EPUB files are a popular e-book format that can be opened and read using free software on nearly any platform, including most E-Readers like Nook and Kobo.
If you’re using a Kindle, you’ll need to convert the file first using software like Calibre, which is straightforward to set up and use. To open EPUB files on any device, you can follow the methods outlined below depending on your device and preferred reading platform.
For PC and Mac users, Calibre is a viable option. To use Calibre, download it from calibre-ebook.com by clicking the link for your operating system. On a Mac, double-click the downloaded file and drag the Calibre icon to the Applications folder. On Windows, double-click the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Once installed, open Calibre from the Windows Start menu or Mac Applications folder and complete the setup by choosing a library location, language, and other preferences.
Click the Add books button in the upper-left corner to open your file browser, select your EPUB file, and click Open to add it to your Calibre library. You can then double-click the EPUB file to open and read it in the Calibre e-reader window.
Another option for PC and Mac users is Adobe Digital Editions. Download Adobe Digital Editions from Adobe’s website and install it on your computer. Open Adobe Digital Editions from the Start menu or Applications folder and authorize the software if you plan to read DRM-protected books by clicking Help → Authorize Computer and entering your Adobe ID and password or OverDrive credentials.
Click the File menu and select Add to Library, then select your EPUB file and click Open to add it to your library. You can then double-click the EPUB file to view and read it. To transfer books to your E-Reader, connect it via USB and drag the EPUB from Adobe Digital Editions to your E-Reader device.
For macOS users, Apple Books is a convenient option. Open Finder on your Mac, browse to your EPUB file, and double-click it to open it directly in the Books app. If it opens in another app, right-click the file and select Open with → Books.
If you’re using a Kindle E-Reader, you’ll need to convert your EPUB files using Calibre. Import your EPUB files into Calibre, select the EPUB file you want to convert, and click the Convert books button. Choose MOBI as the output format and click OK to start the conversion process.
Connect your Kindle to your computer via USB, select the converted MOBI file in Calibre, and click Send to Device to transfer the file to your Kindle.
For iPhone and iPad users, Apple Books is also available. Save the EPUB file to your device using the Share → Save to Files option, open the Files app, locate the EPUB file, and tap it to automatically open it in the Books app.
Android users can use Google Play Books. Install the Google Play Books app from the Play Store, open it, and enable PDF uploading by tapping Home, then Profile → Play Books Settings, and checking the Enable PDF uploading option.
Transfer the EPUB to your Android device via email, Google Drive, or direct download, locate the EPUB file, and tap it to open it in Play Books.
If you need to convert an EPUB to PDF, you can use a cloud converter website like CloudConvert. Open the website, click the Select File button, choose your EPUB file, click Convert, and wait for the process to complete. Click Download to save the converted PDF to your computer.
For those who frequently read e-books across multiple devices, Calibre is the most versatile option as it can organize your library, convert between formats, and sync with almost any e-reader except Kindle wirelessly.
Organizing your e-book library with Calibre can help keep all your titles in one place, and the software also allows you to edit metadata, add custom covers, and create reading collections for easy navigation.
Using cloud-based services like Google Play Books or Apple Books can help sync your reading progress across platforms, allowing you to pick up where you left off whether you’re on your phone, tablet, or computer.
