What happens when you convert AZW to AZW3
- The AZW is converted by Calibre, the widely used open-source e-book manager, on our conversion server.
- Chapters, headings, images, the cover and the table of contents are carried over, and the text still reflows to fit any screen, because both formats are e-book formats.
- Books bought from a store usually carry DRM, which no honest converter removes. DRM-free AZW files convert normally.
- This conversion runs on our server: the file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept. Files up to 25 MB are accepted.
How to convert AZW to AZW3 online
- Press "Choose AZW files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. Files up to 25 MB each can be converted.
- There are no settings to choose: the converter keeps everything the target format can hold.
- Press "Convert to AZW3". The file is uploaded to our conversion server, converted in a few seconds, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result is sent back.
- Save each AZW3 with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your AZW and the AZW3 by then.
Why convert AZW to AZW3?
AZW files usually come from Kindle books from the first Kindle onwards. People convert them to AZW3 because AZW3 is the Kindle's own modern format, the one to copy onto a Kindle over USB.
In short, AZW is good at what it was made for, and AZW3 is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. AZW opens on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle and Calibre apps, while AZW3 opens on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle and Calibre apps.
How to convert AZW to AZW3 on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your AZW files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each AZW3 is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the AZW files from Finder onto the drop zone and the AZW3 files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose AZW files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted AZW3 appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose AZW files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The AZW3 is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for AZW to AZW3
There are no settings: Calibre keeps the book's own styling, chapters and table of contents where the target can hold them.
DRM-protected books cannot be converted. Books from Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks and most independent authors are DRM-free.
AZW vs AZW3: the differences
| AZW | AZW3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kindle e-book | Kindle Format 8 e-book |
| Type | e-book | e-book |
| Created by | Amazon | Amazon |
| First released | 2007 | 2011 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | a book's text, images and table of contents, usually in the MOBI format | a book's text, images, styling and table of contents |
| In a browser | opens on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle and Calibre apps | opens on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle and Calibre apps |
| Common uses | Kindle books from the first Kindle onwards | Kindle e-readers and books loaded onto them over USB |
| MIME type | application/vnd.amazon.ebook | application/vnd.amazon.ebook |
About AZW and AZW3 files
What is an AZW file?
AZW is the extension Amazon gave Kindle books from the first Kindle in 2007. Inside, most AZW files are MOBI books, often with DRM, which no honest converter removes; DRM-free AZW files convert normally.
What is an AZW3 file?
AZW3, also called KF8, is the Kindle format that supports modern styling. Books bought from Amazon usually carry DRM, which no honest converter can remove; DRM-free AZW3 files convert normally.
AZW to AZW3 not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Most of a large book is its pictures; a copy with smaller images will convert.
- "The conversion took too long and was stopped." Very long or complex files can pass the 90 second limit. Split the file and convert the parts.
- The book will not convert. Books bought from a store usually have DRM, which encrypts them; no legitimate converter removes it.
Convert AZW to AZW3 from the command line
This page uses Calibre. Installed on your computer, its ebook-convert command does the same conversion:
ebook-convert input.azw output.azw3Converting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
AZW to AZW3 converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting AZW to AZW3?
The text, images and structure are kept, and the book still reflows to fit any screen.
Why is the AZW3 a different size from the AZW?
E-book formats compress text and images differently, so the AZW3 may be somewhat larger or smaller than the AZW.
Are my AZW files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful AZW to AZW3 conversion needs Calibre, the open-source e-book manager, which cannot run in a browser. The file travels over an encrypted connection, is converted in a private temporary folder, and is deleted together with the AZW3 as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several AZW files to AZW3 at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an AZW3 file?
AZW3 opens on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle and Calibre apps. AZW3 is common for Kindle e-readers and books loaded onto them over USB.
Is this AZW to AZW3 converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Because this conversion uses our server, there is a fair-use limit of 25 MB per file and a number of files per hour, which stops the service being overloaded.
Can I convert AZW to AZW3 on my phone?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The conversion happens on our server, so it is as fast on a phone as on a computer; the AZW3 is saved to your Downloads folder.