TDF Community Blog

LibreOffice 25.8: smarter, faster and more reliable

2025-08-202025-08-21

The best open source office suite continues to evolve, while maintaining its focus on privacy and digital sovereignty

Berlin, 20 August 2025 – The Document Foundation announces the release of LibreOffice 25.8. This latest version of the market-leading free open source office suite maintains its focus on digital sovereignty and privacy protection. It offers individuals, organisations, and governments total control over their data and the most comprehensive productivity tools.

In a global context of growing concern about data privacy, cloud lock-in, and surveillance capitalism, LibreOffice 25.8 provides concrete solutions.

Open Source: The source code is available for inspection and is completely free from proprietary technology constraints.

Privacy and Control: LibreOffice does not collect personal data, usage metrics or diagnostic information, and complies with the data protection regulations required by public administration implementations (GDPR).

Local Execution: all features are executed locally on the user’s computer, without the need for an internet or cloud connection.

Self-Hosted Collaboration: Integration with on-premises cloud solutions, such as Nextcloud, enables teams to collaborate without sharing information with Big Tech.

LibreOffice 25.8: new performance and features

User Interface: the Welcome/What’s New dialog now offers access to the user interface picker and appearance options, allowing new users to leverage LibreOffice’s flexible UI and personalise the look and feel according to their preferences.

Performance: everything is faster, from startup to scrolling through large documents – with significant speed improvements on less powerful machines.

In benchmark tests, Writer and Calc open files up to 30% faster.
Optimised memory management allows for smoother operation on virtual desktops and thin clients.

Better Interoperability with Microsoft Office files, with more accurate handling of DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files and fewer formatting issues, thanks to changes such as:

a complete overhaul of word hyphenation and spacing
font management in Impress that is compatible with PowerPoint files
the addition of new functions in Calc: CHOOSECOLS, CHOOSEROWS, DROP, EXPAND, HSTACK, TAKE, TEXTAFTER, TEXTBEFORE, TEXTSPLIT, TOCOL, TOROW, VSTACK, WRAPCOLS and WRAPROWS.

There are, of course, other important new features, such as the ability to export to the PDF 2.0 format, and several new ScriptForge library services. The complete list is available here: wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleaseNotes/25.8.

In terms of operating system support changes, LibreOffice 25.8 will no longer run on Windows 7 or 8/8.1 versions. It is also the last version to run on macOS 10.15. Support for x86 (32-bit) Windows versions is deprecated.

LibreOffice 25.8 for Businesses

The Document Foundation collaborates with a global network of certified partners who offer enterprise-grade support and maintenance, customised features and integrations, and assistance with user migration and training. A full list of partners can be found here: www.libreoffice.org/get-help/professional-support/.

Positioning of LibreOffice 25.8

LibreOffice 25.8 is completely free and offers a viable alternative to proprietary office suites for individual users, schools, businesses, and public institutions. It contains no advertising, data tracking, or subscriptions.

It is ideal for students and teachers who need reliable tools for documents, presentations and data analysis, as well as for home users and freelancers looking for a solid, free alternative to Microsoft Office/365 or Google Docs. It is also ideal for public administrations and companies that value data sovereignty and the long-term accessibility of documents.

LibreOffice 25.8 reaffirms our dedication to safeguarding the freedom and privacy of end users in the digital age. With this new release, we ensure that personal information stays where it belongs – with the individual. LibreOffice gives end users full control over their documents, helping them to avoid reliance on third-party platforms that might compromise their data or privacy. It’s about empowering users to work securely, independently and confidently, said Eliane Domingos, chairwoman of The Document Foundation.

LibreOffice 25.8 is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with versions for Intel and ARM/Apple processors, at www.libreoffice.org/download/.

About The Document Foundation

The Document Foundation is a non-profit organisation that promotes open document formats and develops LibreOffice, the market-leading free open-source office suite. Its mission is to empower individuals and organisations to maintain control over their data and tools in an increasingly digital world dominated by closed platforms.

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Press Kit: nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/doGTtfJSkNAtrNi
Video YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dIRR37PF7M
Video PeerTube: peertube.opencloud.lu/w/1J49cZ9NvZy1sLmx8dJKDi

AI extension: Stable Diffusion image generator for LibreOffice

2025-08-172025-08-17

LibreOffice does not include artificial intelligence (AI) out-of-the-box. But many users want AI features in the suite – so we encourage developers to make them available as optional extensions. And that’s what Igor Támara did, creating the “Stable Diffusion for LibreOffice” extension for AI-generated images powered by AI Horde (a volunteer crowd-sourced distributed cluster of image generation workers).

We talked to Igor about the extension – here’s what he had to say:

What does the extension do?

You write some text describing an image, and get an AI image generated from the given text. You can tweak parameters, choose a model and use the best result on written documents, presentations or the place you prefer. The images are generated on volunteer GPUs through AI Horde.

When did you start working on it?

Two weeks ago, starting from a Gimp plugin as a base. I’m brand new to the LibreOffice project, and started it as a macro to get this functionality in the software. One week later I put it on GitHub.

Later on I got help from friendly people on the forum to turn it into an extension. I also joined the the chat and filled some requests in the bug tracker.

What are the current limitations, and what’s coming next?

Be aware that the text you provide is sent to AI Horde and seen by the machines that create the image, so do not send sensitive data. Also, you can get better results if you send the description of the desired image in English. You are encouraged to try different languages to see the results.

You need internet connection to use it. If you wanted to create images locally on your machine, it would take time to configure your environment with local AI models, with gigabytes of memory dedicated to this purpose, and maybe processing for hours to get something useful.

Sometimes the text can be marked as NSFW (“not safe for work”) – in which case you end up with black and white text saying so.

For now, the extension works in Writer and Impress; when invoked from other LibreOffice components, it opens a new text document and inserts the image along with the provided text.

The roadmap includes:

Translating the plugin to other languages
An option to pre-translate the text to English
Better integration with LibreOffice Calc and Draw
Earn kudos, rating the images to have more priority when requesting an image

How can others help to improve it?

Report any problems you find, and help to translate into your language. Please do so by filling an issue with your intention saying which language.

If you have a GPU (and good graphics hardware in general), you can volunteer as a worker joining the horde, to add to the computing power – and you can earn kudos to have higher priority when you need it.

If you work with a friendly company that wants to make use of the existing hardware, you can join the horde too.

One of the purposes of AI Horde is to aid education, having a special program for that.

This plugin and AI Horde are all open source, so everyone can learn and be as transparent as possible in this changing and revolutionary world of AI times.

There might be concerns about the use of products and the ownership of work. As I see it, we are always learning by example and reusing what others have invented from thousands of years ago, like how to walk, make fire, communicate, explore, recreate and mix. We can continue to learn and make fair use of resources – and contribute too.

Click here to get the extension

Guide to migrating from proprietary formats to ODF

2025-08-152025-08-17

In the digital world, document formats are essential. Proprietary formats such as Microsoft Word’s DOCX or Excel’s XLSX dominate the workplace, but at the same time they lock users into a specific vendor and its business strategies, which tend to exploit users to the maximum in every way. The Open Document Format (ODF) offers an open, standard alternative that protects users and their privacy, promotes interoperability, long-term access and data ownership.

Migrating documents from proprietary formats to ODF is the solution, and although vendors who rely on proprietary formats – not only Microsoft, but also its freeware clones such as OnlyOffice or WPS Office – do everything they can to prevent it, it is very easy and represents a fundamental step forward for users in terms of privacy and digital sovereignty (i.e., ownership of their own content).

This guide breaks down the migration process to make the transition smooth, efficient and sustainable, both at the individual level (where problems are virtually non-existent) and at the enterprise level, where problems exist due to the lock-in strategies of proprietary formats.

Step 1: Understand ODF and its advantages

No dependence on a single vendor: freedom to use any compatible software
Better long-term accessibility, robustness and stability of storage
Transparency and security, thanks to full compliance with open specifications
Better interoperability between platforms and tools

Step 2: Document inventory to define conversion priorities and estimate the effort required for migration

Identification of file types (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) and their number
Analysis of documents to distinguish between active (used periodically) documents, those that can be archived and obsolete documents
Analysis of documents with complex formatting or embedded multimedia content

Step 3: plan the migration workflow

Convert documents in bulk or gradually as needed?
Pilot phase with a small group of users to identify any issues with the documents before the mass conversion
User training on the migration and creation of a support service for conversions and backup management

Step 4: Converting documents to ODF format

Use the LibreOffice export function (‘Save As’)
Use batch conversion tools for large volumes (LibreOffice command line scripts)
Validate converted files to ensure formatting and data integrity
Back up original files until migration is successfully completed

Step 5: Monitoring the migration

Updating internal policies to make ODF the default format for document creation and sharing, and to prevent a return to proprietary formats
Monitoring user feedback and trends in document creation, and resolving issues in a timely manner
Integrating ODF support into enterprise software platforms, and using automatic conversions where possible

Conclusion

Migrating from proprietary formats to ODF is a strategic move, both individually and for businesses, towards openness, content control and document protection for the future. In a business environment, it requires careful planning and user involvement, but the benefits in terms of flexibility, interoperability and cost savings are well worth the effort.

Last LibreOffice 25.8 release candidates RC3 and RC4 available this week

2025-08-12

LibreOffice 25.8 will be released next week, on August 20, 2025 (check the Release Plan). LibreOffice 25.8 RC3 brings us closer to the final version, which will be preceded by a last minute LibreOffice 25.8 RC4 needed for a fix solving an easy to trigger crash. Check the release notes to find the new features included in this version of LibreOffice.

LibreOffice 25.8 RC3 is already available, while LibreOffice 25.8 RC4 will be available from Thursday, August 14. Both can be downloaded for Linux, macOS and Windows, and will replace the standard installation.

In case you find any problem in these pre-releases, please report it in Bugzilla (you just need a legit email account in order to create a new account). For help, you can contact the QA Team directly in the QA IRC channel or via Matrix.

LibreOffice is a volunteer-driven community project, so please help us to test, we appreciate your contribution! Happy testing!!!

Best practices for creating and editing Open Document Format (ODF) files

2025-08-082025-09-01

Adhering to these guidelines can enhance productivity and guarantee that documents remain consistent, robust and accessible over time, irrespective of the platform.

Firstly, use an editor such as LibreOffice that natively supports the format without conversion. This preserves the nuances of the ODF XML structure, supports all its features and reduces the risk of formatting issues or data loss. It also ensures that documents are fully compatible with the ISO standard.

Secondly, use an up-to-date version of LibreOffice to benefit from continuous improvements in ODF feature management, avoid bugs that could cause file corruption (a rare event thanks to the robustness of the ODF format, but still possible) and enjoy the highest level of security in file management.

Thirdly, use LibreOffice document templates and styles for all elements, such as headings, fonts, paragraphs, and tables, to ensure consistent formatting throughout the document. This allows you to make global changes quickly by changing the style rather than each individual element, and improves accessibility, as screen readers and other assistive technologies rely on a consistent structure. This also results in smaller, more robust ODF files.

Creating and reusing LibreOffice templates is an excellent practice for companies that produce many similar documents (such as invoices or monthly reports). Once all the characteristics of the document have been defined, simply save it in ‘template’ format to obtain a blank copy with all repetitive elements already in place.

The fourth condition is to save and back up documents frequently and regularly. ODF files are compressed XML files, which makes them robust and reliable, but not immune to problems. In a business environment, it is advisable to use a cloud storage solution with a version history, such as Nextcloud, which allows you to revert to an earlier version of a file.

The fifth recommendation is to avoid overly complex formatting to ensure maximum compatibility when sharing ODF files with a diverse audience or converting them to other formats, such as Microsoft Office proprietary formats, because complicated layouts, embedded objects or macros may not work or appear differently.

It is recommended that you use basic styles and standard LibreOffice fonts (open source and available to all users), or fonts that can be installed by any user, independently of the operating system, even if backed by an End User Licence Agreement (such as Microsoft Aptos, which can only be downloaded from the Microsoft website). You should also avoid excessive use of tables or nested text boxes.

The sixth condition is to integrate multimedia content sensibly, optimising images or videos used in presentations to reduce their size without compromising quality.

The seventh and final condition is to always save the original file in ODF format, even when sharing with users who insist on using Microsoft Office’s proprietary format — thereby handing over ownership of their files to Microsoft. Once the document is finalised, save a copy in OOXML format and share this with Microsoft users.

Similarly, when receiving an OOXML document from a Microsoft user, immediately save a copy in ODF format for editing until the document is finalised and the OOXML copy can be shared again.

When sharing a document within a team, it is advisable to use comments to provide feedback instead of editing the body of the document, enabling change tracking so that changes can be reviewed before acceptance or rejection. Where possible, collaborate on a shared ODF platform based on LibreOffice technology and the cloud, such as Collabora Online.

Open standard formats such as ODF allow you to avoid dependence on a single supplier, maintain ownership and control of your documents, and future-proof your work — but only if used wisely. Following best practices will enable you to manage ODF documents more smoothly and conveniently without sacrificing any of the advantages of the ISO standard format.

Join the LibreOffice Team as a Paid Developer focusing on UI with initial emphasis on macOS, preferably full-time, remote (m/f/d)

2025-08-07

Love LibreOffice development? Want to turn your passion into a paid job? We are The Document Foundation (TDF), the non-profit entity behind LibreOffice. We’re passionate about free software, the open source culture and about bringing new companies and people with fresh ideas into our community.

To improve the user interface of LibreOffice, the office productivity suite for over 200 million users around the globe, we’re searching for a developer (m/f/d) to start work (from home) as soon as possible. This is what you’ll do:

Work on the LibreOffice codebase (mostly C++)
Focus on LibreOffice’s user interface, in the way it is rendered and laid out
Fix bugs, implement new features, and improve the quality of the UI code in LibreOffice while working together with the design team and other contributors
Document what you do, actively share knowledge in public with volunteers and contributors via blog posts, workshops and conference talks, so other developers and users have an easier time learning about your work

Examples of tasks:

Convert the remaining uses of macOS Carbon API to Cocoa and move from deprecated functions to supported ones
Rework the code responsible for the Tabbed UI and other alternative UIs to make it consistent with the rest of the UI

What we want from you:

Very good C++ development skills
Proven experience working on macOS
Proven experience working with UI toolkits
Good understanding of graphics programming
Good team-playing skills
Speaking and writing English

Previous development experience under Windows and Linux and contributions to FOSS projects (show us your repos!) are a plus. A previously established relationship within the developer community, as well as with other teams such as QA is a plus, but it is not mandatory at the start and can be achieved during the work itself.

As always, TDF will give some preference to individuals who have previously shown a commitment to TDF, including but not limited to members of TDF. Not being a member does not exclude any applicants from consideration.

Join us!

All jobs at The Document Foundation are remote jobs, where you can work from your home office or a co-working space. The work time during the day is flexible, apart from a few fixed meetings. The role is offered as full-time (ideally 40 hours per week). While we prefer full-time for the role, part-time applications, or proposals to grow the hours over time, will be considered. Candidates that are resident in (or willing to relocate to) Germany will be employed directly by TDF. Otherwise, external payroll services will be used if available in the candidate’s country of residence.

Are you interested? Get in touch! We aim to schedule the first interview within two weeks of your application. You can also approach us any time for an informal chat, to learn about the role or in case of questions.

TDF welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Don’t be afraid to be different, and stay true to yourself. We like you that way! 😊

We’re looking forward to receiving your application, including information about you (your resume), when you are available for the job, and of course your financial expectations. Pointing to public repositories with your code is very helpful. Please send us an e-mail to developers@documentfoundation.org no later than September 12, 2025. If you haven’t received feedback by October 13, 2025, your application could not be considered.

Also note: we only accept applications from the applicant, and not from any intermediary. We do not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to any recruiting alias or employee.

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