What is the PWI file format?
.pwi is a text document file associated with Microsoft Pocket Word, the word-processor included with Microsoft Office Mobile for Windows Mobile and Pocket PC devices. The .pwi format is not a version of the .doc format, but is rather the native save file of Pocket Word - a functional, cut-down equivalent designed for handheld use. Its earlier sibling, the .psw file, served the same role on Windows CE devices before Pocket PC.
.pwi documents do not support headers, footers, footnotes or optional comments. The format does, however, support handwriting input on stylus-equipped devices, and some builds of Pocket Word also allowed voice annotation. .pwi files could be synchronized with a desktop PC through Microsoft ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center, which converted them to and from the desktop .doc format during sync.
.pwi files may not be supported properly in current desktop text editors, including Microsoft Word, and it is recommended to convert such files to .rtf or .docx before opening them on a modern system. Microsoft OneNote can also import some Pocket Word content.
Windows CE and Pocket PC
Microsoft Office Mobile was developed for mobile computers and PDA devices running Windows CE and its Pocket PC edition. Windows CE was initially created for PDA devices - precursors to modern smartphones and tablets. Some navigation devices were also based on the PDA design. Pocket Word shipped as part of this suite through Windows Mobile 6.x; when Microsoft discontinued Windows Mobile in the early 2010s, the .pwi format was effectively frozen. Today, .pwi files are legacy artifacts typically found in backups from old Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA Pocket Word .pwi is a small data document and opening it in Word/LibreOffice is low-risk; Pocket Word had no macros, so even the OLE2-wrapped variants carry minimal practical risk. The main pitfall is finding software that still imports the legacy format - prefer LibreOffice or an older Word rather than random 'free PWI viewer/converter' websites, which are commonly ad/PUP traps. Convert the file to .doc/.docx and keep that copy, since tooling for the original .pwi only gets rarer over time.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open PWI files
Windows3 apps
Microsoft Word
Paid Older Word (2003/2007-era) opens .pwi directly; in current Word, convert the file to .doc first (or use LibreOffice) then open. The db-recommended tool. 
Microsoft OneNote
Free If the .pwi began as a Pocket PC note, paste/import the converted text into OneNote to keep it. OneNote does not open .pwi natively - convert to .doc/.rtf first. The db lists it; keep as a notes destination, not a direct opener. 
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Free; File -> Open the .pwi - Writer imports many Pocket Word documents, then Save As .docx/.odt/.pdf. Best free option. 
macOS1 app
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Free for Apple silicon/Intel; opens many .pwi files and exports to .docx/.odt/.pdf. 
Linux1 app
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Preinstalled on most desktops; open the .pwi and Save As .docx/.odt for modern use. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Microsoft |
| Container | Microsoft OLE2 / Compound File Binary (CFB) in most instances; some builds use a compact proprietary Pocket Word header |
| Encoding | Binary, little-endian |
| Compression | None - text and formatting stored uncompressed |
| Encryption | None - Pocket Word had no built-in document encryption |
| MIME type | application/x-pocket-word |
| Magic bytes | Often D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (OLE2 Compound File); no single fixed public signature - some builds use a device-specific compact header |
| Handwriting support | Yes - stylus handwriting stored inline on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices with digitizer input |
| Supported formatting | Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, font size and face, paragraph alignment, lists - a limited subset of desktop Word formatting |
| Unsupported features | Headers, footers, footnotes, captions, comments, macros, embedded objects and complex table layouts |
| Sync mechanism | Microsoft ActiveSync (Windows XP era) or Windows Mobile Device Center (Vista and later) - converts .pwi to/from .doc during sync |
| Target platform | Windows Mobile and Pocket PC (Windows CE); also accessible on Windows desktop via ActiveSync conversion |
| Typical file size | A few KB to a few hundred KB - sized for short notes and documents on handheld devices |
| Platform status | Legacy - Windows Mobile discontinued; format frozen since Windows Mobile 6.x era (late 2000s) |
| Predecessor format | .psw (Pocket Word on Windows CE before Pocket PC) |
| Common opening method | Convert to .doc or .rtf via legacy ActiveSync export; view on modern PC using LibreOffice Writer or Microsoft OneNote import |
| Released | Early 2000s (Windows Mobile / Pocket PC Pocket Word; successor to Windows CE .psw) |
| Latest version | Windows Mobile 6.x era (late 2000s); format frozen - Windows Mobile discontinued |
| Specification | learn.microsoft.com |
PWI conversions
Community Q&A
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