How to open .lit files
I recently came upon a .lit file and was puzzled at first because I did not have any application installed on my system that could read and display the .lit file properly. A web search told me that it was a format for the Microsoft Reader, an e-book reader for Mobile PCs with another edition available for notebooks and desktop PCs.
The .lit file extension stands for literature and it seems to be rather common on Windows Mobile devices. Since I never have owned one it was completely unknown to me. Microsoft Reader is an old program, last updated in 2005, that is available for several languages and operating systems.
The PC version comes with an optional Text to Speech module which reads the texts out loud if so desired. It is possible to convert .lit files to open standard files by using a program called Convert Lit which is available for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Update: Microsoft has discontinued the Microsoft Reader application effective August 30, 2012. The program has been pulled from the Microsoft website which states the following:
Microsoft has discontinued Microsoft Reader effective August 30, 2012 which includes download access and activation of the Microsoft Reader from the Microsoft Reader website. However, customers may continue to use and access the Microsoft Reader application and any .lit materials on their PCs or devices. New content for purchase from retailers in the .lit format was discontinued on November 8, 2011.
Your best option right now is to convert the lit files into another format. A free program that can do that is ABC Amber LIT Converter which you can download from Softpedia. The program reads Microsoft Reader .lit files and converts them to Adobe PDF, HTML, RTF, CHM, TXT, DOC and a variety of other formats.
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Cool. I’ve downloaded a copy just in case I need it in the future. I currently read hundreds of “free” ebooks right off of the Usenet on my PDA phone. Very convenient.
I always found reading a book on Mircosoft Reader to be a better experience than Adobe PDF
What program can I use if I’m on Mac OSX?
HELP!
I downloaded some .lit files along with microsoft reader and after slogging through the ‘activation’ of said reader, it was unable to read the files. I next downloaded a Coverter which again was unable to convert the files. Why?
Stephanie maybe it is not a real lit file but another file type that has been renamed.
thank you very much! you made my day!
Try changing the filenames to .txt or .html, and the like, Stephanie. Martin is probably right, someone who didn’t know what they were doing probably changed the filenames.
Heya. Just had to do a search for this file suffix, then I remembered I’d worked with these before. IF the .lit files are giving you issues, there’s a brilliant freeware converter called “ABC Amber LIT converter.” Very fast and pretty user-friendly, and it can translate the .lit files to pretty well anything you need. (.pdf, .doc, .txt, and several others.)
thanks for “microsft reader”.
now i read them
HELP! I have an ebook in .LIT format. I would like to transfer this file to my itouch/ipod in order to take it with me so i can read it on this device. How can I convert it? or transfer it? or whatever?? lol.
How can i read an lit file plssssssssss
thanks!!
that ws sm help..
how i ws eager to open that file!!
Thanks a lot for this information… It was really helpful especially for me who is not that computer literate.
To Martin: fanx man
To those who still can’t access your .lit files after reading through…go get a good education!!!
you can use open source calibre ebook management software to view lit files.
Sorry for double post. It seems like Calibre wont automatically associate lit files with its self-contained ebook viewer.In this case, you can add lit files to your library and then click view in the toolbar on top or right click menu option to open them.
Calibre is available on Linux and Windows but I am not sure about OSX.
Cannot express my gratitude fully to Martin and everyone who has posted a comment. I tried the convert lit program at first but it was too confusing. In the end, I downloaded calibre and followed Marhabu’s instructions. Worked like a charm. Cheers once again!!!
Does anyone know how to transfer the files so that they are readable on a sony reader? I donwloaded Microsoft Reader to my PC, and I cant seem to figure out how to transfer them to my device.
download this first OK
http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.aspx
after that you can read the e-book
goodluck!
very helpful
thank you very much
I wouldn’t recommend ABC Amber LIT Convertor. I have a few books that used it to convert into MOBI. It advertises itself in the text every couple pages and it’s not a very accurate conversion besides.
Craig, which program do you recommend?