Here’s a selection of new features in LibreOffice 26.2, which we released on Wednesday. (This video is also available on PeerTube.)
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Unfortunately, I keep reading about open-source software advocates who happily use Microsoft’s proprietary DOCX, XLSX and PPTX formats for their documents and therefore prefer proprietary software such as OnlyOffice to LibreOffice. Others write outrageous things such as: “OOXML is a standard format, and we have to accept it.”
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to clarify, once and for all, why OOXML has never been, is not, and will never be a standard format unless Microsoft decides to completely redesign its office applications.
I consider this impossible in light of past decisions, such as Excel’s inability to handle elements of the human genome properly. This forced the scientific community to change the names of these elements due to Microsoft’s refusal to fix an obvious Excel bug.
In other words, because of Microsoft, all of us citizens of the world have been affected by the change of the names of some elements of our genome, with all that this entails for scientific research and, consequently, for the treatment of genetic diseases. This is an enormously important fact that has not received sufficient publicity in the media, but it illustrates how willing Microsoft is to overlook everything for its own commercial interests.
But let’s get back to OOXML.
In theory, OOXML (Office Open XML) is an ISO/IEC standard (ISO/IEC 29500), despite heavy technical criticism being raised by many parties during the process and completely ignored by ISO/IEC. This shows that it is not a standard, let alone an open standard.
The following is a summary of these criticisms:
Complexity of specifications: the standard is extremely voluminous (~7,000 pages), making it virtually impossible for third parties to implement correctly. This contrasts sharply with competing standards such as ODF, which are much more concise.
Implementation inconsistencies: Microsoft Office applications do not implement the standardized version (ISO/IEC 29500 Strict), but use the “Transitional” variant, which includes compatibility features with legacy formats that contradict the stated goal of being a clean, modern, and above all open and standard format.
Proprietary dependencies: The specifications refer to several undocumented legacy behaviors of previous versions of Microsoft Office and require implementers to decode Windows-specific features to achieve compatibility.
Binary blob remnants: Despite being based on XML, OOXML incorporates binary data structures in many places, particularly for backward compatibility with legacy formats, and this compromises the transparency that XML should guarantee.
Platform-specific elements: The standard contains Windows-specific elements related to fonts, rendering, and other system behaviors that make any cross-platform implementation difficult or even impossible.
Controversy over the standardization process: The fast-track approval process adopted for OOXML by ISO/IEC was highly controversial, with allegations of procedural irregularities and vote manipulation raising legitimate doubts about the validity of the standard.
These issues meant that, although OOXML technically became a standard, it has always been a proprietary Microsoft format specification and not a truly vendor-neutral open standard.
In the coming weeks, I will explore some of the claims made in this post in detail, with all the relevant technical elements.
For now, anyone interested can take a look at this PDF presentation, which lists some of the issues and provides technical details that clarify at least some of the claims.
ODF Advocacy - OOXML
We’re pleased to announce the release of LibreOffice 26.2, the newest version of the free and open source office suite trusted by millions of users around the world. This release makes it easier than ever for users to create, edit and share documents on their own terms. Designed for individuals and organizations alike, it continues to be a trusted alternative to proprietary office software.
LibreOffice 26.2 is focused on improvements that make a difference in daily work and brings better performance, smoother interaction with complex documents and improved compatibility with files created in other office software. Whether you’re writing reports, managing spreadsheets, or preparing presentations, the experience feels more responsive and reliable.
LibreOffice has always been about giving users control. LibreOffice 26.2 continues that tradition by strengthening support for open document standards, and ensuring long-term access to your files, without subscriptions, license restrictions, or data collection. Your documents stay yours – forever.
Behind this release there is a global community of contributors. Developers, designers, translators, QA testers, and volunteers from around the world worked together to deliver hundreds of fixes and refinements. Their efforts result in a suite that not only adds features, but also improves quality, consistency, and stability, release after release.
What’s New in LibreOffice 26.2
See the Release Notes for the full list of new features.
Florian Effenberger, Executive Director of The Document Foundation, says:
LibreOffice 26.2 shows what happens when software is built around users, not business models, and how open source software can deliver a modern, polished productivity suite without compromising user freedom. This release is about speed, reliability, and giving people control over their documents.
LibreOffice 26.2 is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and supports over 120 languages out of the box. It can be used at home, in businesses, schools, and public institutions, with no licensing fees and no vendor lock-in.
You can download LibreOffice 26.2 today from the official LibreOffice website. We invite users to try the new release, share feedback, and join the community helping shape the future of LibreOffice. If they are happy, they can donate to support the independence and the future development of the project.
Downloads: www.libreoffice.org/download
Donations: www.libreoffice.org/donate
About LibreOffice and The Document Foundation
LibreOffice is a free, private and open source office suite used by millions of people, businesses, and public institutions worldwide. It is developed by an international community and supported by The Document Foundation, an independent non-profit organization that promotes open standards, digital sovereignty and user choice.
LibreOffice 26.2 Press Kit: nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/eDiocN8Gak6jDKx
Hello! We are at FOSDEM 2026 in Brussels – come and say hello, let us know what you think about LibreOffice, and get cool merch…
File formats are not usually the subject of philosophical debate because most users just want to open, save and share documents without any problems. However, the Open Document Format (ODF) is based on concepts that are much more important to users than might initially seem the case. ODF is not just a technical standard, but also a statement of openness, user freedom, and control over digital information.
Understanding this philosophy helps to explain why ODF exists, why it is still important, and why it is often cited as a reference in conversations about digital rights and long-term access.
In short, ODF is an open standard for office documents such as text files, spreadsheets and presentations, and it is the native format of LibreOffice. Unlike Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 files, which use a proprietary format developed in secret in Redmond and controlled by Microsoft, ODF is developed and maintained through a completely transparent process.
This may seem like a technical detail, but it is an important fact that determines everything else.
Openness: no one owns your documents
The principle behind ODF is openness. The complete specifications are available to the public, and anyone can read, implement or create software based on them without asking for permission or paying licence fees.
This has concrete consequences:
Users can manage their own documents without having to use a specific company’s tools.
Openness is not idealism for its own sake, but rather it means transparency and durability. When a format is open, knowledge of how it works does not disappear if a company changes direction, raises prices, or stops producing software.
Documents created today should still be readable decades from now. ODF was designed with this long-term perspective in mind.
Freedom: choice without penalties
In the context of ODF, freedom is primarily about choice.
With proprietary formats, even a simple software update can lead to hidden costs because files may not open correctly, formatting may not work and some features may disappear. Over time, this can discourage users from abandoning software, even if better or cheaper options exist.
ODF counteracts this dynamic.
Since multiple applications support the same format, users can choose the tools that best suit their needs. For example, you can write a document in one programme, edit it in another, and store it in a standard, open format, safe in the knowledge that it will be compatible.
This is particularly important for public institutions, schools and governments. When documents need to be accessible to all, tying them to a single vendor’s software creates an unnecessary barrier that goes against the democratic principle of equality. ODF supports the idea that public information should be readable using freely available tools.
In this context, freedom does not imply hostility towards commercial strategies, but rather respect for every user’s right not to be discriminated against because of file format.
Control puts power in the hands of the user
Control is the most overlooked part of the ODF philosophy.
When you save a document in a proprietary format, you often have to rely on undocumented behaviour, hidden features, or licence terms that have simply been imposed without negotiation. The supplier decides how the format changes and which features remain accessible to which users.
ODF reverses this relationship.
In fact, a standard format that is openly governed cannot be changed unilaterally by a single organisation. All decisions are discussed, documented and agreed upon through a public, transparent process. This guarantees that users and organisations will not be affected by a company’s strategies or held hostage by changes to their data.
Control also manifests itself in smaller, everyday ways. For example:
This type of control is essential for legal documents, scientific data, historical archives and any other data that must remain intact and accessible over time.
Is ODF still important today?
In the era of cloud-based editors and collaborative platforms, it is reasonable to ask whether ODF is still relevant.
The answer is yes, perhaps more than ever.
Moving an increasing number of documents online takes control away from users because the files reside on servers that they do not manage and are in formats that they neither understand nor control. They are also governed by licence terms that users almost always sign without reading and which can change at any time.
ODF also sets a benchmark when the cloud is used for storage because an open, standard format guarantees the integrity and accessibility of data, regardless of users’ level of expertise. Thus, ODF protects users from their own unawareness of the format issue.
ODF also acts as a silent check on market power, reminding the software ecosystem that users must be able to switch applications without losing access to their content, which must remain their property and under their complete control.
The ODF philosophy is practical, not abstract, and translates into tangible results: reduced barriers, longer-lasting documents and greater choice.
Users do not need to become experts in standards or understand the specifics of the files to take advantage of this. ODF guarantees them permanent ownership of their work and the ability to manage it at any time with the software they prefer. This frees them from any constraints imposed by a supplier or tool that they have not chosen freely.
In this sense, ODF is not just a format, but also a reminder that digital files should serve the people who create them — not the other way around.
FOSDEM is the biggest free and open source software (FOSS) event in Europe, and will take place on 31 January and 1 February in Brussels, Belgium. And the LibreOffice project and community will be there! Come to our stand, have a chat, and grab some cool merchandise (stickers, flyers, and beer/coffee mats).
