How Word to text extraction works
This tool extracts plain text from your .docx file and saves it as a .txt download. Everything runs directly in your browser, nothing is uploaded or stored anywhere, making it useful for private documents and quick text reuse.
When to use this tool
Plain text is ideal when you need the words without any formatting. It is useful for copying into forms, searching long documents, feeding tools that require text, or cleaning up messy formatting.
- Clean copy-paste: move content into emails, chats, and forms without weird styling.
- Search and indexing: quickly scan or search a document using raw text.
- AI and analysis: extract text for summaries, tagging, or review workflows.
- Content cleanup: remove formatting noise before moving content into another editor.
Need web markup instead of plain text? Use Word to HTML Converter to export structured HTML.
Step-by-step: from Word to Text
Extracting text takes just a few seconds:
- Add your Word files. Drag and drop documents into the box above, or click to choose files from your device.
- Review the list. Each file appears with its name and status, ready for extraction.
- Extract text. Click Extract text. The tool processes everything directly in your browser.
- Save your .txt files. Save files one by one or use the “Save all text files” button once everything is ready.
Privacy, limits and how this tool treats your files
FileYoga is built around a simple rule: your files stay with you. Word to Text extraction runs locally in your browser, so your documents are never uploaded to FileYoga servers.
Local-only extraction
Extraction runs locally in your browser on your device. Your Word file isn’t uploaded, and the text output is generated on your side.
No hidden copies
When you clear the list or close the tab, the tool stops using your files and does not save copies on a server.
No artificial limits
No paywalls or quotas. The only limits come from your device’s memory and your browser.
No account required
Use the extractor without signing up. Open the page, process your files, and leave when you are done.
If you are working with sensitive text (client notes, internal drafts, contracts), this setup means you keep full control from start to finish.
Tips for best results
- Works best with modern .docx files created in current Word editors.
- If your document has columns, expect the extracted order to follow the internal reading order, not the visual layout.
- Tables may extract row-by-row with spacing that looks simple. That is normal for plain text.
- If you need the original layout, convert to PDF instead using Word to PDF Converter.
Troubleshooting
- Text order looks wrong: Columns, text boxes, and floating elements can change reading order when extracted. Simplify the layout and try again.
- Headers or footers are missing: Some Word header/footer content may not extract as expected. If it matters, copy that content manually or place it in the main body before extracting.
- Tables look messy: Plain text cannot preserve table borders. Try converting tables to simple lists, or export to HTML if you need structure.
- Special characters look incorrect: Uncommon fonts or symbols may not map cleanly. Re-save the document in Word and try again, or replace special symbols with standard Unicode characters.
- The extractor is slow or the tab freezes: Large documents can hit memory limits. Extract one file at a time and close other heavy tabs.
Frequently asked questions
No. Word to Text extraction runs locally in your browser. Your DOCX is never uploaded to FileYoga servers, and the .txt output is generated on your device.
You get readable text from the main document content as plain text. Formatting is removed. Some layout-only elements like positioned objects, decorative shapes, and certain embedded items may not extract as meaningful text.
Plain text follows the document’s internal reading order, not the visual layout you see in Word. Columns, floating text boxes, and positioned elements can change the sequence. For best results, use a single-column layout and avoid floating objects.
Not always. Headers, footers, and page numbers are often stored separately from the main document body and may be skipped or extracted inconsistently. If that content matters, copy it into the main body text before extracting.
Lists are extracted as plain text. Bullets and numbering typically stay readable, but spacing can change. If a list looks merged together, add clear paragraph breaks in Word and extract again.
Plain text does not preserve table borders or column alignment. Table content usually extracts row-by-row as text. If you need structure, use Word to HTML instead.
They are not guaranteed to extract in a useful way. For predictable output, accept tracked changes, remove comments, and consider moving important footnotes/endnotes into the main body before extracting.
Encrypted or password-protected documents may not process in the browser. Open the file in Word, unlock it, save an unprotected copy, then extract the text.
Try extracting one file at a time, close other heavy tabs, and use a modern browser. If the DOCX is extremely large, split the document into smaller files in Word and extract each part separately.