DOT File
What are DOT files and how to open them
Are you having problems opening a DOT file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.
What is a DOT file?
A .DOT file is a Microsoft Word Template file.
The .dot file extension is used to store document templates by older versions of the Microsoft Word word processing application.
Microsoft Word, which is part of the Microsoft Office application suite, allows users to create a variety of documents. The DOT files that are created by Word contain pre-formatted settings. This file format allows a user to create a template with specified margins, headers, fonts, and page styles and apply the template style across multiple Word documents.
DOT files are commonly used in company letterheads and standardized forms. Some DOT templates are included with the Microsoft Word application, but users can create their own customized templates according to their own word processing needs. Newer versions of Microsoft Word use template files with the .dotx file extension.
How to open DOT files
We have identified six DOT openers that are compatible with this specific type of DOT file.
Programs that open Microsoft Word Template files
![]() | Free File Viewer | Verified |
![]() | Bitberry File Opener | Verified |
![]() | Microsoft Office | Verified |
![]() | Microsoft Word | Verified |
![]() | StarOffice Writer | Verified |
![]() | Kingsoft Office | Verified |
Last updated: February 24, 2023
Help us help others
File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about DOT file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.
Not sure exactly what type of file you are trying to open? Try our new File Analyzer. It is a free tool that can identify more than 11,000 different kinds of files - most likely yours too! It will help you find software that can handle your specific type of file. Download File Analyzer here.