The LIT format is an old e-book format developed by Microsoft. This format is deprecated, and many new tools cannot open this format. You can download an older version of Microsoft Reader (no longer available on the Microsoft website), or preferably convert this file to a newer format. It's more difficult to open a file of this format if the file you want to open is secured with Digital Rights Management (DRM). If you still have the authorization key, you can change the protected files too.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Releasing DRM
Step 1. Understand the process
LIT format is an electronic book format that is no longer used. This format was developed by Microsoft for use in the Microsoft Reader program. This format was deprecated in 2012; Microsoft Reader program can no longer be downloaded. It's a good idea to convert files of this format to a format that's friendlier and easier to open with the tools at your disposal. If you only download an older version of Microsoft Reader, you will only be able to open LIT files on your computer. By changing the file format, you'll also be able to transfer this file to any device you have, like an iPad or Kindle. This will also make it easier to open the file on your computer with a modern e-book opener.
- LIT files often come with DRM (Digital Rights Management), which makes them unopenable in your newer tools. By changing the format of this file, you will get rid of the DRM and after that, you will be able to use the file however you want.
- You must remove DRM using an authorized Windows computer to open this file. Apart from that, there is no other way to get rid of DRM, except by recording the screen display of each page.
- If the LIT file that you want to open doesn't have DRM, proceed to the next method.
Step 2. Download ConvertLIT
This program will convert your LIT file into an open format that can be used in various tools and can easily be converted back to another format. ConvertLIT can remove DRM installed in files. After that, you will be able to move it to your other tools. Take advantage of this procedure with fair-use in mind: you should only remove DRM from books that you do own. Do not use this procedure to hijack e-books.
- You can download the graphical version of ConvertLIT from dukelupus.com/convertlit.gui. You can get the program running through the Command Prompt from convertlit.com. In this guide, the graphical version is used.
- There is an unsupported version of ConvertLIT for Mac available at convertlit.com. You can only remove DRM using a Windows computer that was originally authorized to open the LIT file.
Step 3. Prepare your computer's DRM key file
You will need this file to remove DRM from LIT files. This file is only available on computers that were originally authorized to open the LIT file. You can retrieve this key with ConvertLIT.
- Click the File menu in ConvertLIT, then select "Run Reader key recovery tool".
- Agree to the license agreement and follow the procedure to unlock the authorization in ConvertLIT.
- There is no way to get rid of DRM if there is no real key. Microsoft has disabled the DRM activation server, and thus new keys cannot be created. If you no longer have access to the original DRM key file, all of your DRM protected e-books are no longer usable.
Step 4. Click the "Downconvert" tab in ConvertLIT
On the next page, you can remove the DRM from the LIT file with the original key. If this LIT file does not include DRM, use the "Extract" tab. The process will be the same for both tabs.
- You can choose the directory where the modified files will be saved.
- By default, ConvertLIT will add ".downconverted" to each file. You can uncheck this setting if the modified files do not need to be marked.
Step 5. Click the "Down concert" button to start the DRM removal process
There is a typo on this button, it should be "Downconvert". You can monitor the work of this program through the frame located at the bottom. The LIT file will immediately open as a collection of files. Included in these files are some HTML files, some images, and an OPF metadata file.
If you are using the "Extract" tab, click the "Extract" button once the settings are to your liking
Part 2 of 2: Changing Files
Step 1. Download and install Caliber
Caliber is a free e-book management program that provides tools for converting files. With this tool, you will be able to convert your newly DRM-opened LIT files into another format that can be used in any reader. You can download Caliber for free at caliber-ebook.com.
LIT files that don't have DRM included can be directly loaded into Caliber. See Step 5
Step 2. Open the directory that contains your new files
ConvertLIT will put the files from the LIT file into a directory with the same name. Go to this directory to see all the files.
Step 3. Select all files in this directory
You must select all previously opened files from the LIT file.
Step 4. Right click your selection and select "Send to" > "Compressed (zipped) folder"
This action will create a new ZIP file containing all the files you have selected.
Step 5. Add this ZIP file to Caliber
Open Caliber, then click the "Add books" button. Move to the directory where the ZIP file is located and add it to your Caliber library. Apart from that, you can also hold and drop this ZIP file into the Caliber window.
You can do this with any e-book format including LIT files that don't have DRM. Caliber cannot open DRM-enabled files
Step 6. Select this ZIP file in the Caliber library, then select "Convert books"
This will open the eBook converter tool.
Step 7. Select the file format you want from the "Output format" box
There are many options, you can choose any e-book format. Refer to the user manual for your e-book reader to find out what formats it can open. The two most common formats are EPUB and AZW3 (Kindle).
Step 8. View available settings
You do not need to change any settings to get readable e-books from this conversion process. More experienced users can control the shape of the finished product by changing the retouch settings. Most users leave the original settings.
Step 9. Click "OK" to start the process
Caliber will start changing books. Once done, the new format will be immediately available in your Caliber library. You can use Caliber to load the new book into your reader, or you can save the new book on your computer for later transfer or archive.
