Word, Excel and PowerPoint – without Office.

Press Space and read

If Windows has no preview handler for a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file – usually because Office isn't installed – Tern Files reads the file itself. The chip Text preview · formatting simplified tells you that you are looking at this text preview.

• Word (.docx): the text with headings, lists and tables. The headings appear in a clickable Contents list; pictures show as [Image].
• Excel (.xlsx): each sheet as a grid; switch between them under Sheets. Formulas aren't calculated – you see the values Excel saved last.
• PowerPoint (.pptx): the slides one below the other with their text.

With Office installed

Then Tern Files uses the Windows preview handler that Office installs – the same one File Explorer uses – and you see the formatted document. If the handler fails or takes too long, Tern Files switches to the text preview. Under Settings › Appearance › Office preview you choose Windows preview if available (the default) or Always text preview. See Office files without Office.

What the text preview can't do

• The old formats .doc, .xls and .ppt can't be read without Office. You see No preview without Office and the button Open with ….
• Long documents are cut off after a while; very large files say Too large for the text preview.
• It only reads: macros never run, links to other files or the internet aren't followed, and the file is never changed.

Flip through a whole folder

← and → show the previous and next file without closing the preview, and Enter opens the file in its program. The preview also works inside archives, and it stays free after the 14-day trial. See Move through files.

Step by step in the guide