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Edit a Word document on your phone, no app needed

Need to change a Word file while you're away from your computer? Open it in your phone's browser. The document reflows into one column that fits your screen, so you can edit without pinching and zooming. When you're done, download it as a Word file or share a link. No Word app and no Microsoft account.

Start a blank document

Opens .docx and PDF files. Free, with no sign-up.

How it works on a phone

  1. Save the file to your phone. If it came by email, save the attachment to your phone's files or downloads.
  2. Open it. Tap Open a Word document and pick the file.
  3. Edit in the phone view. On screens up to 768px wide, the document fits the width of your screen with text at a readable size. Page breaks are marked, and you can switch between Pages and Continuous at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Get it back out. Export → Microsoft Word (.docx) downloads the file, ready to attach in your email app; Export → PDF document (.pdf) downloads a PDF instead, for someone who only needs to read it. Share gives you a link and a QR code, or lets you email the link straight from Draftly.

The phone view changes how it looks, not the file

While you edit, the document is shown as a single column instead of printed pages. The .docx you export keeps the original page size, margins, page breaks, and header and footer text.

When the file opens, tracked changes are accepted, text boxes become normal text, and comments and footnotes are removed. Draftly tells you when this happens. Nested lists become one level.

Saving on your phone

  • On phones and tablets, Draftly keeps your documents in your browser's storage on the phone by default, so closing the tab doesn't lose your edits. They stay until you delete them or clear your browser's data.
  • That saved copy lives only in this browser. To get the edited file into your email or another app, download the .docx.
  • Prefer to keep nothing on the phone? Turn off Remember my documents on this device on the Workspace page. Documents are then kept only in the open tab, and closing it discards them.
  • Opening a file never uploads it. A copy is uploaded only when you create a share link, and it's deleted after 30 days.

Questions

Can I edit a Word document on my phone without the Word app?

Yes. Draftly runs in your phone's browser, so there's nothing to install and no Microsoft account to sign in to.

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. It runs in your phone's browser: Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android.

Where does the downloaded file go?

On Android, usually your Downloads folder. On iPhone, Safari asks where to save it, usually in Files.

Will I lose my edits if I close the tab?

Not on a phone, unless you've changed the setting: documents are remembered on the device by default. If you've turned Remember my documents on this device off, download the .docx or share a link before closing the tab.

How do I send the edited document from my phone?

Choose Export → Microsoft Word (.docx) and attach the file in your email app, or Export → PDF document (.pdf) if they only need to read it. Or tap Share to get a link: the other person can view the document in their browser and download it. Links expire after 30 days.

Will the document look different after editing on my phone?

Only while you edit. The exported .docx keeps the original page size, margins, page breaks, and header and footer text.