How to open HWP and HWPX files

HWP and HWPX are document formats commonly used for official, business, and academic purposes. While they originate from South Korea, they are used by a wide range of people globally. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily open and edit these files both online and offline.

What are HWP and HWPX files?

HWP and HWPX are file formats developed by Hancom for its word processing software, Hancom Office (previously known as Hangul Word Processor). These formats are commonly used in South Korea for creating and editing documents.

• HWP (Hangul Word Processor): A proprietary document format used by Hancom Office, primarily for official and business documents in South Korea.
• HWPX: A more modern version of HWP, based on XML, which allows for better compatibility with other applications.

Because of the specificity of its use, outside of the Hancom ecosystem users often face compatibility issues when trying to open HWP or HWPX files.

Now that you know what these files are, let’s see how to open them if you do not dispose of the Hancom software.

How to open HWP and HWPX in Word editors

Opening HWP and HWPX files requires special file readers capable of handling these formats. Due to their specificity, few Word editors are capable of doing so. Among them, there are accessible solutions such as ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors — with its latest version 8.3, working with these files has become easier.

To get started, open your files in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors. The process is straightforward:

1. Launch ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors on your computer.
2. Navigate to the location of the file you want to open.
3. Double-click on the file or use the “Open” option to load it into ONLYOFFICE.

Once the file is open, take a moment to visually inspect the content. This is your opportunity to check that the text, images, and other elements are displayed properly.

How to convert HWP and HWPX to Word file

If you need to make changes to the document, ONLYOFFICE will automatically convert the file to its native formats for easier editing. This process allows you to adjust text, format styles, add new content, and more.

To convert the files, simply open the HWP document in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors and save it to your computer in a convenient format, such as DOCX or PDF.

Otherwise, you can convert HWP and HWPX files through online conversion services. ONLYOFFICE’s online converter also plans to add this format in the near future.

How to edit HWP and HWPX

Once the file has been automatically converted, you can edit it like a normal Word document. However, you have to pay attention: depending on the complexity of the original formatting, some elements may not convert perfectly.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Text Styles: Fonts, sizes, and styles may not always match up exactly with the original.
• Page Layout: Margins, headers, and footers might look different.
• Graphics: Images, charts, and other visual elements could shift or appear distorted.
• Tables: Tables with complex cell merging or unusual formatting might not render properly.

Once the file is edited, you can save it in popular formats, such as DOCX and PDF formats.

Conclusion

With its support for HWP and HWPX files, now you can work with Korean document formats within ONLYOFFICE without additional tools or conversions. Whether you’re handling government documents, business reports, or academic papers, ONLYOFFICE provides an efficient editing experience.

Try opening an HWP or HWPX file yourself by downloading ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, or create a DocSpace account to work online.

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