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    <periodOfReport>2026-08-19</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049826</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITW</issuerTradingSymbol>
        <issuerForeignTradingSymbol></issuerForeignTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307581</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SANTI ERNEST SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>false</rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>155 HARLEM AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>41431</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>22471</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>8928</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>288.22</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>268178</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-08-19</value>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>187.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>41431</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2021-02-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-02-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>41431</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124295</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was executed at multiple prices ranging from $285.80 to $286.80. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, Illinois Tool Works Inc. or a shareholder of Illinois Tool Works Inc. full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This transaction was executed at multiple prices ranging from $286.81 to $287.81. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, Illinois Tool Works Inc. or a shareholder of Illinois Tool Works Inc. full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This transaction was executed at multiple prices ranging from $287.82 to $288.79. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, Illinois Tool Works Inc. or a shareholder of Illinois Tool Works Inc. full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This transaction was executed at multiple prices ranging from $288.92 to $289.45. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, Illinois Tool Works Inc. or a shareholder of Illinois Tool Works Inc. full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 6,937 shares of deferred stock granted under the ITW Directors' Deferred Fee Plan as of August 19, 2026.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Stock options vest in four (4) equal annual installments beginning on February 14, 2020 (grant date), and became fully exercisable on February 14, 2024.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anna Oliveira, Attorney-in-Fact for E. Scott Santi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
