If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then continue reading to find out how you can open EPUB files on your Android device. Authors who create their own novels or nonfiction books and folks who purchase these works will find it much easier to view the content on multiple devices by using the EPUB format. Using this guide, you’ll learn how to open EPUB files on Android, without converting them into a PDF file format.
Method 1: How to Open EPUB Files on Android with Google Play Books
In the following method, I will tell you how to open EPUB files on Android with Google Play Books Google Play Books is possibly the most effective and reliable method of opening EPUB files on your Android device as the feature comes officially from Google. Like Google Music, the books section at the Play Store has become quite popular and the official Google Play Books app lets you read eBooks on your Android device. The great thing about Google Play Books is that you can upload all your eBooks from different devices using your Google Play account and can read these uploaded eBooks on your Android device. Therefore, this app eliminates the need for transferring all your eBooks from your PC to your Android device’s storage. If you don’t already have the app, you can download the app through the Google Play button below.
1. Open the Google Play Books Website on your PC
If you want to upload the EPUB files from your PC, open the Google Play Books website on your PC and click on the Uploads button on the left. In the Uploads windows, click on the Upload files button.
2. Upload Your Files
Click on the Select files from your computer button to upload the EPUB files stored on your PC. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the EPUB files in the Upload window. The upload process might take a while, depending on the size of the EPUB files and once the upload process is complete, a short Processing time will follow.
3. Upload Your EPUB Files to Play Books
If you have already uploaded your EPUB files using your PC, then proceed to Step 5. Go to the directory where your eBook file is saved on your Android device using any file manager and tap on the EPUB file. In the Complete action using popup, select Upload to Play Books. The ePub file will start uploading. It might take a minute with larger files. You can also upload the EPUB file directly from an email.
4. Find Your EPUB File
Tap on the Read Now tab to see all the eBooks currently on your Google account. And… you’re done! Tap on the eBook that you want to read and the app will open its built-in eBook reader. That’s it! You can now enjoy your EPUB files on your Android device. All the uploaded eBooks will be saved for online reading, meaning that you can only read it while connected to the internet. In order to store your eBooks offline, simply tap on the Pin icon next to each book. After the eBook is downloaded on your device, you can read it without an internet connection.
Method 2: How to Open EPUB Files Using Aldiko Book Reader
Aldiko Book Reader is one of the most popular eBook apps available on the Google Play Store and the app was most Android users’ primary option for reading EPUB files before the Google Play Books app started supporting EPUB files. Additionally, if you also have books in several different formats, then this might be the perfect option. Aside from that, Aldiko Book Reader also has several additional features and is fully customizable. You can download it through the Google Play button below if you don’t already have it on your device:
1. Transfer Your EPUB Files
If the EPUB files are saved on your Android device, copy them to the eBooks/Import folder. After installing the app, this folder should automatically be created but if it does not, then you can manually create it. If you have the EPUB files stored on your PC, copy the files to the same directory on your phone using a micro USB cable.
2. Import Your eBooks
Open the Aldiko Book Reader app on your Android device, tap on the Menu key and click on Import. Tap on the Import button on the Import Books popup window. Tap on OK in the Confirm Import popup. All the files in the eBooks/Import directory should be uploaded and an Import Completed popup should appear.
3. Open the Library
Go to the Library tab. Your imported books will be available on the Book Shelf.
4. Open Your File and Customize Your Experience
Select the eBook that you want to read by tapping on it and Aldiko will open the built-in reader. You can use the control bar at the bottom to edit things like orientation, margins, and brightness.
Bonus: How to Convert EPUB Files
EPUB files resemble a lot a ZIP file. Therefore, if your Android device can open compressed files, all you have to do is replace the .epub extension with the .zip one and… you’re done! You should be able to open the archive and see your EPUB files in the HTML format – and you will be able to open those in your browser. Reading eBooks on your Android device is fine, but we would definitely recommend using a specialized product, like Kindle Oasis E-Reader. It is better for your eyes and for your health in general, and it also helps you keep your eBooks organized. If you want to know more about E-Readers, we recommend you read our list of Best Tablets for Reading Ebooks.
Final Thoughts
EPUB files are getting quite popular in the eBooks world, as they provide an additional benefit over traditional PDF files. Even though there aren’t many apps available on the Google Play store for opening these EPUB files, the methods mentioned above should work fine on most Android devices. Google Play Books is possibly the perfect option as it is reliable and you can directly upload the eBook files from different devices. However, if you want more customization and advanced features, then Aldiko Book Reader is a suitable option. Some authors or business people might even be interested in scanning hardcopy documents and later converting them into EPUB files. Which method did you use? What was your experience? Feel free to tell us in the comments below!
