What happens when you convert LIT to EPUB
- The LIT 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.
- 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 LIT to EPUB online
- Press "Choose LIT 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 EPUB". 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 EPUB with its download button. Our server has already deleted both your LIT and the EPUB by then.
Why convert LIT to EPUB?
LIT files usually come from e-books bought or downloaded for Microsoft Reader in the 2000s. People convert them to EPUB because EPUB reflows to fit any screen and opens in Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo and Send to Kindle.
In short, LIT is good at what it was made for, and EPUB is the more practical choice when the file has to open, upload or print somewhere else. No current app opens LIT; Microsoft Reader was discontinued in 2012, and Calibre can read it, while EPUB opens in Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo and most e-reader apps; a Kindle needs it sent through Send to Kindle.
How to convert LIT to EPUB on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your LIT files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each EPUB is saved to your Downloads folder.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the LIT files from Finder onto the drop zone and the EPUB files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose LIT files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted EPUB appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose LIT files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The EPUB is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it.
Best settings for LIT to EPUB
There are no settings to choose: the LIT is opened and saved as an EPUB e-book, keeping as much of its formatting as the format allows.
Check the converted file before deleting the LIT. Simple documents convert exactly; unusual fonts, complex layouts and advanced features are where differences appear.
LIT vs EPUB: the differences
| LIT | EPUB | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Reader e-book | Electronic publication |
| Type | e-book | document |
| Created by | Microsoft | the International Digital Publishing Forum |
| First released | 2000 | 2007 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| What it holds | a book's text, images and table of contents in a compressed container | chapters as XHTML pages, with images and a table of contents |
| In a browser | no current app opens it; Microsoft Reader was discontinued in 2012, and Calibre can read it | opens in Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo and most e-reader apps; a Kindle needs it sent through Send to Kindle |
| Common uses | e-books bought or downloaded for Microsoft Reader in the 2000s | e-books from stores other than Amazon and free e-book libraries |
| MIME type | application/x-ms-reader | application/epub+zip |
About LIT and EPUB files
What is a LIT file?
LIT was the format of Microsoft Reader, which Microsoft stopped supporting in 2012. Converting LIT books to EPUB or PDF is the only way to keep reading them on current devices. Books with Microsoft Reader DRM cannot be converted.
What is an EPUB file?
An EPUB is a ZIP archive of web pages, one per chapter, plus a file that lists their order. That is why its text can be extracted with ordinary web tools.
LIT to EPUB not working? Common problems
- "Files up to 25 MB can be converted." Server conversions have a size limit. Compress the images in the document, or split it, and try again.
- "The conversion took too long and was stopped." Very long or complex documents can exceed the time limit. Split the document and convert the parts.
- The e-book will not convert. Books with DRM, usually those bought from Amazon or other stores, are encrypted and cannot be converted.
Convert LIT to EPUB from the command line
This page uses Calibre. Installed on your computer, its ebook-convert command does the same conversion:
ebook-convert input.lit output.epubConverting 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.
LIT to EPUB converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting LIT to EPUB?
The text, images and structure are kept, and the book still reflows to fit any screen, because both are e-book formats.
Why is the EPUB a different size from the LIT?
The two formats store text and pictures differently, so the EPUB can be somewhat larger or smaller than the LIT. Images are carried over as they are.
Are my LIT files uploaded?
Yes, for this conversion. A faithful LIT to EPUB 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 EPUB as soon as the result has been sent back to you. We do not keep, read or share it.
Can I convert several LIT files to EPUB 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 EPUB file?
EPUB opens in Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo and most e-reader apps; a Kindle needs it sent through Send to Kindle. EPUB is common for e-books from stores other than Amazon and free e-book libraries.
Is this LIT to EPUB 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 LIT to EPUB 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 EPUB is saved to your Downloads folder.