How to open epub files on windows 10 (without microsoft edge)

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Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser drops support for EPUB eBook files. You’ll need a third-party EPUB reader application to view EPUB files on Windows 10, and we have some good free options to choose from.

What Happened to EPUB Books in Microsoft Edge?

It was always a little strange that Microsoft Edge supported eBooks in EPUB format. Why did Edge support eBooks when Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Internet Explorer didn’t?

EPUB support was clearly a strategic decision for Microsoft: Microsoft sold eBooks in the Microsoft Store application, and those eBooks were available for reading in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. If that sounds strange to you, well—it was. So few people purchased eBooks from Microsoft that the company was happy refunding everyone and removing eBooks entirely back in July 2019.

Now that Microsoft has given up on selling eBooks, the company clearly sees no point in implementing support for EPUB files in the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser. After installing the new Edge, you won’t be able to open EPUB files on Windows 10 until you install an application that supports them.

EPUB Readers We Recommend for Windows 10

Microsoft recommends downloading an EPUB app from the Microsoft Store. Of course, most of the great Windows applications out there aren’t available for download on Windows 10’s built-in Store. That includes EPUB readers.

Want a solid EPUB viewer for Windows? There are quite a few options out there. Here are some we like:

Calibre is a powerful, free, open-source eBook management application. It includes an eBook reader support for EPUB files and other popular eBook formats. You’ll also find an eBook collection manager, editing features, and more. Calibre is a great application, but it has a lot of features, and you might want something a bit simpler.

Sumatra PDF is practically the opposite. It’s a small, lightweight reading application. Sumatra PDF works with EPUB and MOBI eBooks as well as PDFs, XPS files, and even comic books in CBZ and CBR formats. Sumatra can even be used in “portable” mode, so you can place it on a USB drive or in a cloud storage folder and run it on computers without installing it first.

If you prefer reading EPUB files in your browser, you might want to try a browser extension. Install EPUBReader from the Chrome Web Store, and EPUB files will open like PDFs directly in your browser when you click them on the web. You can open EPUB files from your computer in your browser, too, just like you can use your browser as your PDF reader.

The new Microsoft Edge is based on Google Chrome, so you could also install EPUBReader in Edge. There’s a way to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store in Microsoft Edge.

Over time, more extensions should appear on the Microsoft Edge Addons website, making this trick less necessary.

We’ll show you 5 different ways

Microsoft Edge used to allow you to read your favorite eBooks directly in the browser. Microsoft made opening EPUB files possible through the Windows 10 Creators Update, which brought a slew of features including EPUB file format support.

Adding EPUB support to Edge was a strategic decision because Microsoft sold eBooks in the Microsoft Store app. In July 2019, once Microsoft removed eBooks entirely, they also ended support for EPUB files, which means you can no longer open eBooks with the .epub file extension with Microsoft Edge.

Fortunately, you can open EPUB files on Windows using an application that supports them, convert the EPUB files to other supported file formats, and then read them on your PC.

How to Open EPUB Files on Windows

You can open EPUB files in most eBook readers, but if you want to open the files on your Windows PC, this guide will show you five different ways to do that.

Using third-party ePub apps
Using a browser extension
Using Google Play Books
Renaming the file from .ePub to .zip
Converting the EPUB file to PDF

Open EPUB Files Using Third-Party Software

Microsoft has a list of free and premium, recommended third-party .ePub apps that open EPUB files. Also, you can use other free programs such as Calibre, Adobe Digital Editions, or the simpler EPUB File Reader.

Calibre is a free eBook manager that:

Allows you to open EPUB files
Keeps your EPUB library organized
Converts EPUB files to other popular eBook file formats so you can read them on your Windows PC

Here’s how you can use Calibre to open EPUB files on Windows.

Download and install Calibre on your computer, open the app, and select Add books.

Find and select the EPUBfile you want to open.

Highlight the EPUB file in the main panel and select View at the top.

An EPUB file will appear in a new window, which you can resize to your reading preferences.

Adobe Digital Editions is a free program that helps you:

Read eBooks you download from popular booksellers or library sites
Transfer the eBooks across different devices

Download and install Adobe Digital Editions.
Open the software on your Windows PC and then go to File >Add to Library.

Find the EPUB file you want to open and double-click on the eBook to open and read it.

Open EPUB Files Using a Browser Extension or Add-on

If you use Chrome or Firefox, you can get an extension or add-ons like Simple EPUB Reader or the EPUBReader that let you read EPUB files in the browser.

On Chrome, find EPUBReader from the Chrome Web Store and select Add to Chrome.

Select Add extension to add EPUBReader to Chrome.

You’ll get a notification that the EPUBReader extension has been added to Chrome.

To open your EPUB file, select the EPUBReader Chrome extension icon at the top right side.

Select the folder icon in the new window.

Choose the EPUB file you want to open, select Open and start reading your eBook directly in the browser.

Open EPUB Files Via Google Play Books

Google Play Books is an online bookstore that contains collections of textbooks, bestsellers, classics, and new book releases. You can use the app on your mobile device or a web reader app for Chrome on your Windows PC.

You can upload the EPUB file to your Google account and open it using Google Play Books in a few quick steps.

Select My books on the left side.

Select Upload files.

Select add files from your device or via Google Drive, and click on the blue Select button to add the EPUB file.

Once your EPUB file is uploaded to Google Play Books, you’ll find the file under the My Books section, and you can read it directly on your browser.

Note: Any books you add to Google Play Books are visible to you alone, meaning no one can view or open them. Plus, you can’t customize the book covers.

Open EPUB Files by Renaming .ePub to .zip

If you don’t want to open EPUB files on Windows using third-party software, you can rename the file from .ePub to .zip and open it with a file compression program like 7-Zip.

To rename the file, open the location where the file is saved.
Right-click the .ePub file and select Rename.

Replace the .ePub suffix with .zip and press Enter.

You can also use an online tool like ezyZip to convert the ePub file to a .zip file.

Then, use 7-Zip, WinRAR, WinZip, or your preferred file compression program to extract the contents of the file, which are in HTML format. (See the differences between the many archived compressed file formats).

Open EPUB Files by Converting the EPUB file to PDF

You can also convert an EPUB file into a PDF and open it on your PC. Some programs that can convert EPUB to PDF or other eBook reading formats include Calibre, Zamzar, and Online eBook Converter.

If you choose Calibre, add the EPUB file you want to convert into the program, select Convert books >Convert individually.

Select your preferred format, which can be PDF, MOBI, LIT, TXT, FB2, AZW, or PDB, among others.

Note: You cannot transfer or convert eBooks with DRM protection into other file formats.

Select the eBook. Choose Click to open on the right pane to open the EPUB file you converted to PDF.

Select the PDF file to open, and choose the app you want to use to open the PDF and read the eBook.

Read Digital Books on Your PC

Whether you downloaded or received a file in EPUB format, knowing how to open it on Windows will save you time and a whole lot of frustration.

Do you have a tip or trick that helps you open EPUB files on Windows? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media. Read Elsie’s Full Bio

We show you how to open an epub file in Windows 10 with the best compatible ebook reader apps,, in Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome.

If you enjoy books, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the EPUB format. As the official IDFP standard for electronic book publication, it’s used by EPUB reader devices like Kobo and is also distributed to users via library services.

Unfortunately, some users run into issues when wondering how to open epub files on Windows 10. There’s no dedicated Windows EPUB reader and Microsoft historically relied on its browser, Microsoft Edge, to manage digital publishing formats. However, with the closure of its eBook store and the release of the new Chromium Edge, this is no longer an option.

Today, we’re going to be showing you how to open EPUB files in Edge with a browser extension instead, as well as with Microsoft-recommended Store apps and other third-party solutions like Calibre reader. Here are the best EPUB reader apps for Windows 10. Let’s get started:

How to Open EPUB File with Microsoft Store Apps

Though Microsoft no longer has a dedicated EPUB viewer, there are some apps it recommends via its Microsoft Store that do the job just fine. For the most part, these aren’t as fully featured as the win64 alternatives, but they support automatic updates and are usually quick to use.

Visit the “Reading room” store collection

Microsoft’s list of recommended EPUB readers is known as the reading room. At the time of writing, it features 21 apps which will all act as a Windows EPUB reader. Simply click the app and press the “Get” button.

Read your ebook

Open your ebook with the app or import it, depending on the app you chose. Our personal choice is the Kobo eBooks reader, as it’s lightweight but gets the job done. If you’d like something with a bit more customization, read our list below.

The Best Ebook Reader Alternatives to Open EPUB Files

As Microsoft’s recommended store apps tend to be a bit barebones, it’s worth considering a third-party win64 app. In most cases, these offer more customization, intelligent features for easier viewing, and more. We’ve rounded up the best options for you below so you can find your favorite EPUB reader for Windows:

Cool Reader is the closest you’ll get to the speedy Microsoft Edge-like ebook experience without using the browser. It’s an XML/CSS-based ebook reader with a fully customizable palette, text size and re-formatting, smooth scrolling, and more. It doesn’t have the prettiest interface in the world, but its snappiness can make up for it.

Adobe Digital Editions

Adobe Digital Editions was one of the first readers to adopt the EPUB format. It’s completely free and lets you manage as well as view your files via a digital library. Due to its proprietary DRM, you can also use Adobe Digital Editions to borrow EPUB and PDF files from various public libraries.

Calibre is likely the best EPUB reader you’ll find on Windows. Though its e-book viewer is relatively simple, the functionality its library provides is unmatched. You can use Calibre to import and read epub files like any other app, but you can also edit individual lines, email them to an e-reader, edit metadata and tags, backup your library, and much more. It also acts as an epubconverter, letting you change from .epub to various other formats to suit different devices.

Its reader lets you bookmark, customize font size and layout, look up words, view table of contents, set a custom background image, and everything else you’d expect. It’s all provided free of charge with no ads.

KDE Okular Document Viewer

KDE Okular is less an EPUB reader specifically and more of a universal document viewer. You can use it to open various different formats, from epub to PDF, PostScript, XPS, and more. Nevertheless, it supports annotations, tables of contents, bookmarking, and plenty of other features to make the EPUB reading experience pleasant.

Extra: Polar documents managing app

Polar is an excellent application geared toward managing extensive document libraries. You can use it to keep track of how far you are into each book, view annotations, tag, and highlight. This makes it particularly useful for students, especially as you can cloud sync your titles to the cloud to access them from anywhere. While its epub reading functionality is limited, it can be a good tool for general management.

How to Open an EPUB File in Chrome

Some users prefer not to install additional software. As a result, we’ll also be showing you how to open EPUB files with Google Chrome and an extension.

Install a Chrome EPUB reader extension

Head to the Chrome web store and add one of the extensions to your browser.

Open EPUB in Chrome

Click the extension symbol in your browser bar, then press “Open EPUB book” and start reading.

How to Open EPUB File in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has made the decision not to build native EPUB support into its new Chromium Edge browser. While this complicates the process slightly you can thankfully get similar functionality through extensions on its web store.

Open the Extensions menu

In Microsoft Edge, press the three dots in the top-right corner, then choose “Extensions”.

Toggle “Allow extension from other stores”

You’ll find the switch in the bottom-left of the extension interface. After pressing the toggle, click “Allow”.

Install an EPUB reader extension

Your Edge browser now supports Google Chrome extensions. You can visit the Chrome Web Store and install any of its free EPUB reader offerings.

Use the free EPUB viewer

Click the extension symbol in your browser bar, then press “Open EPUB book” and start reading.

If you found this guide useful, you may also want to read our how to’s on printing to PDF and removing a PDF password.

Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser reduces support for EPUB eBooks. You will need a third-party EPUB reader application to view EPUB files on Windows 10. Here are some good free options to choose from.

How to Open EPUB Files
What is an EPUB file? How to read EPUB file on phone, computer

EPUB reader recommended for Windows 10

Microsoft recommends downloading the EPUB application from the Microsoft Store. However, most great Windows applications are currently not available for download on the Windows 10 integrated Store app, including EPUB readers.

If you want a reliable EPUB viewer for Windows, there are quite a few options to consider:

Caliber is an open source, free and powerful eBook management application. It includes eBook reader support for EPUB files and many other popular eBook formats. You will also find ebook collection manager, editing features and more. Caliber is a great app, but there are so many features and you might want something a bit simpler.

Caliber

Sumatra PDF is practically the opposite of Caliber. It is a compact and very light reading application. Sumatra PDF works with EPUB and MOBI e-books as well as PDF, XPS or even comics in CBZ and CBR format. Sumatra can even be used in ‘portable’ mode on laptops, so you can put it in USB or in cloud storage folder and run on your computer without pre-installation.

Sumatra PDF

If you like reading EPUB files in your browser, you might want to try browser extensions. Install EPUBReader from the Chrome Web Store and EPUB files will open as PDFs directly in the browser, when you click them on the web. You can also open EPUB files from a computer in your browser, the same way you use your browser as a PDF reader.

EPUBReader

The new Microsoft Edge is based on Google Chrome, so you can also install EPUBReader in Edge. There is a way to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store in Microsoft Edge.

EPUB is the most popular file format for digital books

Western Governors University

What to Know

An EPUB file is an Open eBook file.
Open one with Calibre, Apple Books, or Readium.
Convert EPUB to PDF or MOBI with Zamzar so it works on your Kindle.

This article explains what an EPUB file is, how to open one on all your devices, and how to convert one to a different format that will work with your eReader.

What Is an EPUB File?

An EPUB file (short for electronic publication) is in the Open eBook file format. You can download EPUB files and read them on your smartphone, tablet, e-reader, or computer. This freely available eBook standard supports more hardware eBook readers than any other file format.

EPUB 3.2 is the latest EPUB version. It supports the latest versions of HTML, CSS, and SVG, and has built-in support for embedded interactivity, audio, and video.

If you’re looking for free EPUB book downloads, know that there are lots of online resources where you can find free books such as Open Library.

How to Open an EPUB File

EPUB files can be opened in most eBook readers, including the B&N Nook, Kobo eReader, and Apple’s Books app. You can convert books using an EPUB converter to make them usable on the Amazon Kindle, or you can use the Send to Kindle app to email the book to your reader, which will do the conversion for you.

These books can also be opened on a computer with several free programs, such as Calibre, Adobe Digital Editions, Apple Books, EPUB File Reader, Stanza Desktop, Okular, and Sumatra PDF.

In addition to a few of the programs just mentioned, Mac users can read EPUB files with Readium.

Plenty of iPhone and Android apps view EPUB files. There are also add-ons and extensions for Firefox and Chrome that let you read in the browser just like other documents. EPUBReader for Firefox and Simple EPUB Reader for Chrome are just a couple examples.

Google Play Books is another place you can open EPUB files by uploading them to your Google account and viewing it through the web client.

Since EPUB files are structured like ZIP files, you can rename an EPUB eBook, replacing .epub with .zip, and then open the file with your favorite file compression program, like the free 7-Zip tool. Inside, you should find the contents of the EPUB eBook in HTML format, as well as the images and styles used to create the book. The format supports embedding files such as GIF, PNG, JPG, and SVG images.

How to Convert an EPUB File

There are several ways:

Calibre is the premier program for this. It converts to and from most other eBook formats, including ones compatible with the Amazon Kindle. Some of the supported conversions include EPUB, FB2, HTML, LIT, LRF, MOBI, PDF, PDB, RTF, TXT, and SNB.
Zamzar is an online EPUB converter worth mentioning. You can use the website to convert the book to PDF, TXT, FB2, and other similar text formats.
Using the Online eBook Converter is one way to make an EPUB file from another document file like AZW or PDF.

You can try a conversion by opening the book in one of the other readers and choosing to save or export the open file as another file format, although this is probably not as effective as using Calibre or other online file converters.

Still Can’t Open It?

One of the most common mistakes when opening an unfamiliar file type is misreading the file extension. Although different file formats use different file extensions, they sometimes look an awful lot alike, which can be confusing when trying to open or convert one.

For example, a PUB file is only one letter away from using the exact same suffix as EPUB files, but instead of being eBook files, they’re used by Microsoft Publisher as documents.

It’s also easy to confuse an EPM or EBM file for an EPUB file. EBM files are either EXTRA! Basic Macro files or Embla Recording files, but neither format is an eBook. The first opens with Micro Focus software and the other is used by Embla RemLogic software.

If you discover that your file actually isn’t using the EPUB file extension, re-read it to see what the extension is and then research it on Google or here on Lifewire to learn more about what it’s used for and how to open and/or convert it.

Download and open the Calibre software for your PC > select Add books > add the files to your library > highlight a file > View.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is strictly a PDF file viewing and printing program. You can use another free Adobe program—Adobe Digital Editions—to view both PDF and EPUB files on your PC or Mac. Download and launch the software > select File > Add to Library > and select the file/book you’d like to view.

Download / Windows EPUB Reader

Android EPUB Reader

Android 5.0 and above

iOS EPUB Reader

iOS 11 and above

Mac EPUB Reader

Mac OS 10.8 & above

Online EPUB Reader

All morden Browsers

Report Bugs
Legal Terms
Developer Info

Windows EPUB Reader – Neat Reader

For Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10

Neat ePub reader for Windows is an ePub software specially developed for PC computer users. We knew that after Microsoft Edge stops supporting ePub files, a lot of people are trying to find an alternative ePub viewer software. So we build this free, powerful ePub reading app for you.

If you don’t know how to read ePub files on Windows, you have come to the right place. In a nutshell, you need a special software that can read ePub file for you. Actually, there are plenty of choices of ePub software. But we are confident to say that Neat Reader is one of the best. Neat ePub Reader is free, elegant and fast. Moreover, Neat Reader also works on MacOS, Android, iOS and even web browsers.

Neat Reader is not only a ePub viewer, it is also a eBook management software. You can use it manage your book library and your annotations. Not like other simple ePub reader, mostly developed by solo software developer, Neat Reader is a product of company which is dedicated to ePub technology, so you can be confident using it.

Nowadays, Neat Reader has gained millions of users worldwide and is widely acclaimed by ePu users. It is free to use, just download to get started.

Learn more about this EPUB Viewer

Biref introducion ends.

If you want to learn more about ePub reader and Neat Reader, please continue reading.

Not Just a Windows ePub Reader

If you read online — and let’s face it, who doesn’t — odds are you’ve come across an ePub file. If you’re on a device that already supports it, you should have no problem opening the ePub and getting into your reading. But if you’re on Windows and your computer blankly stares at you when you try to open that ePub file, you need an ePub reader. While you used to be able to open up ePub books in the default Windows internet browser, they discontinued support for that function when the company developed the Chromium-based Edge browser, so you’ll have to get a third-party app.

But it’s not a big deal. There are plenty of Windows ePub readers that can get you up and running, though it’s not clear which one you should use and whether there are even real differences between them. According to the ePub format itself, an ePub reader is just something that can read an ePub file, but there’s a lot of functionality under the hood. Epub files separate the content from the display, which means different apps, devices and screens can display the same content in a way that looks great, no matter what you’re viewing it on.

However, ePubs support note taking, highlighting, bookmarking and tons of other features, and unless you get the right Windows ePub reader, you might not get any of this. Furthermore, some readers sync your reading across devices and platforms, so you can pick up reading whenever you have a moment. A Windows ePub reader that only works on Windows won’t be able to do this at all, and if you want to switch devices you’ll have to copy everything over or start from scratch, and that can be a real bummer if you’ve spent days or weeks highlighting and making notes.

With Neat Reader, you can read, annotate and manage all your ePub books and reading material from just one app. Not only is it a full-featured Windows ePub reader, but compatible apps for iOS, Android and even Macs make Neat Reader the best way to read ePubs on multiple devices. Even if you don’t own a computer and use a public terminal at a cafe or the library, Neat Reader works without downloading anything with a comprehensive web app that’s just like the native software.

Create a free account or download our Windows ePub reader today and get a seven-day premium trial for free. While the app and account is free, some of our advanced features make managing a large library of ePub files easy, and when you can read everything on a moment’s notice no matter where you are or what device you have with you — whether it’s a laptop, MacBook, tablet or phone — you’ll read even more than you ever thought possible with Neat Reader.

For more about the number one ePub reader available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and more, check out our web app for a quick trial, or jump right in and download our Windows ePub reader for free. For heavy readers, we even have membership plans that will sync all of your data and you’ll get up to 10GB of cloud storage space for even the largest digital libraries.

From everyone here at Neat Reader: Happy reading!

Q: What is the system requirement for this software?

Please make sure your PC’s operation system is Window7 or above

Q: Is this EPUB Reader free?

Yes, you can use it without spending a penny. This is a typical freemium software, most of the functions can be used for free, such as basic book management, book reading, highlighting annotations and so on.

If you need to use cloud storage and data synchronization across devices, you need to pay a small fee to upgrade to a premium account.

Q: How to open EPUB file with this app?

The use of this software is very simple and intuitive, you only need to complete the installation and follow the operation guide.

Q: Why is this EPUB viewer different from other EPUB software?

Neat Reader is a software designed specifically for EPUB file reading, and is the only EPUB reader in the world that supports a full platform. Compared with similar software, Neat Reader is more professional and comprehensive, and can meet all your needs for reading EPUB.

Q: What eBook formats do Neat Reader for Windows support?

Neat Reader currently only supports EPUB format, and may support TXT and PDF formats in the future, so stay tuned.

Q: When will Neat Reader support TXT and PDF?

At the end of 2020, if everything goes well.

Q: Can I read mobi and azw3 files with Neat Reader for Windows?

Neat Reader does not support directly opening files in mobi and azw3 formats. But you can use Calibre and other software to convert mobi and azw3 files to epub files, and then use Neat Reader to read them. Since the format of mobi and azw3 is very similar to EPUB, the book files after transcoding can be kept basically the same.

Once you borrow and download an Open EPUB or Open PDF ebook on your computer, you can use the steps below to open it.

Note: We recommend using free Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) software, but it’s not required. To learn more about the different reading options for ebooks, see this help article.

Open Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on your Windows or Mac computer.
Go to File > Add to Library.
Find the saved EPUB or PDF file on your computer. By default, files are saved to your computer’s “Downloads” folder.
Double-click an ebook to start reading, or follow these steps to transfer it to an ereader.

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