- Although Mac users may have had difficulty with Microsoft Word in the past, it seems that the processor is now one of the best options for Apple machines. Microsoft Word for Mac offers full.
- May 30, 2017 Can I get Microsoft Word on my Mac? Is Pages compatible with Word? What Does MS Word cost? Is Pages Free? Pages vs Word: Basics. When it comes to Word vs Pages, Word is developed by Microsoft for Windows PC. Apple developed pages for Mac at a price of $19.99 and iOS devices for $9.99.
Pages may be a decent word processor, but it still doesn't play well with Microsoft Word. Learn how to view and convert Pages files in Windows 10. How to Open Apple Pages Documents on a Windows 10 PC.
Pages may be a decent word processor, but it still doesn’t play well with Microsoft Word. Learn how to view and convert Pages files in Windows 10.
Pages is Apple’s equivalent to Microsoft Word and is part of the iWork suite which also includes Numbers (like Excel) and Keynote (like PowerPoint).
In 2017, the company made the suite available for free for Mac computers and iOS devices. What this means is that a lot more users are probably using it rather than opening their wallet for a Microsoft Office 365 subscription.
That also means users of Microsoft’s suite are likely to come across an Apple Pages document occasionally. If you need to view it, you have a few options. The easiest option is to upload the file to Apple’s iCloud, which is great if you use Apple’s service.
But what if you don’t use iCloud? Here is a look at how you can open and view Apple Pages, Numbers and even Keynote files on Windows 10.
View Apple Pages, Numbers, or Keynote Documents on Windows 10
If you don’t have access to a Mac, you can view the first page of a Pages document, the first worksheet of a Numbers workbook, and the first slide of a Keynote presentation. We’ll use a Pages document as an example.
When you try to open an Apple Pages file in Microsoft Word, you’ll see the following dialog box.
When you click OK, yet another dialog box displays.
Whether you click Yes or No, a third dialog box displays. Microsoft really wants you to know that it can’t open the file.
Click OK to finally get out of this process.
The interesting thing about Pages documents is that they are compressed files. Simply change the extension of the file to .zip to view the contents of the file.
When you change the file extension to .zip, the following confirmation dialog box displays. Click Yes to change the extension.
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You can use any zip program, like 7-Zip, to extract the files from the Pages file.
When you extract the .zip file, you’ll find several image files. Open the largest image file in your favorite image editor to view the first page of the document.
You can insert the image file into a Word document, but you won’t be able to edit the document. In the next section, we’ll show you how to convert Pages documents to Word documents, as well as Numbers files to Excel files and Keynote files to PowerPoint files.
Convert Pages, Numbers, and Keynote Documents to Microsoft Office Documents on Your Mac
The previous method works if all you want to do is read the first page, worksheet, or slide in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote documents. But if you want to view more of the documents or edit them, you need to convert them to Microsoft Office documents.
If you have access to a Mac, you can convert Pages documents to Word documents in the Pages app. The process for converting Numbers or Keynote documents is the same.
Open the document you want to convert in Pages and then go to File > Export To > Word.
Is Mac Pages Compatible With Microsoft Word
The Word tab at the top of the Export Your Document dialog box should be active.
To add a password to the document, check the Require password to open box. Enter a password in the Password box and again in the Verify box. Type a hint in the Password Hint box to remind yourself of your password.
Under Advanced Options, the Format drop-down list allows you to save the document as a .docx file (Office 2007 and later) or a .doc file (Office 2003 or earlier).
Click Next.
Enter a name for the Word document in the Save As box and select where you want to save it.
Then, click Export.
Convert Pages, Numbers, and Keynote Documents to Microsoft Office Documents on Your iPhone or iPad
If you don’t have a Mac, but you have an iPhone or iPad, you can use your iOS device to convert your iWorks document to a Microsoft Office document.
Again, we’re going to use a Pages document as an example.
Open your document in Pages on your iPhone or iPad and tap the menu button (three horizontal dots) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
On the More screen, tap Export.
The Export screen offers four formats to convert your document to. You can choose any of these formats, but for this example, we’re going to use Word.
So, tap Word.
You’ll see the Choose How to Send link at the bottom of the Export screen.
You don’t need to tap the link. The Share screen automatically displays.
Tap the method you want to use to transfer the converted file to your Windows PC. We used Dropbox.
Convert Pages, Numbers, and Keynote Documents to Microsoft Office Documents Using iCloud
If you don’t own an Apple device, you can set up a free iCloud account or log into an existing account. Then, open the appropriate app for the document you want to convert.
The easiest way to upload a document to your iCloud account is to drag it onto the browser tab where you’re running the iWork app in your account.
Once the document is uploaded, click the menu button (three horizontal dots) in the lower-right corner of the document icon and select Download a Copy.
On the Choose a download format dialog box, click Word. This allows you to edit the document on your Windows PC.
If all you want to do is view the document (beyond just the first page), you can choose PDF or EPUB.
The iWork app in your iCloud account creates a file for download.
When the Opening dialog box displays, select Save File and click OK.
Or, if you want to view it right away, choose Open with. Microsoft Word should be chosen in the drop-down list automatically.
If you’re saving the file, select a location and enter a name in the File name box. Make sure you keep the .docx extension.
Then, click Save.
Don’t Send Back Those Pages, Numbers, and Keynote Files
You have a few options for converting Pages, Numbers, and Keynote files so you can view them, and even edit them, on a Windows 10 PC. And you don’t even need to have a Mac.
Do you use Pages, Numbers, or Keynote on a Mac or iOS device? Or do you use Office programs on a Mac or Windows PC? Which do you prefer and why? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below!
For years Apple’s iWork suite was something you paid for. While it wasn’t as expensive as Microsoft Office, at $80 it also wasn’t cheap enough to make it an afterthought. In 2014 Apple dropped the price to $20 per app on the Mac. That was a better deal if you only needed Pages, but it was still enough of a barrier that most people wouldn’t bother with it. Finally, in 2017, Apple dropped the price tag altogether, making the apps free for anyone who had ever bought a Mac or iOS device.
If Apple is giving the apps away, they can’t possibly hold a candle to the venerable Microsoft Office, can they? You might be surprised. While they aren’t as feature-packed as Word or Excel, Pages and Numbers are more than capable enough for plenty of use cases.
Apple Pages vs. Microsoft Word
In a lot of cases you’ll find you already know if you need Microsoft Word. If you’re aren’t positive you do need Word, then Pages might be perfect for you.
Pages does most everything you’d expect a word processor to do. It lets you create and edit documents, as well as other basic functions. Pages even has a whole range of templates to make it easy to get started on whatever you need. The app includes templates for school reports, resumes, newsletters, and even books. Once you get started, you can change fonts, add images, and check your spelling and grammar, just as you would expect.
One area where Pages doesn’t hold up as well as Microsoft Word is interoperability. Word has become an industry standard, and many people have come to rely on the “docx” format. This is especially true in industries like publishing. Pages can export documents in this format, but if you’re working with someone and going to be sending .docx files back and forth, you’re probably going to need Word. If you’re not sure, Apple has information on what Word and Excel features are supported in Pages and Numbers on its website.
Related: How to Convert Pages Files to Microsoft Word Format
Apple Numbers vs. Microsoft Excel
When it comes to Numbers and Excel, the differences are greater. Pages is basically a stripped down version of Word, but Numbers and Excel take different approaches to working with spreadsheets.
When you launch Excel, you’ll see a grid that extends essentially infinitely in any given direction. Numbers, on the other hand, starts you off with something more defined. With the default “Blank” spreadsheet, you get columns labeled from A through G and rows labeled 1 through 22. Handles let you extend the grid in either direction, if you need to. This different approach gives you a glimpse of the difference between the two programs. Excel is packed with more features than most of us will ever use, while Numbers takes a more basic approach.
Is Mac Pages Compatible With Microsoft Word Games
Excel also seems to be built for people who work with spreadsheets day-in and day-out and know exactly what features they need. Numbers takes an approach that spreadsheet novices will find less intimidating. Neither of these approaches is the “right” way to do things – they’re just different. If you’re not even sure why you’d ever need a spreadsheet program, Numbers is the safer bet.
Which is best for you?
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In the end, it all comes down to what you’re using a given app for. If you’re just writing the occasional letter or creating a simple spreadsheet to keep track of your budget, Pages and Numbers will be more than enough for your needs. If you’re frequently working on documents with other people or if you make a living as an accountant, you’re probably going to need to spring for Microsoft Office. Fortunately, if you only find you need Word or Excel occasionally, there are a few ways you can use Office for free.
That said, both Pages and Numbers are free from the outset now. If you’re not sure what you need, your best bet is to use Pages and/or Numbers until you run into their limitations. If you never do hit those limitations, you’ll be glad you saved the money.