To open a .pages file on Windows 10, upload it to Pages on iCloud.com, which works in any browser with a free Apple Account. There you can read and edit the document, then select More > Download a Copy and choose Word to get a .docx file you can open in Microsoft Word. If you’d rather not create an Apple Account, the free LibreOffice app can open many Pages files directly, or you can ask the sender to export the document as Word or PDF.
Applies to: Windows 10 and Windows 11. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
What is a .pages file?
A .pages file is a document made with Pages, Apple’s word processor for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Windows doesn’t include an app that can read it, and Microsoft Word can’t open it either, so double-clicking the file shows “How do you want to open this file?” Pages files are actually ZIP packages that contain the document, its images and a preview image.
Method 1: Open it with Pages on iCloud.com (best)
Apple’s free web version of Pages opens .pages files exactly as they were designed and converts them to Word or PDF.
- Go to icloud.com/pages in Edge, Chrome or Firefox.
- Sign in with an Apple Account. If you don’t have one, select Create Apple Account; it’s free and doesn’t require an Apple device.
- Select the Upload button (a cloud with an up arrow) and choose your .pages file, or drag it into the browser window.
- Double-click the document to open it. You can read and edit it in the browser.
- To convert it, select the More button (three dots), then Download a Copy.
- Choose Word for a .docx file, PDF for a file that looks exactly like the original, or another format.
- Open the downloaded file from your Downloads folder.
Complex layouts, special fonts and some charts may look slightly different in Word. Choose PDF if you only need to read or print the document.
Method 2: Open it with LibreOffice (offline)
LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that can open many Pages documents without uploading them anywhere.
- Download LibreOffice from the official LibreOffice website and install it.
- Open LibreOffice, select Open File, and choose the .pages file.
- To save it for Word, select File > Save As, set Save as type to Word 2007-365 (.docx), and select Save.
LibreOffice handles text and basic formatting well, but complex page layouts may shift. Very new or very old Pages files sometimes won’t open. If that happens, use iCloud.com.
Method 3: See a preview by renaming it to .zip
If you only need a quick look at the first page, you can open the preview image inside the file.
- In File Explorer, select View and turn on File name extensions.
- Make a copy of the .pages file so the original stays untouched.
- Rename the copy from document.pages to document.zip and select Yes to confirm.
- Double-click the .zip file and look for preview.jpg (or a QuickLook folder in files from older versions of Pages, which may contain Preview.pdf with every page).
Newer Pages files usually only include a picture of the first page, so this isn’t a way to read the whole document.
Method 4: Ask the sender to export it
The person who created the document can save a Windows-friendly copy in a few seconds. In Pages on a Mac, they select File > Export To > Word or PDF. On iPhone or iPad, they tap the More button, then Export, and choose a format. This gives the most accurate result, because Pages does the conversion itself.
About online converter websites
Many websites offer free .pages to Word conversion. They work, but they upload your document to someone else’s server. Avoid them for anything private, such as contracts, medical letters or financial documents, and use iCloud.com or LibreOffice instead.
Send your edits back to a Mac user
If you need to edit the document and return it, choose the format that keeps the most for both of you:
- Edit on iCloud.com and share it back. Keep the document in iCloud Pages and select the Share button (or Collaborate) to invite the other person. You both edit the same copy, so nothing needs converting.
- Send a Word file. Pages on a Mac opens .docx files well. If you converted the document to Word and edited it, send the .docx back. The Mac user can keep working in Pages and save it as a Pages document again.
- Send a PDF for review only. If you only need to approve or comment, download a PDF and add comments in Microsoft Edge or Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Set up Windows to open Pages files the same way every time
If you receive Pages files often and use LibreOffice, you can make it the default app:
- Right-click any .pages file and select Open with > Choose another app.
- Select LibreOffice (or LibreOffice Writer).
- Select Always.
From then on, double-clicking a .pages file opens it in LibreOffice. If you mainly use iCloud.com, keep the file in your browser’s iCloud Drive instead, so it’s one click away.
Troubleshooting
iCloud.com says the file can’t be opened
The file may have been made in a newer version of Pages than iCloud supports yet, or it may be damaged. Ask the sender to export it as Word or PDF.
The converted Word document looks wrong
Pages and Word handle layouts differently. Download a PDF from iCloud.com to see the original layout, and use the Word version only for editing text.
Windows says it can’t rename the file to .zip
File name extensions are hidden, so you’re renaming it to document.zip.pages. Turn on File name extensions in File Explorer’s View menu first.
The .pages file shows as a folder
Some older Pages files are folder packages. Zip the folder by right-clicking it and selecting Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder, then upload the ZIP to iCloud.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can Microsoft Word open .pages files?
No. Word can’t read the Pages format. Convert the file to .docx first using iCloud.com or LibreOffice.
Do I need an iPhone or Mac to use iCloud.com?
No. You can create a free Apple Account on the web and use Pages, Numbers and Keynote in your browser on a Windows PC.
How do I open Numbers or Keynote files?
The same way. Upload .numbers or .key files to iCloud.com and download them as Excel or PowerPoint files.
Is this different in Windows 11?
No. See how to open a .pages file in Windows 11.
Related: How to install Office 2007 on Windows 10.
Related: how to open EPUB files on Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.