How to open a .WBK file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no Office licence.
Choose your .WBK file
Drag your .WBK file onto the box, or click Choose file.
Supported
Your .WBK file is checked and laid out as a clean page right.
Read, search, save
Jump between headings, find any word, print it, or save the text as HTML or TXT.
What is a .WBK file?
Everything worth knowing about Microsoft Word Backup Document files.
A .WBK file is a Word Document Backup created by Microsoft. These files contain a copy of a document and are used to restore data in the event of a crash or accidental deletion. They are typically opened and managed using Microsoft Word or the broader Microsoft Office suite.
Programs that open .WBK files
| Full name | Microsoft Word Backup Document |
|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft |
| First released | Microsoft Word for Windows (early 1990s); 'Always create backup copy' option persists through Microsoft 365 Word |
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | application/msword |
| Signature | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 ("ÐÏ.ß" - OLE2 / Compound File Binary header (for classic .doc-based backups)) |
Related viewers
Free, no sign-up.
Is my .WBK file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your .WBK file is read and converted for you. The first time, a small open-source conversion component is downloaded and then cached.
Why does my older .WBK file look plain?
Some older word-processor files keep their formatting in a complex binary layout. The viewer shows all the text and tables reliably; richer formatting for those files is coming with server-side conversion.
Are macros in a .WBK file safe here?
Yes. The viewer never runs macros. It only reads the document text, styles and images, and tells you when a file contains macros.
Can I edit my .WBK file?
This is a viewer. You can copy the text or save it as HTML/TXT and edit it elsewhere. An online editor is on our roadmap.
It says my .WBK file is something else. Why?
We check the file's signature, not just its name. If a file was renamed, the viewer tells you what it really is and which tool opens it.
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