---
title: ".mobi file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .mobi file is a Mobipocket Ebook. Amazon's older Kindle format, retired for new content in 2022. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/mobi/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .mobi files

**.mobi file: Mobipocket Ebook**

Amazon's older Kindle format, retired for new content in 2022.

## What opens a .mobi file

- **Windows:** Calibre, Amazon Kindle app
- **macOS:** Calibre, Amazon Kindle app
- **Linux:** Calibre, Foliate

## What a .mobi file is

MOBI came from Mobipocket, which Amazon bought in 2005 and built the original Kindle around. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI for Send to Kindle in August 2022 in favour of EPUB, so the format is legacy — existing files still work on older Kindles and in Kindle apps. Calibre reads and converts them on every platform.

## Converting it

A .mobi file is commonly converted to .epub, .pdf, .azw3, .txt or .docx. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .mobi
- **Full name:** Mobipocket Ebook
- **Category:** E-books
- **MIME type:** application/x-mobipocket-ebook
- **Created by:** Mobipocket / Amazon
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .mobi file?

On Windows use Calibre; on macOS use Calibre; on Linux use Calibre. Amazon's older Kindle format, retired for new content in 2022.

### What is a .mobi file?

Mobipocket Ebook. MOBI came from Mobipocket, which Amazon bought in 2005 and built the original Kindle around. Amazon stopped accepting MOBI for Send to Kindle in August 2022 in favour of EPUB, so the format is legacy — existing files still work on older Kindles and in Kindle apps.

### Can I convert a .mobi file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .epub, .pdf, .azw3, .txt or .docx, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.epub — Electronic Publication](https://atoneplace.net/file/epub/)
- [.azw3 — Kindle Format 8](https://atoneplace.net/file/azw3/)
- [.cbz — Comic Book Archive (ZIP)](https://atoneplace.net/file/cbz/)
- [.cbr — Comic Book Archive (RAR)](https://atoneplace.net/file/cbr/)
- [.djvu — DjVu Scanned Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/djvu/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)