If you have a word file with an earlier version, you can always save that to the current word version. For example, if you have an word file saved as 2003 version, you can convert it to word 2016, or word 2019. Please see below for details:
Step 1: Open the word file which is in an earlier word version;
Step 2: Click "File" tab from the ribbon;
Step 3: Click "Save as" from the left menu, and navigate to the location you want to save the file;
Step 4: In the "Save as Type" box, change from "Word 97-2003 Document" to "Word Document". You may need to change the document name if you want;
Step 5: Click "Save" at the bottom. You are more likely to get the following warning message: "Your Document will be upgraded to the newest file format. While you'll get to use all the new features in Word, some minor layout changes are possible. If you prefer to upgrade."
Step 6: Click "OK" at the bottom.
Alternatively, you can use the following method to convert a word file from an earlier version to the current version.
Step 1: Click the "File" tab from the ribbon;
Step 2: In the "Info" section, click "Convert";
Step 3: If you get the following warning message, click "OK" to continue;
Step 4: Click the "Save" button from the ribbon, or save using shortcut "Ctrl+S".