.azw3 files
.azw3 file
Kindle Format 8
The Kindle ebook format with modern layout support — usually DRM-locked.
What opens a .azw3 file
- Windows
- Amazon Kindle app, Calibre (DRM-free files)
- macOS
- Amazon Kindle app, Calibre (DRM-free files)
- Linux
- Calibre (DRM-free files), Foliate
What a .azw3 file is
AZW3, also called KF8, is Amazon's ebook format built on EPUB-style HTML and CSS, replacing the plainer MOBI. A book bought from the Kindle Store is tied to your Amazon account by DRM and only opens in Amazon's own apps and devices; DRM-free AZW3 files open in Calibre. Amazon's newer downloads may use .kfx instead, which fewer tools understand.
Converting it
A .azw3 file is commonly converted to .epub, .pdf, .mobi or .txt. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.
Details
- Extension
- .azw3
- Full name
- Kindle Format 8
- Category
- E-books
- MIME type
- application/vnd.amazon.ebook
- Created by
- Amazon
- Format
- Binary
Common questions
- How do I open a .azw3 file?
- On Windows use Amazon Kindle app; on macOS use Amazon Kindle app; on Linux use Calibre (DRM-free files). The Kindle ebook format with modern layout support — usually DRM-locked.
- What is a .azw3 file?
- Kindle Format 8. AZW3, also called KF8, is Amazon's ebook format built on EPUB-style HTML and CSS, replacing the plainer MOBI. A book bought from the Kindle Store is tied to your Amazon account by DRM and only opens in Amazon's own apps and devices; DRM-free AZW3 files open in Calibre.
- Can I convert a .azw3 file?
- Yes. It is usually converted to .epub, .pdf, .mobi or .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.
Related pages
- .epub — Electronic Publication The open ebook standard — reflowable text that adapts to any screen size.
- .mobi — Mobipocket Ebook Amazon's older Kindle format, retired for new content in 2022.
- .cbz — Comic Book Archive (ZIP) A zip file full of page images, renamed so comic readers pick it up.
- .cbr — Comic Book Archive (RAR) The same idea as CBZ but built on RAR, so it needs a RAR-capable reader.
- .djvu — DjVu Scanned Document A scanned-document format that compresses text pages far better than PDF.
Sources
- Media Types Registry — IANA
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place