Apache OpenOffice in 2026: Safe? And What to Use Instead

Apache OpenOffice remains one of the best-known free office suites, and plenty of New Zealand computers still run it. The project is very different from its heyday, though: there has been no new feature release since 2014, security fixes arrive slowly, and it still cannot save files in Microsoft’s modern .docx format. This guide explains what Apache OpenOffice includes, what it needs to run, how safe it really is in 2026, and how to move to a better-maintained free alternative without losing a single file. Kiwi readers who want a local starting point can also browse the community pages at openoffice.org.nz.

For the bigger picture across every free suite, see our guide to open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office.

Is Apache OpenOffice still safe to use in 2026?

Apache OpenOffice is still maintained, but only barely, and the Apache Software Foundation currently rates its security health “red”. The most recent release, version 4.1.16, arrived on 10 November 2025 and fixed seven separate vulnerabilities, catalogued as CVE-2025-64401 through CVE-2025-64407, as set out in the project’s 4.1.16 announcement and its security bulletin.

Five of those seven flaws let a document quietly load remote content without asking you first — through floating frames, OLE objects, external data sources in Calc, background and bullet images, and the DDE function. A sixth (CVE-2025-64406) could corrupt memory while importing a malformed CSV file, and the seventh (CVE-2025-64407) could be used to leak values from your configuration files and environment variables by fetching a crafted URL. All seven affected every version up to and including 4.1.15, so anyone on an older build should update straight away. The 4.1.16 release notes list the full details.

The wider concern is the pace of maintenance. In its regular reports to the Apache board — including the update dated 19 August 2026 — the foundation’s security team kept OpenOffice’s health rating at “red”, noting that several issues were more than 365 days old, while judging them not severe enough to stop distributing the software. You can read those minutes on Apache Whimsy. The rating has hovered between amber and red since 2024, driven by a long-running shortage of active developers.

In practical terms, OpenOffice 4.1.16 is reasonably safe for editing your own documents offline. It is a poor choice for opening files from strangers — email attachments, forum downloads or unknown USB sticks — and it slips a little further behind LibreOffice with every passing year.

What is Apache OpenOffice and what does it include?

Apache OpenOffice is a free, open-source suite of six desktop applications that together do the everyday jobs of a paid office package. It is descended from the original OpenOffice.org, was handed to the Apache Software Foundation by Oracle in 2011, and is released under the permissive Apache License 2.0, so it is free for home and business use alike.

All six apps save in the OpenDocument Format — the open .odt, .ods and .odp file types — which any modern office suite can read. The important limitation is Microsoft compatibility: OpenOffice can open newer .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files with reasonable accuracy, but it can only save in the older .doc, .xls and .ppt formats. If you regularly send documents to people who use Microsoft Office, that one-way support is the single biggest reason to switch.

What are the system requirements?

Apache OpenOffice runs on almost any computer made in the last 15 years; the demands are tiny by 2026 standards. The figures below come from the official system requirements for Apache OpenOffice 4.1.

The stated minimum screen is 1024 x 768. Because the software asks so little of your hardware, what actually improves day-to-day work is a comfortable monitor, a decent keyboard and a reliable backup drive rather than raw speed. If you are buying new gear for a home office, our mini PC vs laptop guide walks through the trade-offs.

OpenOffice vs LibreOffice: how do they compare?

LibreOffice is the natural replacement for OpenOffice, because both grew from the same codebase and share the same file formats. LibreOffice began in 2010 as a fork of OpenOffice.org when most of the original developers left, and it has received the bulk of development ever since. The latest version, 26.8, was released on 26 August 2026, as covered by Phoronix; the fuller history of the two projects is documented on Wikipedia.

The practical upshot: LibreOffice does everything OpenOffice does, opens your existing files unchanged, adds full Microsoft-format saving, runs natively on modern Macs, and is patched several times a year. For most people it is a straight upgrade with no downside.

Should you keep OpenOffice or switch?

The answer depends on three things: your installed version, whether you open files from other people, and whether you need to hand documents to Microsoft Office users. Use the quick self-check below to see where you stand.

• You are on 4.1.14 or older: higher risk. You are missing every fix in 4.1.15 and 4.1.16, including all five “remote content” flaws. Update today, then plan a switch.
• You are on 4.1.16 but open email attachments and downloads: medium risk. The version is current, but the ASF still lists issues over a year old, and opening other people’s files is the main way those flaws get triggered. Preview attachments in your browser or in LibreOffice instead.
• You need to send .docx or .xlsx files: switch. OpenOffice simply cannot save those formats; LibreOffice can.
• You are on 4.1.16, work offline and only touch your own documents: lower risk. It is reasonable to keep OpenOffice for now while you plan an unhurried move to LibreOffice.
• You use Base databases or an Apple silicon Mac: lean towards switching. LibreOffice runs natively on new Macs and opens .odb databases, though you should test forms and reports before you uninstall anything.

How do you switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice?

Migrating is low-risk because your files are already in a format LibreOffice uses natively — there is nothing to convert. Work through these steps in order.

1. Back up your documents, plus any custom templates and AutoText you rely on, before you change anything.
2. Download LibreOffice from libreoffice.org and install it. It can sit alongside OpenOffice while you test, so there is no need to remove anything yet.
3. Open your files directly. OpenOffice’s .odt, .ods and .odp files are native LibreOffice formats, so they open as-is.
4. Recreate your templates and check your extensions. Many OpenOffice extensions also work in LibreOffice, but test each one you depend on.
5. Set your default save format under Tools > Options > Load/Save > General — choose ODF for open documents, or the Microsoft formats if you frequently share with Office users.
6. Uninstall OpenOffice once you are happy, so your file types open in LibreOffice by default.

If you keep OpenOffice, how do you stay safer?

If you are not ready to switch, a few habits meaningfully reduce your exposure while you plan the move.

• Run 4.1.16 and download it only from the official site (openoffice.org) or the Microsoft Store — never from a third-party “download” portal, which often bundles adware.
• Set macro security to High or Very High under Tools > Options > OpenOffice > Security > Macro Security.
• Do not open unexpected attachments in OpenOffice. Preview them in your email app or browser first, since opening other people’s files is the main risk.
• Keep Java patched if you use features that need it, and remove Java entirely if you do not.
• Protect the rest of your setup, too. Use a password manager and keep versioned backups on a NAS or private cloud, so a bad document can never take your only copy with it.

Curious about other free tools? Our open-source software guide rounds up the ones worth installing, and our Linux Mint guide covers a free operating system that ships with LibreOffice built in.

Common mistakes people make with OpenOffice

Most problems with OpenOffice come from a handful of avoidable habits rather than the software itself.

• Downloading from the wrong place. Search results are full of look-alike sites that repackage OpenOffice with extra toolbars or malware. Only the official openoffice.org download is trustworthy.
• Assuming it saves .docx. People email a colleague a file, choose “Word document” and are surprised it lands as a .doc. OpenOffice cannot produce modern Office formats — export a PDF, or switch to LibreOffice, when the recipient needs .docx or .xlsx.
• Treating it as fully patched. Being on the newest release does not mean every known issue is fixed; the ASF still flags older ones. Keep your guard up when opening untrusted files.
• Leaving macro security on the default. Macro-based attacks rely on documents you did not create; raising the macro-security level blocks the easy path.
• Deleting OpenOffice before testing LibreOffice. Install LibreOffice alongside it, confirm your templates, extensions and Base databases behave, and only then uninstall.

Who is Apache OpenOffice right for in 2026?

Apache OpenOffice suits a narrow group: people on older or offline PCs who edit only their own OpenDocument files and rarely exchange documents with Microsoft Office users. For that use it is stable, familiar and genuinely free. For nearly everyone else — anyone who opens files from others, needs .docx or .xlsx output, or uses a modern Mac — LibreOffice is the better choice, and moving across costs nothing and keeps every file. New installations, in particular, should start with LibreOffice rather than a suite whose last feature release was in 2014.

Version, security and requirement details in this guide were checked in September 2026 against Apache OpenOffice’s own bulletins, release notes and system-requirements pages, and against the Apache Software Foundation’s board reports. Nicegear is independent and carries no paid placements; this is general information, not a security audit of your particular computer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache OpenOffice still updated?

Only occasionally. The latest release is 4.1.16 from November 2025, which was a security and bug-fix release. There has not been a feature release since version 4.1 in April 2014, and the Apache Software Foundation currently rates the project’s security health “red”.

Is OpenOffice safe to download?

The official download from openoffice.org is safe to install. However, the Apache security team rated the project’s security health “red” through 2026 because of issues more than a year old, so be cautious about opening files from other people with it and avoid unofficial download sites.

Is OpenOffice free?

Yes. Apache OpenOffice is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0, for both home and business use, with no paid tiers or subscriptions.

Can OpenOffice save Word documents?

It can save in the older Word .doc format, but not in the modern .docx format. If you need to share .docx, .xlsx or .pptx files, LibreOffice can save all three.

Will my OpenOffice files work in LibreOffice?

Yes. Both use the OpenDocument Format, so .odt, .ods and .odp files open directly with no conversion. It is still worth testing custom templates, extensions and Base databases before you uninstall OpenOffice.