What is the DOTX file format?
Files with the .dotx extension are template files created by Microsoft Word. A .dotx file stores document settings and page layouts - including styles, AutoText entries, and toolbar configurations - but deliberately excludes macros; macro-enabled Word templates use the .dotm extension instead.
.dotx template files are commonly used for creating multiple .docx documents with the same formatting schema. Templates allow users to reuse previously created document formatting and layouts without the need to create new ones for each document individually. .dotx files are very convenient tools for creating similar documents, such as newsletters, business plans, or resumes.
.docx is somewhat more widely recognized than .dotx, and both share many similarities - for example, they store the same types of data, such as styles, images, and text content. .dotx files offer the option to password-protect the content, a useful feature that prevents the template from being modified when multiple users are working from it.
.dotxcombines XML structure and ZIP compression to reduce file size; its contents can be inspected by renaming it to.zip.- It replaces the older
.dotbinary template format, introduced alongside Microsoft Office 2007. - The default global Word template is named
Normal.dotx; modifications saved to it affect the formatting of all new blank documents.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA plain DOTX is macro-free, so it cannot run VBA code - that makes it safer than the macro-enabled .dotm or the legacy binary .dot. A normal template is just styled text, layout and images. The residual risks: (1) a macro-enabled template (.dotm) or a renamed file could carry VBA malware via 'template injection', so never click 'Enable Content' on a template you didn't expect; (2) templates from the internet open in Office Protected View. Opening an unknown .dotx in LibreOffice or Google Docs is generally safe because the content renders without executing Word VBA.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMEMicrosoft Word Open XML Template
DEVELOPERMicrosoftsince 2007 (Word 2007 / Office Open XML)
CATEGORYText Files
MIME TYPEapplication/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.template
TYPEZIP-based Office Open XML document template (zipped XML)
STANDARDOpen · royalty-free
MAGIC BYTES · FILE SIGNATURE
OFFSET
00010203
HEX
504B0304
ASCII
PK··
A DOTX is a ZIP archive (OOXML package), so it starts with "PK" (50 4B 03 04) like DOCX and any ZIP. It is distinguished from DOCX internally by its content type (…wordprocessingml.template) in [Content_Types].xml. The macro-free DOTX contrasts with the older binary .dot (OLE2, D0 CF 11 E0) and the macro-enabled .dotm.
Programs that open DOTX files
Windows3 apps
Microsoft Word
Paid Double-click to start a NEW document from the template. To EDIT the template, right-click > Open (or File > Open the .dotx directly). 
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Free. Double-click to create a document from it; use File > Templates > Manage to edit/organize templates. 
WPS Office Writer
Freemium Free Word-like editor; opens DOTX templates and creates documents from them. 
macOS3 apps
Microsoft Word
Paid Double-click to make a new document from the template; right-click > Open to edit the template itself. 
Apple Pages
Free Free on Mac; File > Open imports a DOTX (as a document); fidelity is good for simple templates. 
Linux1 app
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Pre-installed on most distros; double-click to create a document from the DOTX, or manage it as a template. 
Android1 app
Microsoft Word (mobile)
Freemium Open the .dotx to create a document from it; basic editing is free on phones.
iOS1 app
Microsoft Word (mobile)
Freemium Open the .dotx on iPhone/iPad to start a document from the template.
Web2 apps
Google Docs
Free Upload to Google Drive and open with Google Docs to view/use the template content; download as DOCX/PDF.
Word for the web
Free Upload the .dotx to OneDrive and open in Word online (free Microsoft account) for the highest fidelity. Technical details
deep spec| MIME type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.template |
| Container format | ZIP archive (Office Open XML package) - the file is a valid ZIP and can be opened with any ZIP tool |
| Magic bytes | 50 4B 03 04 ("PK") at offset 0 - identical to any ZIP file at the binary level |
| Content type identifier | Main part carries ContentType ending in wordprocessingml.template.main+xml in [Content_Types].xml, distinguishing it from .docx at the package level |
| Macro support | None - macro-free by design; macro-enabled templates use the .dotm extension |
| Main document part | word/document.xml - the primary XML part holding body content inside the ZIP package |
| Styles storage | word/styles.xml - defines paragraph, character, table, and list styles applied across the template |
| AutoText and building blocks | Stored in word/glossary/document.xml as a subordinate glossary document part |
| Theme data | Custom color, font, and effect themes stored in word/theme/theme1.xml |
| Open behavior | Opening a .dotx in Word creates a new unsaved .docx document; the template file itself is not directly edited |
| Default global template | Normal.dotx - Word's built-in fallback template; changes to it affect all new blank documents |
| Predecessor format | Replaces the binary .dot format (OLE2 compound document structure) superseded by Office 2007 |
| XML encoding | All XML parts within the package use UTF-8 character encoding |
| Password protection | Supports write-protection and editing-restriction passwords to prevent unauthorized changes to the template |
| Released | 2007 (Word 2007 / Office Open XML) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | learn.microsoft.com |
DOTX conversions
Possible
.DOTX .ZIPGUIDE
Yes - a DOTX file is already a ZIP archive; rename the extension from .dotx to .zip and any archive tool will…
How to convert
.DOTX .PDFGUIDE
Yes, a DOTX file converts to PDF -- the fastest route is to open it in Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer…
How to convert
.DOTX .DOCXGUIDE
Yes - open the DOTX in Word or LibreOffice Writer and use Save As to save it as a Word Document (.docx).
How to convert
.DOTX .DOTGUIDE
Yes - open the DOTX in Word or LibreOffice Writer and use Save As to choose the Word 97-2003 Template (.dot)…
How to convert
.DOTX .ODTGUIDE
Yes - open the DOTX in LibreOffice Writer and save it as ODT in a few clicks.
How to convert
.DOTX .RTFGUIDE
Yes, open the DOTX in Word or LibreOffice Writer and use Save As to pick RTF - takes under a minute.
How to convert
.DOTX .DOTMGUIDE
Yes - open the DOTX in Microsoft Word and use File > Save As > Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm).
How to convert
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about DOTX files.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a DOTX file?
Double-click it and Word (or LibreOffice Writer) opens a NEW document based on the template - that's normal template behavior. No Office? Use free LibreOffice Writer, Word for the web, or Google Docs.
What is the difference between DOTX and DOCX?
DOCX is a finished document; DOTX is a TEMPLATE. Opening a DOTX creates a new untitled document from it (leaving the template intact), whereas a DOCX opens the document itself. Structurally they're nearly identical ZIP/XML files.
How do I edit a DOTX template instead of creating a document from it?
Don't double-click (that makes a new doc). Instead right-click the .dotx > Open, or in Word use File > Open and select the template directly. In LibreOffice use File > Templates > Manage. Then edit and save as .dotx.
How do I open a DOTX without Microsoft Word?
Use the free LibreOffice Writer (Windows/Mac/Linux), upload it to Google Docs, or open it in Word for the web - all free. Apple Pages on a Mac also opens DOTX.
What is the difference between DOTX and DOTM?
DOTX is a macro-free template; DOTM is a macro-enabled template that can run VBA. Use DOTX unless you specifically need macros - it's the safer choice and won't trigger macro warnings.
How do I turn a document into a DOTX template?
In Word, open or create the document, then File > Save As and choose 'Word Template (*.dotx)'. Word stores it in your Custom Office Templates folder so you can start new documents from it.
References
1ISO/IEC 29500 - Office Open XML File Formatswww.iso.org
2Microsoft - [MS-DOCX] / Office Open XML formatslearn.microsoft.com
