Documents conversion
Convert RTF to AZW3
Updated Jul 2026
RTF is a rich text format that word processors use to share formatted documents across different apps, and AZW3 is the ebook format Kindle devices and apps read. To convert RTF to AZW3, open the file in a converter and export it as AZW3. Doing this on your own computer means your manuscript never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
- Extension
- .azw3
- Type
- Ebooks
- Typically
- Kindle
Convert RTF to AZW3 on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert RTF to AZW3
- Open Morphjet and drag in the RTF file you want to convert. Add a single document or a whole folder of chapters at once.
- Choose AZW3 as the output format.
- Convert. The AZW3 file is written next to your original, ready to load onto a Kindle or Kindle app, and nothing leaves your machine.
RTF vs AZW3: what actually changes
| RTF | AZW3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens on Kindle devices and apps | No | Yes |
| Opens in a word processor | Yes | No |
| Text reflows to fit the screen | No, laid out for a page | Yes, adjusts to screen size and font settings |
| Easy to keep editing | Yes | No, meant for reading, not editing |
| Book metadata (title, author, cover) | No | Yes |
| File size | Larger, plain formatting overhead | Smaller, compressed for reading |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert RTF to AZW3 when you've written or received a manuscript, report, or long document and want to read it comfortably on a Kindle device or app instead of scrolling through pages on a screen.
Keep the RTF if you still need to edit the text, since AZW3 is built for reading on a reflowing screen, not for going back in and changing wording or layout.
Why not just use an online converter?
Manuscripts and drafts converted to RTF are often unpublished work you'd rather not hand to a stranger's server. An online converter uploads the whole document just to change its format. Converting on your own computer keeps the text on your machine the entire time, and you can even do it with your wifi off.
Questions
Does converting RTF to AZW3 lose any formatting?
Basic formatting like bold, italic, and headings carries over. Things tied to a fixed page, such as exact page breaks, columns, or precise positioning, don't translate well, since AZW3 reflows text to fit whatever screen it's read on.
Will my chapters show up as a table of contents on Kindle?
Only if the RTF uses consistent heading styles for chapter titles. Plain paragraph breaks or manual formatting won't be recognized as chapter markers.
Can I add a cover image or author name to the AZW3 file?
AZW3 supports book metadata like title, author, and cover art, unlike RTF. Whether those details carry over automatically depends on what's already in the document.
Can I still edit the AZW3 file after converting?
Not easily. AZW3 is built for reading on Kindle devices and apps, not editing. If you'll need to make changes later, keep working from the original RTF and convert again when you're ready.
Can I convert RTF to AZW3 without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the manuscript never travels over the internet.
Morphjet converts RTF, AZW3, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.