Word allows you to create professional-quality documents, reports, letters, and résumés. Unlike a plain text editor, Microsoft Word has features including spell check, grammar check, text and font formatting, HTML support, image support, advanced page layout, and more.

What does the Microsoft Word editor look like?

Below is an overview of a Microsoft Word 2010 document.

Tip

See our Ribbon page for further information on the Ribbon. For an overview of the tools contained on the Ribbon, see: Overview of the Microsoft Office Ribbon.

Where do you find or start Microsoft Word?

If you have Microsoft Word or the entire Microsoft Office package installed on Microsoft Windows, you can access Microsoft Word in your Start menu.

Keep in mind that new computers do not include Microsoft Word. It must be purchased and installed before running it on your computer. If you do not want (or cannot afford) to purchase Microsoft Word, you can use a limited version for free at the Microsoft Office website.

Note

There are also free word processing programs you can try that are very similar to Microsoft Word. See: Where can I get a free word processor?

If Microsoft Word is installed on your computer, but you can't find it in your Start menu, use the following steps to launch Microsoft Word manually.

  1. Open My Computer.
  2. Click or select the C: drive. If Microsoft Office is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, select that drive instead.
  3. Navigate to the Program Files (x86) folder, then the Microsoft Office folder.
  4. In the Microsoft Office folder, if there is a root folder, open that folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder, where XX is the version of Office (e.g., Office16 for Microsoft Office 2016). If there is no root folder, look for and open a folder having 'Office' in the name.
  5. Look for a file named WINWORD.EXE and click or double-click that file to start the Microsoft Word program.

What are the uses of Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a word processor, and, like other word processors, it's capable of helping users create a variety of different types of documents. For example, users can create a résumé, business contract, instruction document, or a letter to another person. We've included a list of the top uses of a word processor on our word processor page.

How many lines are there on a page in Microsoft Word?

By default, there are 29 lines on one page in Microsoft Word.

What type of files can Microsoft Word create and use?

Early versions of Microsoft Word primarily created and used the .docfile extension, while newer versions of Word create and use the .docx file extension.

More recent versions of Microsoft Word can create and open the following types of files:

  • .doc, .docm, .docx
  • .dot, .dotm, .dotx
  • .htm, .html
  • .mht, .mhtml
  • .odt
  • .pdf
  • .rtf
  • .txt
  • .wps
  • .xps
  • .xml

Example of a Microsoft Word .doc file

You can download an example of a Microsoft Word .doc document by clicking the Microsoft Word .doc file link.

Why use Word instead of a plain-text editor?

Microsoft Word offers many features not found in a traditional text editor or a plain-text file. Some advantages include the ability to change the formatting (e.g., center), edit the font type, size, and color, insert pictures, and much more.

Microsoft Word Documents On This Computer

Tip

The features above are also available in a rich-text editor, such as WordPad, which is included with Microsoft Windows.

Why use Word instead of a WordPad?

Microsoft

A rich-text editor, like WordPad, offers many of the same basic features as Microsoft Word. Where Microsoft Word differs is the ability to do more advanced features. Some of the advanced features include mail merges, spellchecker, styles, tables, headers & footers, WordArt, columns, margins, and more.

What are the different versions of Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word has had several versions throughout its history. The different releases, with release dates are listed below.

Windows versions

  • Word 2019, released in 2018
  • Word 2016, released in 2016
  • Word 2013, released in 2013
  • Word 2010, released in 2010
  • Word 2007, released in 2006
  • Word 2003, released in 2003
  • Word 2002, released in 2001
  • Word 2000, released in 1999
  • Word 98, released in 1998
  • Word 97, released in 1997
  • Word 95, released in 1995
  • Word 6.0, released in 1993
  • Word 2.0, released in 1991
  • Word 1.1, released in 1990
  • Word 1.0, originally invented for MS-DOS and Xenix in 1983 by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie, working for Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Word was released in the Windows OS in 1989

Mac versions

  • Word 2019, released in 2018
  • Word 2016, released in 2015
  • Word 2011, released in 2010
  • Word 2008, released in 2008
  • Word 2004, released in 2004
  • Word v. X, released in 2001
  • Word 2001, released in 2000
  • Word 98, released in 1998
  • Word 6, released in 1993
  • Word 5.1, released in 1992
  • Word 5, released in 1991
  • Word 4, released in 1989
  • Word 3, released in 1987
  • Word 1, released in 1985

Related pages

Desktop publishing, Editor, Google Docs, Office, Office 365, Office Online, Software terms, WordPad, Word processor, Word processor terms


Topics Map > Office 365 > Excel

In Microsoft Office, you can use passwords to help prevent other people from opening or modifying your documents, workbooks, and presentations. Also, you can use document protection to restrict the types of changes that reviewers can make.

Add protection in your Word document

  • In an open document, click File > Info > Protect Document.

    You see the following options.

    • Mark as Final: Make the document read-only.

      When a document is marked as final, typing, editing, commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the document becomes read-only. The Mark as Final command helps you communicate that you're sharing a completed version of a document. It also helps prevent reviewers or readers from making inadvertent changes to the document.

      When you mark a document as final, Word asks you to save the file. The next time you open it, you will see a yellow MARKED AS FINAL message at the top of the document. If you click Edit Anyway, the document will no longer be marked as final.

    • Encrypt with Password: Set a password for the document. Note: Keep your password in a safe place. If you lose or forget the password, it cannot be recovered.

      When you select Encrypt with Password, the Encrypt Document dialog box appears. In the Password box, type a password, and then type it again when prompted. Important: Microsoft cannot retrieve lost or forgotten passwords, so keep a list of your passwords and corresponding file names in a safe place.

  • Restrict Editing: Control what types of changes can be made to the document.

    When you select Restrict Editing, you see these options:

    • Formatting restrictions: This reduces formatting options, preserving a look and feel. Click Settings to select which styles are allowed.

    • Editing restrictions: You control how the file can be edited or you can disable editing. Click Exceptions or More users to control those who can edit.

    • Start enforcement: Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection to select password protection or user authentication. You can also click Restrict permission to add or remove editors who’ll have restricted permissions.

    • Restrict Permission by People: Use Windows Live ID to restrict permissions.

      Use a Windows Live ID or a Microsoft Windows account to restrict permissions. You can apply permissions via a template that is used by your organization, or you can add permissions by clicking Restrict Access.

  • Add a Digital Signature: Add a visible or invisible digital signature.

    Digital signatures authenticate digital information such as documents, email messages, and macros by using computer cryptology. Digital signatures are created by typing a signature or by using an image of a signature to establish authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. See the link at the end of this topic to learn more about digital signatures.


In an open document, click File > Info > Protect Document.

You see the following options.

Microsoft Word Document Free

  • Remove Mark as Final: When you mark a document as final, Words asks you to save the file. The next time you open it, you will see a yellow MARKED AS FINAL message at the top of the document. If you click Edit Anyway, the document will no longer be marked as final.

  • Remove password encryption: To remove password encryption from the document, open the document and enter the password in the Password box. Then click File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password. Delete the contents of the Password box, click OK, and then save the document again.

  • Remove editing restrictions: To remove editing restrictions, click Stop Protection at the bottom of the Restrict Editing pane.

  • Remove or change restricted access: To remove or change restricted access, open the file, and then click Change Permission in the yellow bar at the top of the document.

  • Remove digital signature: To remove a digital signature, open the file, right-click the signature line, and click Remove Signature. Or, click the arrow next to the signature in the Signatures pane, and then click Remove Signature.

Microsoft Word 2010 Free Download

If you have any questions, come by the Help Desk at Hardman & Jacobs Undergraduate Learning Center Room 105, call 646-1840, or email us at help@nmsu.edu.