Can't download word document, it automatically converts to pages

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1999clo Author

Level 1

9 points

Can't download word document, it automatically converts to pages

I'm unsure if this is issue with Mac or Gmail but I am trying to open a word document sent to me on gmail, whenever I download it, it automatically downloads as a pages document. There is no option to download in it's original format, and it is driving me crazy. When it converts to a Pages doc it loses some of the document. I have tried on safari and chrome, both do the same thing. If I open it as google doc, loses half the document again. Why is it automatically converting it? and how can I stop this feature? I just want all documents to download in their original format then I convert them if necessary. Thank you in advance

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 15, 2020 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

1999clo Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 15, 2020 10:27 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for your input. But it doesn’t automatically open when I download it. And to double check I went to general and unchecked the box. Just simply downloaded a Word document and the document going to my “downloads” tab in safari/ chrome, and it is automatically a pages document. I have tried from different emails, tried different documents incase it was just an issue with that document and it is still happening. Every single one is a pages document and I can’t download the original word doc at all.

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Answer 2

Jun 15, 2020 9:55 AM in response to 1999clo

Pages can only convert a Word document into a .pages document by actually opening that Word document.

You may have your browser set to automatically open in a compatible application (and if you don't have Word, it will likely then be Pages). In Safari Preferences : General, uncheck Open "safe" files after downloading. You can also right-click on the Word document in the browser and choose a download method there that allows you to save the document locally.

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Answer 3

Jun 15, 2020 12:24 PM in response to 1999clo

There are two means by which a downloaded Word document (.docx) can acquire a Pages .pages icon.

Pages must be launched, and the Word document opened, and then saved as a Pages document.
1. This is a very obvious visual action where Pages launches, opens the Word document, converts and saves it.
The Word document extension is getting changed to .pages without any Pages conversion

If you are not seeing the obvious item [1], then I have to suspect that you have a folder action assigned to the Downloads folder that is changing the Word document extension to .pages. That does not convert it to a Pages document, and the DOCX stamp remains on the document icon, unless you have the Finder's show icon preview switched off, in which case it appears as a yellow pages icon.

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Can't download word document, it automatically converts to pages

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