All downloaded docs automatically openedin/saved as Pages docs

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Level 1

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All downloaded docs automatically openedin/saved as Pages docs

I use Google Drive to create docs. I select 'download as word.' This file shows that it is a docx on my desktop, but it opens in pages. Even if I select 'convert to Word' in pages by 'right clicking' on the file, it still opens in Pages. This is a new thing. In the past when I have selected 'open as word' in opens as a docx. I don't know how to change this. I have tried 'open with' but the only option it gives me is pages. Everything else is faded out and I am unable to select other options.

Posted on Jan 1, 2024 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

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VikingOSX

Level 10

125,594 points

Jan 2, 2024 5:04 AM in response to kirrajaye

Pages will open .docx documents and translate them into .pages documents — without changing the original Word document, or providing the ability to edit that Word document. You should manually save that translated .pages document once to enable autosave. Pages has been opening Word documents with translation since the application was first introduced in Jan 2005.

MS Word on the other hand, would open those downloaded Word documents without translation and as editable content. Here, autosave would be a Word preferences setting.

If you have MS Word and do not want Pages to be the default opening application, you can single-click any Word .docx document, and press option+cmd+i to open a Finder Information panel. Further down on that panel is an Open With section that likely shows Pages. Click that selector, choose Microsoft Word, and then click through the Change All… button results to make Microsoft Word the default opening application for .docx documents.

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