OpenAnyFile
What is a .wri file?
Microsoft Write Document is a document format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1985. It is usually created by Windows 1.0–3.11 Write.
Windows' bundled word processor before WordPad. The text sits right after a 128-byte header, so it can be recovered cleanly.
File details
| Full name | Microsoft Write Document |
|---|---|
| Category | Documents |
| MIME type | application/x-mswrite |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 31 BE 00 00 00 AB |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1985 |
| Opens with | Legacy Word reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .wri file
OpenAnyFile routes .wri files to its legacy Word reader, which shows the document text recovered from the binary file.
- Drop your .wri file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the legacy Word reader.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the document text recovered from the binary file. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Original layout and styling. The text is extracted; fonts, positioning and page design are not reproduced.
Is it safe to open a .wri file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .wri files
Can I open a .wri file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .wri files in your browser using its legacy Word reader. You get the document text recovered from the binary file, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .wri file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine WRI file begins with 31 BE 00 00 00 AB. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .wri file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.