An abstract of a document in Microsoft Word.

Online document editor

Create and edit documents on the web in Microsoft Word and store them online to access anywhere.

Create online documents with full control and no downloads required

Access the complete range of editing features in Word from anywhere, including popular document templates, proofreading, and AI rewriting tools. Collaborate with others in real time to create your best work.

Edit documents online with Word

Create popular documents with ease, from resumes and cover letters to business letters and new business plans with Word. Utilize Word industry standard features including professional formatting, tables, proofreading, real-time coauthoring, templates, and compatibility with other Microsoft 365 apps.

Edit documents online with Word.

See document word count at a glance

Check your word count at any time in the bottom left corner of your screen. Select the word counter for more granular stats like character count, time it takes to read or present your content, and Flesch-Kincaid readability scores.

An abstract of the word count tool in Microsoft Word.

Ensure accurate spelling in over 20 languages

Allow Word spell checker to correct any spelling errors in your language. Click on a red underlined word to view multiple suggestions or synonyms, and disregard names or colloquial terms that are flagged.

Spell check in multiple languages.

Refine writing with correct grammar

Put your best foot forward with Word grammar checker. Select suggestions underlined in blue to improve your grammar as you write. You can also select a formal, professional, or casual writing style within Editor to get more customized suggestions. There are also options to select formal, professional, or casual within Editor to influence the suggestions.

An abstract image of the spell check tool in Microsoft Word.

Leverage AI rewrite and summarize tools with Copilot

Use Copilot to get intelligent editing suggestions in Word if you’re a Microsoft 365 subscriber. Copilot can help you overcome writer’s block, or improve your document with quicktools like auto rewriting, making it shorter, coaching suggestions, or visualizing content as a table. If you aren’t a subscriber, you can try Copilot here.

An example of Copilot in Microsoft Word.

Start with professional templates

Jumpstart your document by selecting from a wide range of Word document templates across letters, brochures, cover letters and many more. With a few clicks, you can pick your favorite template, modify the color palette, and insert your content.

An abstract of documents in Microsoft Word.

Collaborate online and share with OneDrive 

Share documents with collaborators through OneDrive when you’re ready. You can give other people access to view or edit the doc, and you’ll see when they make changes or add comments. Multiple people can edit at the same time in any browser, and they don’t need the desktop version of Word to collaborate on your document.

Collaborate and share on OneDrive.

How to edit and share documents online with Word

  1. Visit Microsoft Word and sign up for a free Microsoft account if you don’t have one

  2. Start with a blank document or browse and select a template from the library to use

  3. To collaborate, select Share and copy the link or email it directly from Word

  4. In Link settings, decide whether you’d like to give view or edit  access

  5. After sharing, select Manage access to see collaborators or delete shared links

Business letters writing with confidence

Frequently asked questions

  • How do you edit a document in Word online?

    Start by uploading your document to Microsoft Word in a browser. After uploading, click the file in your browser to open it in an online Word tab. Word can open .docx files online automatically, or convert PDFs to editable Word documents.

  • Can you open PDFs in Word online?

    You can convert text-based PDFs to Word documents and view or edit them online. First, upload a PDF to OneDrive then open it to view it temporarily. Select Open in Desktop and Word will convert the PDF to a Word doc. Select Edit in the next popup to open the document in Word for the web (the desktop app isn’t necessary).

  • Can scanned documents be edited?

    Word can edit scanned documents that are in PDF format. Upload the doc to OneDrive and open it to convert it. Be aware that formatting can look different depending on the scan quality.

  • Do I need the desktop version of Word?

    You can upload docs to OneDrive or Microsoft Word and edit them all online. For instance, if you get a .docx file in an email, you can go to Microsoft Word and upload it directly without opening it on your computer. 

Create, edit, and store documents online in Microsoft Word