AbiWord for Windows

Need a quick, light word processor for letters and school papers on an older PC? AbiWord is a free, open-source editor that opens Word and OpenDocument files and starts in seconds. The project no longer releases new Windows versions, though; 2.8.6 is the last official Windows build.

How can you format a document in AbiWord?

AbiWord provides controls for fonts and paragraph formatting, including alignment and indents. Styles let you apply formatting consistently across parts of a document, while tables organize information into rows and columns.

• Use paragraph alignment and indents to shape text layout.
• Add footnotes, headers, page numbers and a table of contents for longer papers.

Which document formats can AbiWord open?

AbiWord supports DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT, and TXT, along with other common document formats. These options let you edit text files created with different word-processing programs and save work in formats suited to different workflows.

How does spell checking work?

Spell checking supports multiple languages and can be switched on or off in Settings. This lets you choose whether AbiWord checks spelling while you work, including when writing in different languages.

Can AbiWord handle tables and longer documents?

Tables, images and styles cover reports and school papers. Very complex Word files, with tracked changes or advanced layouts, may not look the same as in Microsoft Word.

Is AbiWord still updated for Windows?

No. Development continues on Linux, but the last official Windows build is version 2.8.6. LibreOffice Writer is a maintained free alternative.

Can AbiWord edit DOCX files?

Yes. It opens and saves DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT and plain text; complex layouts may shift slightly.