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Work with office files

Word (docx) skill for Claude

Writes and edits Word documents, including tracked changes and comments, then looks at the result.

Source-availableby Anthropicdocument-skills
  • Claude Code
  • Claude apps
  • Claude API
  • Excel, Word & PowerPoint
How to installView on GitHub

Reviewed by Sophie Filer · Updated 1 Nov 2026

A Word file is a zipped bundle of XML, and editing that by guesswork is how documents end up corrupted. This skill gives Claude a clear split: new documents are written with the docx library for JavaScript, existing ones are unpacked and changed at the XML level so their styles survive, and reading is done with pandoc.

It is at its best on the jobs people dread: redlining with real tracked changes under a name you choose, leaving comments on specific passages, and building reports with proper headings so the table of contents works. Before handing anything back, Claude turns the pages into images and checks them.

Pea-sy Does It

Try asking

Copy one of these into Claude once the skill is on.

  • Turn these meeting notes into a two-page Word memo with headings and a table of contents.

  • Redline contract.docx under the name "Legal review": tighten the payment terms and track every change.

  • Add a comment to each paragraph in proposal.docx that makes a claim without a source.

Ripe for the Picking

When Claude reaches for it

  • Writing a report, memo, letter or template as a .docx file
  • Editing an existing Word document without breaking its formatting
  • Redlining with tracked changes, or adding review comments
  • Pulling the text out of a Word file to summarise or reuse it

Shelling It Out

What is in the pod

docx/

  • A short map of which approach to use for creating, editing and reading
  • Known pitfalls in the docx library, such as the default page size and table widths
  • Scripts that merge split-up text runs, add comments and validate the file against the Word schema
  • A render step that converts the document to page images for a visual check

Planting It

How to install Word (docx)

Pick the app you use. Each route takes a couple of minutes.

Claude Code

The quickest route if you code in the terminal.

  1. Add the Anthropic skills marketplace

    You only do this once. It registers the anthropics/skills repo as a plugin source.

    docx Claude Code, step 1
    /plugin marketplace add anthropics/skills

  2. Install the document-skills plugin

    docx ships inside it. You can also pick it from the /plugin menu under Browse and install plugins.

    docx Claude Code, step 2
    /plugin install document-skills@anthropic-agent-skills

  3. Start a new session and ask

    Claude loads the skill on its own when a task matches. To be sure, name it: "Use the Word (docx) skill to ..."

Claude apps

Web, desktop and mobile, with no install at all.

  1. Turn on code execution

    Open Settings, then Capabilities, and switch on Code execution and file creation (called Create and edit files in the newer layout). Skills need it to run.

  2. Open Customize, then Skills

    docx is one of Anthropic's own skills, so it is already in the list.

  3. Switch on docx

    Team and Enterprise members may need an owner to allow skills first, under Organization settings, Plugins & skills. Skills you switch on also sync to Claude Code when you sign in with the same account.

This skill is source-available, so there is no copy-it-yourself route: install it through the plugin or the Claude apps.

Pod Compatible

Works with

  • Claude CodeInstall from the plugin marketplace or drop the folder in .claude/skills.
  • Claude appsWeb, desktop and mobile: switch it on under Customize, then Skills.
  • Claude APIUse the pre-built document skills, or upload any skill folder as a custom skill.
  • Excel, Word & PowerPointSkills you switch on in Claude also load in the Claude add-ins for Office.

Pea-requisites

What it needs

  • Node.js with the docx npm package
  • pandoc, for reading documents
  • LibreOffice and Poppler, for the visual check

Notes from the Pea Patch

Tips from using it

  • When redlining, give Claude the author name to use. The skill can then confirm that every edit really was tracked.
  • Say whether you want A4 or US Letter. The library starts on A4, so ask for Letter if that is what your office prints on.

Pea-fect Partners

MCP servers that pair well

Google Workspace MCPPull the source notes from Docs or Drive, then let the skill turn them into a Word file.Desktop CommanderFinds the documents on your machine and puts the finished file where you want it.

More from the Pod

More skills

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For bots & AI agents

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