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Document Conversion

Convert LIT to RTF — Free Online Converter

Convert Microsoft Reader eBook (.lit) to Rich Text Format (.rtf) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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Works Everywhere

Any browser, any device

How to Convert

1

Upload your .lit file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .rtf file when it's ready.

About LIT to RTF Conversion

LIT to RTF conversion transforms Microsoft Reader ebooks into Rich Text Format, the universal formatted document standard that every word processor can open and edit. RTF provides the broadest compatibility for formatted text, working in Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, WordPad, Google Docs (via import), Apple Pages, and virtually every text editing application.

Our converter extracts the XHTML content from the LIT ebook through Calibre, then transforms it into a cleanly formatted RTF document with preserved paragraphs, chapter headings, emphasis, and embedded images.

Why Convert LIT to RTF?

RTF is the safest choice when you need formatted, editable text that opens everywhere. Unlike DOCX (which requires Office-compatible software) or EPUB (which requires an ebook reader), RTF opens in the simplest text editor that supports formatting — even WordPad on Windows. For extracting editable text from LIT ebooks with formatting intact, RTF provides the most universally compatible result.

RTF is also valued in legal and regulatory contexts for its format stability. The specification has been frozen since version 1.9, ensuring long-term readability — a stark contrast to the abandoned LIT format.

Common Use Cases

  • Extracting formatted text from LIT ebooks for editing in any word processor on any platform
  • Creating universally compatible documents from LIT files for distribution to unknown recipients
  • Archiving LIT ebook content in a stable, well-specified format for long-term preservation
  • Recovering editable manuscripts from LIT ebooks originally published through Microsoft Reader
  • Converting LIT content for import into document management systems that accept RTF

How It Works

RTF uses text-based control words (backslash-prefixed markup) to describe document formatting. The conversion extracts LIT content through Calibre's parser, maps XHTML elements to RTF formatting (paragraphs, character styles, images, tables), and generates a well-formed RTF 1.9 document. Images are hex-encoded and embedded inline. The output opens in all RTF-compatible applications.

Quality & Performance

Text and basic formatting convert cleanly — paragraphs, headings, emphasis (bold, italic), and embedded images are preserved. RTF's formatting capabilities are simpler than the original LIT XHTML, so complex CSS styling is simplified. The result is a clean, readable, editable document suitable for further editing or reformatting.

LIBREOFFICE EngineModerateMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceLITRTF
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Use RTF when you don't know what software your recipient uses — it opens everywhere
  • 2Clean up formatting in your word processor after conversion for a polished final document
  • 3Convert to DOCX or PDF from RTF for smaller file sizes if universal compatibility is not required
  • 4RTF is grep-searchable as a text file for bulk content analysis and processing
  • 5Keep the original LIT file even after conversion as an archival backup

LIT to RTF provides the most universally compatible formatted document from LIT ebook content. The conversion rescues content from a dead format and delivers it in a format that opens in every word processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. RTF is fully editable in every word processor — Word, LibreOffice Writer, WordPad, Pages, and more.
Yes. Images from the LIT ebook are hex-encoded and embedded in the RTF file.
RTF files are typically 3-5x larger than the original LIT due to text-based encoding and hex-encoded images.
DOCX is smaller and more feature-rich. RTF opens in more applications. Use DOCX for modern environments, RTF for maximum compatibility.
Yes. RTF is an excellent intermediate format that converts cleanly to DOCX, PDF, HTML, and other formats.

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