Ebooks conversion
Convert AZW to RTF
AZW is the older ebook format used by Kindle apps and devices, and RTF is a plain rich text format that any word processor can open. To convert AZW to RTF, open the file in a converter and export it as RTF, which pulls the text and basic formatting into a regular document. Doing this on your own computer keeps the book's contents off other people's servers.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .azw
- Type
- Ebooks
- Typically
- Older Kindle books
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
Convert AZW to RTF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert AZW to RTF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AZW file, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose RTF as the output format.
- Convert. The RTF document is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
AZW vs RTF: what actually changes
| AZW | RTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens in | Kindle apps and older Kindle devices | Any word processor, on any operating system |
| File size | Compact, tuned for e-readers | Larger, especially with images |
| Reflows to screen size | Yes, text adjusts to the device | No, laid out like a fixed document page |
| Chapter navigation | Yes, built-in table of contents | No, becomes plain headings in one long file |
| Text quality | Lossless | Lossless, but formatting is simplified |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AZW to RTF when you want to edit an old Kindle book's text in a word processor, pull quotes from it, or keep the text in a format that isn't tied to Kindle software.
Keep the AZW original if you're still reading the book on a Kindle app or device, since RTF drops the reflow and page sync that make e-readers comfortable to read on.
Why not just use an online converter?
A Kindle library says a lot about what someone reads, and that's not something to hand to a stranger's server just to get a file converted. An online converter uploads the whole book to do the work. Morphjet converts it on your own computer, so the text never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting AZW to RTF lose formatting?
Text, paragraph breaks, and basic styling like bold and italics carry over. Ebook-specific features, such as chapter navigation and reflow for different screen sizes, don't, since RTF is a fixed document format, not an e-reader format.
Will the RTF keep the book's images?
Yes, images embedded in the AZW file carry over, though their placement may shift slightly since RTF lays out pages differently than a Kindle reader does.
Can I convert a Kindle book with DRM protection to RTF?
No. Most AZW files bought from the Kindle store are protected, and no converter, including Morphjet, can open those. This works on AZW files that aren't copy protected, such as older personal files.
Can I convert AZW to RTF without uploading the file?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion locally on your computer, so the book never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Why convert to RTF instead of another document format?
RTF opens in essentially every word processor without formatting getting mangled, which makes it a safe, portable choice when you just need the text and don't know what software the other person uses.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.