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How to batch convert .doc files to .docx format in Word?

Author: Siluvia Last Modified: 2025-01-24

If you've received multiple Word documents in the older 97-2003 .doc format, converting them individually to the modern .docx format can be time-consuming. This guide introduces two efficient methods to batch convert .doc files to .docx: using VBA code or the powerful Kutools for Word add-in.

Batch convert .doc files to .docx format with VBA code
Batch convert .doc files to .docx format with Kutools for Word

Batch convert .doc files to .docx format with VBA code

This section demonstrates how to use VBA code to convert all .doc format files in a specified folder into .docx files at once. Follow the steps below:

  1. Gather all the .doc files you want to convert into a single folder.
  2. Press Alt + F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
  3. In the VBA window, click Insert > Module. Copy and paste the following VBA code into the Module window: 
    Sub ConvertDocToDocx()
'Updated by ExtendOffice 20181128
    Dim xDlg As FileDialog
    Dim xFolder As Variant
    Dim xFileName As String
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Set xDlg = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
    If xDlg.Show <> -1 Then Exit Sub
    xFolder = xDlg.SelectedItems(1) + "\"
    xFileName = Dir(xFolder & "*.doc", vbNormal)
    While xFileName <> ""
        Documents.Open FileName:=xFolder & xFileName, _
            ConfirmConversions:=False, ReadOnly:=False, AddToRecentFiles:=False, _
            PasswordDocument:="", PasswordTemplate:="", Revert:=False, _
            WritePasswordDocument:="", WritePasswordTemplate:="", Format:= _
            wdOpenFormatAuto, XMLTransform:=""
        ActiveDocument.SaveAs xFolder & Replace(xFileName, "doc", "docx"), wdFormatDocumentDefault
        ActiveDocument.Close
        xFileName = Dir()
    Wend
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
    The VBA code is pasted into the Module window
  4. Press F5 to run the code. In the Browse window that appears, select the folder containing your .doc files and click OK.
    Browse window

All .doc format files in the selected folder will be converted to .docx files immediately, as shown in the screenshot below:

All .doc format documents are converted to .docx documents

Batch convert .doc files to .docx format with Kutools for Word

This section introduces a handy utility for batch conversion. With the Doc/Docx utility in Kutools for Word, you can easily convert all .doc format documents in a folder to .docx format in just a few clicks. Follow these steps:

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  1. In a blank document, click Kutools Plus > Doc/Docx.
    Doc/Docx button on the ribbon
  2. In the Document Format Converter window, follow these steps:
    1. Select Doc to Docx from the Format Convert drop-down menu.
    2. Click Add button to add documents you need to convert:
      • Choose Files to add individual documents.
      • Choose Folder to add all documents from a specific folder.
    3. By default, PDF files will be saved to the same location as the source files. To change the location, click the Browse button Browse button and choose a new destination.
    4. Optionally, check the Delete source files after conversion box to remove the original files after the PDFs are created.
    5. Optionally, check the Keep the modified date of original files box to retain the original file metadata.
    6. Once all settings are complete, click Ok.
    Document Format Converter dialog box
  3. Once the conversion is complete, a dialog box will appear indicating how many documents have been successfully converted. Click the OK button and close the Document Format Converter window.

Now, all .doc format documents have been successfully converted to .docx files.

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