Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Confirming File Conversions.

Confirming File Conversions

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 20, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365

Word uses a set of file converters that allow you to load files created with other word processors. Word can automatically translate the text and formatting into the Word format—all you have to do is open the file. By default, Word does its translations automatically, without seeking input from the user. You can force Word to seek your confirmation by following these steps:

Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2010, Word 2013, and Word 2016, display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
Click Advanced at the left side of the dialog box.
Scroll through the available options until you come to the General section. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The General options in the Advanced section of the Word Options dialog box.

Use the Confirm File Format Conversion On Open check box to control whether Word asks you to confirm loading foreign-format files.
Click on OK.

When you have this option selected, Word not only informs you that it is doing a conversion, but gives you the opportunity to select a different file converter, if desired. If the option is turned off, then Word does the conversion without any pause or notification.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6040) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Confirming File Conversions.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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