.RTF File Extension
Rich Text Format File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 426 Votes |
| Category | Text Files |
| Format | Text |
What is an RTF file?
An RTF file is a text document that includes rich text. Rich text documents can include a variety of text formatting, including bolding, italicization, custom fonts, and custom colors. RTF documents can also contain images, such as .JPG and .PNG files, embedded within their text.
In 1987, Microsoft introduced the Rich Text Format (RTF). In contrast to plain text files, RTF files can contain formatted text. The RTF format also provides users with page formatting options, such as the ability to customize a document's margins, line spacing, and tab width.
While Microsoft stopped updating the RTF format in 2008, most word processors still support the format. This makes the RTF format an ideal choice for those who need to transfer and edit documents across multiple operating systems and devices. For example, if you use a Windows PC at home but a Mac at work, you can save a Microsoft WordPad document as an RTF file on your home PC, email the file to yourself, and then open it in Apple TextEdit at your workplace.
NOTE: You may encounter minor formatting issues when opening an RTF file created by one program in another. These changes can be attributed to the different versions of the RTF format that different programs support.
Common RTF Filenames
New Rich Text Document.rtf - The default name given to new RTF files created via the Windows context menu (right click in a folder and choose ).
How to open an RTF file
You can open an RTF file with most word processing programs, including:
- Microsoft WordPad (Windows)
- Apple TextEdit (Mac)
- Microsoft Word (cross-platform)
- OpenOffice Writer (cross-platform)
- Google Docs (Web, ChromeOS, iOS, Android)
How to convert an RTF file
Most word processors can convert RTF files to other formats. For example, Microsoft WordPad can convert RTF documents to .DOCX, .ODT, and .TXT files.
Also, in the Windows and Mac versions of Microsoft Word, select to convert RTF files to one of the following formats: