How to open Word, Excel and CSV files on Android

To open a DOCX file on Android, tap it in your downloads, email or chat app and choose an app that can read Word documents. Excel files (.xlsx) and CSV files open the same way. If nothing on your phone offers to open them, install a file viewer that handles Office formats, and you can usually save a PDF copy for easier sharing.

Why some files will not open on your phone

Android does not come with a full office suite on every phone. When you tap a file, the phone looks for an installed app that says it can handle that type. If none does, you see a message such as "No app can open this file", or the file opens as unreadable text.

The common office formats are:

DOCX: the modern Word document format.
DOC: the older Word format, still common in archives and from older computers.
XLSX: the modern Excel spreadsheet format.
CSV: "comma-separated values", a plain text file where each line is a row and commas separate the columns. It is often exported from banks, shops and online forms.
TXT: plain text, with no formatting at all.

How to open a DOCX file on Android, step by step

Find the file. Check your Downloads folder, or open it straight from the email or chat where you received it.
Tap the file.
If Android asks which app to use, choose one that reads Word files.
Pick "Just once" if you want to choose again next time, or "Always" to make it the default.
If no app is offered, install a file viewer that supports Office documents, then tap the file again.

The same steps work for Excel and CSV files.

How to change which app opens a file type

If the wrong app keeps opening your Word or Excel files, reset its defaults. Menus differ between phone brands, but on most phones you open Settings, search for "default apps" or "open by default", select the app that keeps opening the files, and clear its defaults. Next time you tap a file, Android will ask again.

Opening CSV files the right way

CSV files can be confusing on a phone. Because they are plain text, a text app may open them and show lines of values separated by commas. That is the real content, just without a grid.

For a readable table, open the CSV in an app that understands spreadsheets. A few things to watch:

Separators differ. Some countries use semicolons instead of commas, because the comma is their decimal mark.
Leading zeros vanish. Phone numbers and account codes such as 0123 may display as 123 in a spreadsheet view.
Dates may change format. A date written 03/04 could be read as March or April, depending on the app's regional settings.

If you need to change values, see how to edit an Excel spreadsheet on your phone.

Should you convert the file to PDF?

Often, yes. A PDF looks the same on every device, so it is a better format to forward or upload. Converting is useful when:

you need to send a document to someone who may not have Word;
a form or portal only accepts PDF uploads;
you want to stop the layout shifting on different screens;
you want to combine a Word file with other PDFs, such as certificates.

Once it is a PDF, you can merge it with other documents. See how to merge PDF files on your phone.

What about going the other way?

If someone sent you a PDF and you need to edit it in Word, that is a conversion in the other direction. Our guide on how to convert PDF to Word on Android covers it.

Common problems

The layout looks wrong. Fonts that are not on your phone are replaced, which can shift lines and page breaks. The content is still correct.
Images or charts are missing. Some viewers show text and tables but skip complex charts or embedded objects.
The file asks for a password. Office files can be protected. You need the password from the sender.
It opens as gibberish. The file may be damaged, or have the wrong extension. Ask the sender to save and send it again.

Is it safe to open files from email and chats?

Office documents can carry macros, small programs that run inside the document. Most phone viewers do not run macros, which is safer, but be careful with unexpected files from unknown senders. If a document asks you to "enable content" or log in somewhere to view it, treat that as a warning sign.

Opening office files with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow includes a File Viewer that opens and reads Word, Excel, CSV and text files, and can export them to PDF. There is also a Word Editor for basic text changes and an Excel Editor for spreadsheet edits. Files are opened on your phone, not uploaded to a server.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a DOCX file on Android without installing anything?

Some phones come with an app that can read Word files, often a preinstalled office or files app. If yours does not, you will need to install one.

What is the difference between DOC and DOCX?

DOC is the older Word format and DOCX is the newer one. DOCX is more widely supported by phone apps. If a DOC file will not open, ask the sender to save it as DOCX.

Why does my CSV file open in a text app?

Because a CSV is plain text. To see it as a table, open it with an app that understands spreadsheets, or change the default app for CSV files.

Can I print a Word file from my phone?

Yes. Open it in a viewer that supports printing, or convert it to PDF first and print that. See how to print a PDF from your Android phone.