Free screenplay converter
FDX to Word Converter
Final Draft to an editable .docx
Convert a Final Draft .fdx file into a Word document that keeps the screenplay layout and stays editable in Word, Google Docs, Pages and LibreOffice. Each element gets its own paragraph style, so the page looks right and every line keeps its role. Free, in your browser, no upload.
- Private: your script never leaves this browser tab.
- Free, no signup, no watermark.
- Industry layout kept: scene headings, cues, dialogue, (MORE) and (CONT'D).
Drop your FDX file here
Final Draft, Fountain, PDF, Word, Fade In, Highland, Celtx, WriterDuet, Trelby or plain text. Any of them converts to any output.
Private by design: the conversion runs in this tab and nothing is uploaded.
How it works
The converter reads the typed paragraphs of the .fdx and writes them into a .docx where every element has a named style (Scene Heading, Action, Character, Parenthetical, Dialogue, Transition) carrying the standard indents: cues at 3.7 inches from the page edge, dialogue at 2.5, parentheticals at 3.1, transitions flush right. Scene headings and cues are kept with the next line, the title page sits in its own section, and script pages are numbered top right from page 2. Dual dialogue becomes a two column table without borders.
Every screenplay format, both ways
Any format in the left column converts to PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word or plain text. Apps without a writable format here all open FDX or Fountain.
| Format | Reads | Writes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) | ||
| Fountain (.fountain) | ||
| Word (.docx) | ||
| Fade In (.fadein) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Highland (.highland) | Use Fountain, which it opens | |
| Celtx (.celtx) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| WriterDuet (.wdz, .json) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Trelby (.trelby) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Text (.txt) |
Why export a screenplay from Final Draft to Word
Not everyone who reads your script owns Final Draft. Directors annotate in Word, development executives comment in Google Docs, translators work in .docx. Sending them a PDF blocks their notes; sending a Word file that lost its layout makes the script unreadable. A proper FDX to Word conversion gives them the script as it should look, in the tool they already use.
Because each element is a real Word style, the document stays a screenplay while people edit it. Retype a line and it keeps its indent. And when the notes come back, this converter reads that .docx back into FDX, using the styles to restore every element.
Word does not add (MORE) and (CONT'D) automatically, so for a final submission export a PDF from this same page.
Who uses it
- Writers sharing drafts for notes: send a .docx that comments and tracked changes work on.
- Translators: translate a script in Word or a CAT tool without breaking its layout.
- Teachers and students: work on screenplays in the word processor the school already uses.
Stop fixing margins.Formatting is built in.
ScreenWeaver handles industry-standard formatting and exports to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx). Free, with unlimited pages.
- $0, does not expire
- PDF and Final Draft export
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
FDX to Word Converter: the complete guide
It writes each FDX element as a named Word paragraph style with the industry indents, keeps headings and cues with the next line, puts the title page in its own section, numbers script pages top right from page 2 and lays out dual dialogue as a borderless two column table.
For this workflow, the central problem is clear: people without Final Draft can only annotate a PDF, and Word files exported carelessly lose the screenplay layout. Left unresolved, this creates downstream friction and slower decisions. The practical target is an editable .docx where every element has its own style and the page still looks like a screenplay.
Limitation to keep in mind: Word does not add (MORE) and (CONT'D) on page breaks, and its pagination differs slightly from a screenwriting app; send PDF for final submissions.
Advanced workflow: Writers send the .docx for notes, receive it back with tracked changes accepted, then convert it back to FDX: the styles restore every element.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Drop the .fdx.
- Pick Word, the paper size and the title page option.
- Download the .docx.
- Open it in Word, Google Docs, Pages or LibreOffice.
Use Cases By Profile
- Writer: share a draft that comments and tracked changes work on.
- Translator: translate a script in Word without breaking its layout.
- Teacher: hand out editable screenplays in the school's word processor.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Copying the script from a PDF into Word and losing every indent.
- Restyling paragraphs by hand instead of using the element styles.
- Submitting the Word file to a contest instead of a PDF.
Professional Best Practices
- Use the style list in Word to change an element: Scene Heading, Character, Dialogue.
- Google Docs keeps the styles when you upload the .docx.
- Convert the edited .docx back to FDX on this site when the notes are in.
Treat this tool output as a decision support layer, not a replacement for authorship. Great scripts are remembered for specific choices, emotional precision, and clarity of dramatic movement. Tools help by removing noise so your energy can go where it matters: character, conflict, escalation, and payoff. If you review outcomes after each pass and keep an explicit log of accepted changes, your workflow becomes faster and more predictable from draft to draft. That consistency is exactly what professional collaborators value: fewer surprises, clearer rationale, and a script that evolves with intent.
Extended FAQ
Does the Word file keep the screenplay format?
Yes. Each element has a Word paragraph style with the standard indents, and the title page and page numbers are set up.
Does it work in Google Docs?
Yes. Upload the .docx to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs; the indents and styles carry over.
Can I convert the Word file back to Final Draft?
Yes. Drop the .docx into the Word to FDX converter: the styles tell it which element each paragraph is.
Why no (MORE) and (CONT'D) in Word?
Word cannot add them automatically at page breaks. Export a PDF from the same page for submissions.
Is my script uploaded?
No. The .docx is built inside your browser tab.