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Word (DOCX) Export

Word export produces a .docx file that opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and any other application that supports the standard Office format. It's the recommended export format for most users — you'll see it marked with a star in the export panel.

What you get

  • Proper heading structure. Headings from your note are mapped to Word's built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.), which enables the navigation pane, table of contents generation, and correct screen reader behavior.
  • Diagrams as SVG. Each diagram is embedded as an SVG image with its alt text attached, so it scales cleanly and remains accessible.
  • Math notation. Mathematical expressions from your note are included in the document. Depending on what you need to do with them, you may want a tool like MathType to edit them after export.
  • Editable content. Unlike PDF, a DOCX file is fully editable — useful when you need to make final adjustments, add institution-specific formatting, or collaborate with someone who prefers Word.

Best uses

DOCX works best when you want a document that:

  • Will be edited after export, either by you or a collaborator
  • Needs to be submitted to a system or institution that requires Word format
  • Should serve as a starting draft for a longer document
  • Will be shared with someone who works primarily in Word or Google Docs

Checking accessibility in Word

After exporting, you can verify the document's accessibility directly in Microsoft Word:

  1. Open the exported .docx file in Word
  2. Go to Review in the top menu, then click Check Accessibility
    • Alternatively: File → Info → Check for Issues → Check Accessibility
  3. If Word prompts you to upgrade the document format, accept this — it's required to enable the full accessibility checker
  4. Review the results panel, which lists any issues found along with suggestions for fixing them

Common things the checker looks for include missing alt text, reading order problems, and missing document title. Items flagged from an Accessible Notes export should be rare — if you find recurring issues, that's useful feedback for us.

If you need to fix an alt text issue, it's best to update it in Accessible Notes and re-export rather than editing it directly in the Word file. That way the fix applies to all your exports.