How can I view and edit Microsoft Word Documents on my iPad?

Digging my Apple iPad, but while some of the documents I work with are written in Apple's Pages application, many more of the docs I get are from Microsoft Word, with the ".doc" filename suffix. Is there any way to view - and hopefully even -- edit them on my iPad?

Dave's Answer:

This is a great question and one that I expect lots of Apple iPad owners are going to have, whether it's for Pages, or one of the other iWorks applications (Numbers, Keynote). The solution is easy if you're willing to poke around a bit, and if you've already read through my tutorial on how to share Keynote presentations on your iPad, you're one big step ahead, but it's not obvious.

Here's the trick: you'll need to install the Pages app from the App Store (at $9.99, it's a great deal, btw!) then plug your iPad into your computer. For this demo, I'll show the screen shots from my MacBook Pro, but it should work the same from any Mac.

Click on the "Apps" tab:

Now you see the screen that lets you choose which apps you want to have on your iPad and organize them as you desire:

Ready for that big secret? Scroll below this area and you'll see....

Ahhhh.... there ya go! Click on "Pages", then click on "Add...", then select the documents you want to work with. I chose both a .doc and a .pages file, as you can see:

That's all you have to do on the Mac side, which isn't too bad once you learn where the secret data library is located. Resync your iPad and the data files will transfer across as if by magic!

Next, launch Pages on your iPad. The opening screen looks like this:

The folder icon in the top right is what you need to choose so you can get to your newly created document archive. Tap it and you'll see all the documents you transfered onto the iPad:

Tap on the document you want -- I tapped on the Word document -- and you'll see the import progress bar:

Finally, it'll finish up and, possibly, show this:

Now you can tweak and modify it as appropriate or just view it. Pages on the iPad isn't a fully functional editor, but it should keep you moving while on the road.

As with Keynote, I encountered many problems with document portability and font libraries. I expect they'll be fixed, but don't be surprised if you need to tweak your document to get it to look great on your iPad.

Now, still looking for iPad help? If so, you're lucky because ya found it right here!

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Categorized: Apple iPad Help (Article 9382, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: apple ipad, apple iworks, apple pages, ipad pages, microsoft office, microsoft word
Previous: How can I buy a movie on my Apple iPad?
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Reader Comments To Date: 36

Mike said, on May 6, 2010 2:44 PM:

I can not tell you how long I spent trying to figure out how to do this... boy do I feel stupid!!!

Thanks for the very informative article!

Douglas said, on May 8, 2010 11:15 AM:

Your article was great. But I do have one question, will this process work with a PC?

Nicholas Wilton said, on May 9, 2010 11:24 PM:

I have spent an hour on the web even at the apple site trying to figure out this word file to ipad thing...your visual explanation was fantastic and so straightforward. What a breath of fresh air--someone who can take a complicated idea or instructions and make it simple. Thank You.

Ayelet said, on September 2, 2010 10:27 AM:

What if I have a PC?

david ang said, on October 15, 2010 8:24 AM:

How do I download Text Message ringtones in my Iphone 3G? How do I delete ringtones that I downloaded in my Ringtone in my Iphone 3G? Thanks a lot!

Rami Ghandour said, on October 18, 2010 12:53 PM:

This is an awesome example for people who don't understand the subject but I didn't get it yet so....... If you can help me,I will thank you very much for this problem because I love Microsoft Office Word on my computer and I want to download it on my iPad .

Lori said, on December 28, 2010 11:42 AM:

I did as you suggested...and iTunes shows my documents loading to iPad...then when I open Pages...I don't have the folder in the upper right hand corner like you do...

mark daoana said, on January 15, 2011 1:50 AM:

is there any way to have microsoft word in my IPAD

Alex said, on January 25, 2011 1:48 PM:

Can I use my iDisk documents with this solutions?

Sa;m Franklin said, on February 27, 2011 5:49 PM:

Great explanation !! Still can't make it work tho.
Using a PC with Vista and Word 2003. Can do all your steps but the folder icon in the top rt. corner of the I pad never appears. So, I haven't been able to see a list or open any docs in the
ipad. Any thoughts?

Rita said, on March 3, 2011 4:46 PM:

Works on .docx??

Thanks and kisses

gav said, on March 6, 2011 11:13 AM:

Brilliant! Been trying to work out how to do this for ages.
Dave, You Is The Man...... Thanks

Voyd said, on March 7, 2011 4:30 AM:

For those of you who don't see the little folder icon, this method can still work; if you see an icon in the bottom tray that has a down arrow and a little tray-looking thing, use that instead.
Worked perfectly for me, thank you so much!!!

colleen said, on March 13, 2011 9:59 PM:

awesome, thanks so much!

alice said, on March 17, 2011 9:29 AM:

I tried to scroll but nothing came up -.-"

Andy said, on May 5, 2011 12:04 AM:

Finally a good explanation. Thanks! Another problem is viewing MS project files on the iPad, or iPhone for that matter. A couple companies have apps for that, such as iLiveProject. Soon we'll have all of MS on the pads ! (riiiight)

Austin said, on May 16, 2011 11:36 PM:

This is the best app ever for me. Now I can take my docs anywhere and work on them without having to bring my big laptop all I need is my ipad2.

Ed said, on May 30, 2011 8:36 AM:

I tried this on my iPad 2, but does not work. Any suggestions? I'll try a third time, but so far, nothing after 2 attempts. Thanks.

betty blake said, on June 7, 2011 4:59 PM:

hi
not sure if first post was sent so here goes again. I am new to this and want to know if i can view and work on documents fr my pc on ipad 2? i have pages downloaded and now need help.
documents are in word and excel and i have windows xp
thanks
betty

Kris said, on June 19, 2011 1:31 AM:

On iPad 2 "folder" icon was replaced with "+" icon in the top left.

Danielle said, on July 9, 2011 6:53 AM:

I've done everything like you showed us and I still cannot see the folder. I sync and nothing appears. Don't really know what I am doing wrong because it works just like you said, but no folder or anything appears. I chose folders in Word. I also am using an iPad 2.
Any suggestions?

Arthur said, on September 5, 2011 6:22 PM:

how can I do it if I have a PC?

Ana said, on September 23, 2011 3:19 PM:

Yeah, what if I have a PC?

Dennis Clough said, on October 14, 2011 9:34 AM:

Is there any tablet that takes a thumb drive?

Thanks!

Jeanette said, on October 16, 2011 8:45 AM:

Hello Dave,
Still have not seen if the demo you have presented works on a PC?
Thanks

Tyrrell said, on November 7, 2011 2:32 AM:

Hi Dave,
Thank you SOO much! I have just done something in moments on my ipad2 following your instructions that I have taken weeks trying to work out.
You're a star and it's so great that someone is prepared to share their knowledge freely.
Thank you!

TY said, on December 11, 2011 1:20 PM:

FOR ANYONE THT CANT FIND THE FOLDER: tap the plus icon in the top left and then tap the iTunes button.

Jenny said, on December 16, 2011 8:40 AM:

When I tried this, Pages didn't show up as an app under File Sharing. I have the iPad 2.

Jenny said, on December 16, 2011 8:45 AM:

Yeah, nevermind. Dumb, dumb error on my part.

Jon said, on January 17, 2012 10:01 AM:

I feel so stupid! You guys at Apple, your so sly!

Jess said, on February 13, 2012 2:14 AM:

Thank you so much for this short tutorial! It was fantastic! I have a PC and following your steps for a Mac was no problem (in fact it was exactly the same!). Thanks again!

Kristin Kirby said, on March 11, 2012 9:01 AM:

Thanks for your helpful comments.

Patrice said, on October 12, 2012 8:14 AM:

This is why I love the Internet. If you know how to read, and have Internet access we don't have to live in the dark ages anymore. Thank you for helping us learn more about this, all the examples you really made it user friendly to understand. I don't need it but my husband dose bad, but he will not learn about this stuff on his own I go find the info and integrate it then I cross my fingers and hope it works. But I live for this kind of stuff so it makes us a good match. Remember you promised no soliciting my email. How come when I unsubscribe to a site it still will not stop? I have a Mac and I don't see any this is spam options. Blessings Patrice

Bell said, on January 29, 2013 3:26 AM:

Hi, this is a great help but I am having trouble. When I click on the + and select the iTunes folder the documents that I uploaded aren't highlighted for me to select.
Please assist if you can?

BooBoo said, on March 21, 2013 7:36 AM:

If you get a free file storage or file viewer (like USB Disk) from the App Store instead of Pages you can view any MS Office document. just follow the screen instructions to drag and drop an Office file to the app. USB Disk will open older MS Office files and the newer versions (docx etc.)

spatra said, on April 8, 2013 9:41 AM:

You can view and edit all types of MS Office documents including word, excel and powerpoint on AstralPad. Download the app for free on the iPad. Learn more at http://www.astralpad.com/

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How can I view and edit Microsoft Word Documents on my iPad?

Reader Comments To Date: 36

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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