How to Open EPUB files in Windows, Android: Free EPUB Reader

Learn how to open EPUB files and read using our free EPUB file reader on Windows, Android and Mac. Also, the best EPUB reader apps compared to access digital books.

EPUB is one of the most widely used eBook formats, but many users are unsure how to open an EPUB file on different devices. Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, or Android, opening EPUB files is easy once you have the right reader.

Here is the free EPUB file reader and further I’ll show you the simplest and easiest ways How to open and read EPUB files across different platforms, including free apps, tools and browser plugins, so you can start reading without any hassle and what to do if your EPUB file won’t open.

How Do You Open an EPUB File?

This is EPUBReader which is free, fast and lightweight browser-based ebook reader built on modern HTML5 web technology. Simply select and upload your EPUB file to open and read it directly in your browser for free, no software installation required.

What is an EPUB File

EPUB is a popular digital eBook format used for storing and reading books, magazines, and other written content on electronic devices.

The file type is called EPUB, which is short for Electronic Publication. The beauty of EPUB is that the text and images will scale to fit the different sizes of screens.

Unlike PDF files, EPUB files offer the flexibility of changing the font size, style, and layout, which makes them the best choice for use in eReaders and other portable devices. Due to this flexibility and compatibility, the EPUB format is used in most eBook applications and platforms.

Suggested Reading =>> Popular Epub Viewer software

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Best Free EPUB Readers/Apps Tested and Reviewed for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Some devices support EPUB files while for others, there is a handful of software that you can use for accessing them. Here’s how you open an EPUB file format on different platforms.

#1) Epubor

Epubor offers its users a ton of free to read eBooks on its platform. Besides this, it also offers Mac and Windows software that can be used to remove DRM, convert eBooks into other formats, and decrypt Google, Kindle, Adobe, Kobo, and Sony books.

To use the software to open ePub files:

• Download and install the file on your system

• Launch it and add an ePub file you wish to read.
• Then, simply click on it to start reading.

Price: Windows: $24.99, Mac: $29.99

Visit Epubor Website >>

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#2) Adobe Digital Editions For Windows And Mac OS X

ADE or Adobe Digital Editions is yet another option you can use for Windows and Mac OS X to open EPUB files.

• Download ADE on your system.
• Click on Files
• Select Add to Library

• Select the EPUB file you want to open
• Click Ok

Now double click on the file to start reading it.

Price: Free

Visit Adobe Digital Editions Website >>

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#3) Calibre For Windows And Mac OS X

Calibre is the best option for opening an EPUB file on Windows and Mac OS X. It supports almost all ebook file formats and hence is said to be the most powerful tool of its kind. Its library management features are outstanding and it is easier to share books with others and on your devices using Calibre.

• Download and install Calibre on your laptop.
• Click on “Add Books”

• Select the book you want to add
• Click Ok

OR,

• Right-click on the book you want to open.
• Select Open With
• Click on Calibre.
• If you don’t find it in the list, click on More Options
• Select Calibre
• Click Ok

Your EPUB book will appear in Calibre. Just click on it and start reading.

Price: Free

Website: Calibre

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#4) Kobo App For Windows And Mac OS X

Kobo app is yet another good option for opening EPUB files on Windows and Mac OS X. You can also use it on your Blackberry.

• Install the app.
• Launch it and click on Update Library.

• It will scan your system for EPUB files and add them to your library. Double click on the book you want to read.
• Use left and right arrows for flipping through the pages.

If you don’t want all the EPUB files in the app, select the ones you want to add, right-click on it and go to the Open With option. Now, select Kobo and click on OK.

Price: Free

Website: Kobo

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#5) Microsoft Edge For Windows 8 and 10

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If you are using Windows 8 or 10, you can use Microsoft Edge, the older version to open EPUB files. It is a pre-installed browser that comes with your system. Just double-click on the EPUB you want to open or right-click on the files, select open with and click on Edge.

Suggested reading =>> How to uninstall Microsoft Edge

Price: Free

Website: Microsoft Edge

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#6) iBooks for iOS

iBooks app on iOS is more than capable to open EPUB files, however, getting these files on an iOS device is a challenge. But if you already have an EPUB file on your iPhone, all you have to do is tap on the file, it will add itself to iBooks, a pre-installed app on your iPhone. Then you can click on the My Books options on your iPhone to find and read your EPUB books. Other ways to open the file format on your iOS are:

• Tap on the EPUB file
• Click on the share button

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• Tap on Open in.
• From the Open menu pop up, select open in iBooks

This will open your EPUB file on your iOS device. Or,

• Email the file to yourself as an attachment.
• Download the file.
• Tap on it to go to the Open menu
• Select open in iBooks.

Price: Free

Website: iBooks

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#7) Google Play Books for Android

Google Play Books is a free ebook reader for Android.

To get the app, follow the steps below:

• Open Google Play Store
• Search for Google Play Books
• Click on Install
• Click Accept
• Launch Google Play Books
• Tap the menu icon, the three horizontal bars at the top left corner.
• Go to settings
• Click Enable PDF Uploading to allow PDF upload as well along with EPUB.
• If you have the file on your Android device, click on it and it will open in Google Play Books, if not
• Mail yourself the file
• From your Android device, access your email and download the attachment.
• And then click on the EPUB file to open it.

Price: Free

Website: Google Play Books

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#8) Universal Book Reader for Android

Universal Book Reader is another good option for opening EPUB files on your device.

If you have the files on your Android device, here’s how you can open them using Universal Book reader:

• Download and install the latest version of the app.
• Launch Universal Book Reader.
• Click on the Bookshelf.
• Select Yes when the app asks if you want to import all the ebooks.
• You will be able to see all the ebooks in the app.

Now, open the one you want to read.

Website: Universal Book Reader

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#9) ePUB Reader for Windows

ePUB Reader is the best way to open EPUB files on Windows phones.

• Download and install the ePUB Reader.
• Save your EPUB files on SkyDrive
• Open the app
• Swipe right twice and you will be on the Source page.
• Tap on Sky Drive and sign in.
• Select the EPUB file you want to open

You will be able to read the file now.

Price: $2.59

Website: ePUB Reader

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#10) Converting EPUBs for Kindle

To read EPUBs on Kindle, you will need to convert them to MOBI format. You can use Cloud Convert to do the job.

• Open Cloud Convert
• In the convert section, select EPUB
• In the To section, select MOBI

• Now, click on the select file option
• Go to the file you want to convert.
• Select and click ok.
• Click on convert.
• When the file is converted, click on Download.
• The file will be downloaded on your device.
• Connect your Kindle to the device.
• Click on the Kindle’s name to open it on your system.
• Drag and drop the MOBI file in your kindle, or copy and paste it.
• When you are done, eject your kindle.

Now, you can read your ebook on your Kindle.

Also read =>> Converting PDF Format to Kindle Format

Price: Free

Website: Converting EPUBs

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#11) Browser Plugins Like EPUB Reader

You can also use your browser to open the EPUB files. There are many good extensions and plug-ins available for browsers that can open this file format for you. Now that Edge from Microsoft is based on Google’s Chromium engine, all the extensions that are available for Chrome should be available for both Edge and Opera. Firefox has its own library, so you will have to search for a suitable extension.

EPUB Reader is a popular extension for Chrome that is used for opening EPUB files. It is free and extremely simple to use. Once you add the extension to your browser, all you have to do is click on the EPUB file and it will open in your browser. If you have a file downloaded, right-click on it, go to the Open With option, and select your browser.

To add the extension, follow these steps:

• Search for the extension in your browser.
• Click on Add to Chrome

• You will be able to see the icon on the top right corner of your toolbar.

• Click on the three vertical dots on the extreme right.
• Go to more tools
• Select Extensions

• It will take you to the extensions page.
• Drag the switch to the right side to enable the extension.

• To open an EPUB file, click on the EPUB Reader icon.
• You will see a folder icon

• Click on the folder to find the EPUB file.
• Double-click on it to open it.

You will be able to read your EPUB book on your browser.

Price: Free

Website: Browser Plugins

Compared Best Free EPUB Opener and reader apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

Device / Platform	Recommended EPUB Reader(s)
Windows	Calibre, Adobe Digital Editions, Microsoft Edge, EPUB Reader for Windows, Kobo Desktop App
Android	Google Play Books, Universal Book Reader
Mac	Apple Books, Calibre, Adobe Digital Editions, Kobo Desktop App
iPhone & iPad	Apple Books (formerly iBooks)
Web Browser	EPUB Reader
Kindle	Convert EPUB files to a Kindle-compatible format or use Send to Kindle

Common Issues When Opening EPUB Files and How to Fix Them

There are instances where you may experience some errors while opening an EPUB file. Some common problems that occur while reading EPUB files, along with their solutions, are as follows:

EPUB File Won't Open: This issue is normally due to the file being corrupted or the reader app not fully supporting the EPUB file format. The file should be opened using a different reader app, or the file should be re-downloaded from a trusted source.

EPUB Shows Formatting or Layout Issues: If text appears to be broken or images are not loading correctly, this does not necessarily mean that the EPUB file is faulty, merely that it is not fully compatible with the current application being used to open the file. The application itself may need updating, or the file needs to be opened within a different application, such as Calibre.”

EPUB File Opens as ZIP or Unknown Format: EPUB files are actually ZIP archives. If your device recognizes the file as a ZIP archive, ensure the file extension is .epub and use an EPUB reader instead of a file extractor.

EPUB Not Opening on Mobile Devices: This is often due to missing reader applications or denied storage permissions on an Android device. You should install a trusted EPUB reader application and allow it access to device storage.

DRM-Protected EPUB Files: Some EPUB files are DRM-protected and can be opened using particular apps, which are connected to the original store where the purchase was made. Use the official app, which is associated with the purchase of the file.

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How to Convert EPUB Files to PDF or Kindle Formats

EPUB files can be converted to PDF for easier sharing and printing or to Kindle-compatible formats for reading on Amazon Kindle devices. Several free and paid tools make the conversion process quick and straightforward.

Convert EPUB to PDF : To convert an EPUB file to PDF, upload the ebook to an EPUB converter, select PDF as the output format, and start the conversion. Once complete, download the PDF file and open it with any PDF reader. PDF format preserves the document layout and works across most devices.

Convert EPUB for Kindle Devices: Kindle devices do not natively support EPUB files. To read an EPUB ebook on a Kindle, convert it to a Kindle-compatible format or send the EPUB file through Amazon's Send to Kindle service, which automatically converts supported EPUB files for Kindle reading.

Best EPUB Conversion Tools : Some of the most popular EPUB conversion tools include:

• Calibre — Free ebook manager and converter that supports EPUB, PDF, Kindle formats, and more.
• Online-Convert — Web-based tool for converting EPUB files to multiple formats.
• Convertio — Browser-based converter with support for EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and AZW3.
• Zamzar — Simple online converter for ebooks, documents, and media files.

Choose a tool based on your preferred output format, device compatibility, and whether you need advanced ebook editing features.

Also Read =>> Comparison of Best EBook Readers

Frequently Asked Questions About EPUB Files

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Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide will assist you in opening and reading an EPUB file on any device and operating system without any issues.

It is obvious that the process of opening an EPUB file is quite simple as long as the appropriate application is being used. Whether the operating systems are Windows, Mac, or Android, most EPUB files can be opened quite easily without any problems.

In the event that a problem occurs, such as the file not being opened or the layout not being proper, another application can be used to help fix the problem and open the file.

Research Process:

• This guide is based on hands-on use of popular EPUB readers, along with common issues people run into when opening EPUB files. I tried the tools across different devices and cross-checked what actually works in everyday use.
• Total time taken to research and publish this Guide: 40 Hours (Approx)