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!

Categorized: Apple iPad Help (Article 9382, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: apple ipad, apple iworks, apple pages, ipad pages, microsoft office, microsoft word
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Comments

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!

Posted by: Mike at May 6, 2010 2:44 PM

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

Posted by: Douglas at May 8, 2010 11:15 AM

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.

Posted by: Nicholas Wilton at May 9, 2010 11:24 PM

What if I have a PC?

Posted by: Ayelet at September 2, 2010 10:27 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!

Posted by: david ang at October 15, 2010 8:24 AM

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 .

Posted by: Rami Ghandour at October 18, 2010 12:53 PM

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...

Posted by: Lori at December 28, 2010 11:42 AM

is there any way to have microsoft word in my IPAD

Posted by: mark daoana at January 15, 2011 1:50 AM

Can I use my iDisk documents with this solutions?

Posted by: Alex at January 25, 2011 1:48 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?

Posted by: Sa;m Franklin at February 27, 2011 5:49 PM

Works on .docx??

Thanks and kisses

Posted by: Rita at March 3, 2011 4:46 PM

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

Posted by: gav at March 6, 2011 11:13 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!!!

Posted by: Voyd at March 7, 2011 4:30 AM

awesome, thanks so much!

Posted by: colleen at March 13, 2011 9:59 PM

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

Posted by: alice at March 17, 2011 9:29 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)

Posted by: Andy at May 5, 2011 12:04 AM

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.

Posted by: Austin at May 16, 2011 11:36 PM

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.

Posted by: Ed at May 30, 2011 8:36 AM

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

Posted by: betty blake at June 7, 2011 4:59 PM

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

Posted by: Kris at June 19, 2011 1:31 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?

Posted by: Danielle at July 9, 2011 6:53 AM

how can I do it if I have a PC?

Posted by: Arthur at September 5, 2011 6:22 PM

Yeah, what if I have a PC?

Posted by: Ana at September 23, 2011 3:19 PM

Is there any tablet that takes a thumb drive?

Thanks!

Posted by: Dennis Clough at October 14, 2011 9:34 AM

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

Posted by: Jeanette at October 16, 2011 8:45 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!

Posted by: Tyrrell at November 7, 2011 2:32 AM

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

Posted by: TY at December 11, 2011 1:20 PM

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

Posted by: Jenny at December 16, 2011 8:40 AM

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

Posted by: Jenny at December 16, 2011 8:45 AM

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

Posted by: Jon at January 17, 2012 10:01 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

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