LWP File Extension

LWP file icon

Lotus Word Pro Document

What is a LWP file?

The LWP extension is related to Lotus Word Pro Document and is classified in the Document Files category, which contains 969 files.

The Lotus Word Pro Document (LWP) was developed by IBM, which created file format and 70 programs to work with them.

LWP files are supported by Windows, Mac OS and Linux. To open a LWP file, you can choose from 4 programs such as Lotus Word Pro, LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer.

MIME types

  • application/lwp
  • application/vnd.lotus-wordpro
  • zz-application/zz-winassoc-lwp
  • application/wordpro
  • application/x-ami

File Signature

HEX code: 57 6F 72 64 50 72 6F. ASCII code: WordPro.

How to open a LWP file?

If you cannot open a LWP file, it is most often due to missing software. Select a program from the list according to your operating system. Then go to the official website of the program developer, download it, and install it on your device.

Lotus Word Pro, LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer stand out as the preferred programs to manage LWP files effectively. To install the latest version of Lotus Word Pro on your computer, visit the IBM website where you can download the version available for all operating systems.

After completing the installation, LWP files should be recognized by the system and linked to Lotus Word Pro.

Make Lotus Word Pro the default LWP viewer

Change the default app to open files on Mac

  1. Right click or use Control + Left Click on the desired LWP file to access a dropdown menu of actions;
  2. Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
  3. In the lower section of the window, you’ll find the "Enable" menu, with "Recommended Programs" pre-selected as the default option;
  4. Select "All Programs" in this menu, and then search for Lotus Word Pro. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make sure it’s the default option.

Set default programs for Windows

  1. Start by right-clicking on your LWP file, then select the "Open with" option and choose "Choose another app" from the menu that appears;
  2. Inside the popup window, scroll through the list of applications and specifically choose Lotus Word Pro as the application to associate with your LWP file;
  3. Check the "Always use this app" checkbox and click "OK".

Convert files to and from LWP

If you have trouble working with a LWP file, try converting it to PDF, DOC, DOCX, ODF, DO or similar document files.

Be aware that converting a LWP file may reduce some features, but you can usually revert it to the original format.

Applications such as Lotus Word Pro, LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer offer offline conversion of LWP files to multiple formats, preserving quality.

Convert LWP to other file formats

Converting Files to LWP Format

Finding answers to LWP file problems

While LWP files can sometimes present difficulties, most problems can be resolved quickly with minor software modifications. Check the tips below to help solve them.

What are the ways to check if my LWP file is damaged?

LWP document files that have become corrupted may display one or more of the following symptoms:

  • The file does not respond or shows errors when opening it;
  • The file exhibits poor performance during editing operations in Lotus Word Pro;
  • The file stops responding or freezes in Lotus Word Pro or other programs;
  • Unexplained LWP file size inflation;
  • Actions performed on the file result in the appearance of error notifications;

Why does Lotus Word Pro crash?

Insufficient updates for IBM products can cause Lotus Word Pro to crash. Be sure to regularly install the latest software updates.

A computer restart is often the key to solving numerous common problems. That’s why, it is recommended to restart the computer before making any changes to the software settings.

How to repair a corrupted LWP file?

Use a recovery program to open the damaged LWP file, and in the menu, click "Repair" to start the repair operation. Wait for the recovery process to finish, allowing automatic repair of damaged document files.

How to edit a LWP file?

To make changes to LWP files, you need specialized software that allows both opening and editing the document files. Online LWP editors offer fewer capabilities than applications optimized for Lotus Word Pro Document.

Best LWP Editor Software in 2026

Taking the above factors into account, we have selected a list of LWP editors currently available.

LWP Editor SoftwareDeveloperPlatformsOverall Rating
Lotus Word ProIBMWindows4.9 out of 5 (36 reviews)
OpenOffice WriterOpenOfficeWindows, Mac OS, Linux4.7 out of 5 (37 reviews)
LibreOffice WriterTDFWindows, Mac OS, Linux4.5 out of 5 (40 reviews)