Guides

How to Open EPUB Files on Windows, macOS and Linux

EPUB is one of the most common ebook formats, but on desktop it doesn’t always open as easily as a PDF. With Wizread, opening an EPUB is always the same simple flow: open the app, import your book, click Read. If you’re not fully sure what an EPUB actually is, you can also read our simple guide to EPUB files for desktop readers before or after this walkthrough.

What is an EPUB file?

An EPUB file is a digital book format designed for comfortable reading:

Reflowable text that adapts to different screen sizes and font settings.
Lightweight files, usually smaller than equivalent PDFs.
Structured content with chapters, a table of contents and metadata.

On Windows, macOS and Linux, an EPUB is just a file on your disk. Wizread gives you a consistent, cross-platform way to open and read those EPUB files in a clean, distraction-free interface. If you’re comparing EPUB with PDF specifically for reading on your computer, our EPUB vs PDF guide goes deeper into how both formats behave in practice.

The Wizread flow in a nutshell

Open Wizread on your desktop (Windows, macOS or Linux).
Import your EPUB:
- Drag & drop the file into the app, or
- Click the Import book icon in the top navigation bar and choose your file.
Your book appears in your library. Click Read to enter the reading view.
In the reading view, you can turn pages, adjust the layout and take notes while you read.

This is the same whether you’re opening EPUBs or PDFs. If you also read a lot of PDFs, you might like our guide to reading PDF files like ebooks on your desktop .

Step 1 – Find your EPUB file on your system

Before you import a book into Wizread, you need to know where the EPUB file lives on your computer. Typical locations:

Windows

Downloads folder
Documents → Books (or similar)
Any custom folder you use for ebooks

macOS

Downloads in Finder
Documents or Desktop
A dedicated Books or Ebooks folder

Linux

Downloads or Documents
Any library folder you created
Mounted drives or network shares

Once you know where your EPUB is, you’re ready to import it into Wizread. If you’re planning to build a bigger library over time, it can help to use a consistent folder structure—our guide on organizing your ebook library on Windows, macOS and Linux explains one simple system that works well with Wizread.

Step 2 – Open Wizread on Windows, macOS or Linux

Wizread works the same way across platforms, so once you learn the flow, you can use it on any desktop OS.

On Windows

Open the Start menu.
Search for Wizread and launch it.
Or pin it to your taskbar for quicker access next time.

On macOS

Open Launchpad or Applications.
Click Wizread to start it.
You can also keep it in the Dock for one-click access.

On Linux

Open your application launcher.
Search for Wizread and run it.
Optionally add it to your favorites/dock.

Step 3 – Import your EPUB into Wizread

With Wizread open, you can add your EPUB book in two simple ways. Both work the same on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Option A – Drag & drop

Open the folder where your .epub file is located.
Make sure Wizread is visible (side-by-side or behind the window).
Drag the EPUB file with your mouse.
Drop it into the Wizread window.

Wizread will import the book into your library and show it alongside your other titles.

Option B – Use the “Import book” action

In Wizread’s top navigation bar, click the Import book icon.
Your system file picker opens (File Explorer, Finder or your Linux file manager).
Navigate to your EPUB file and select it.
Confirm to import it into Wizread.

This method is ideal if you prefer browsing for your books instead of dragging files around.

After importing, your book will appear in your Wizread library, ready to be opened from any desktop OS where you use the app.

Step 4 – Click “Read” to enter the reading view

Once your EPUB is in the library, reading it is just one click away:

Find your newly imported book in the Wizread library.
Click the Read action for that title.
The app switches to the reading view, focused entirely on the book.

In the reading view you can:

Move through chapters and pages smoothly.
Adjust the layout to make reading more comfortable.
Take notes as you read, so ideas and highlights stay attached to the book.

Because the flow is identical across Windows, macOS and Linux, you only have to learn it once. To make those reading sessions even nicer on your eyes, you can also follow our guide on making EPUB and PDF more comfortable on desktop .

Common issues when opening EPUB files

If something doesn’t work as expected, the problem is usually with the file itself or where it’s stored, not with the basic Wizread flow.

The EPUB doesn’t show up in Wizread after import

Check that the file actually ends with .epub.
Make sure the import completed (no errors during the file picker or drag & drop).
Verify that the file isn’t stored on a drive that was disconnected.

The file seems corrupted or incomplete

Compare its size against similar books—if it’s 0 bytes or unusually small, re-download it.
Try opening another EPUB in Wizread to confirm everything else works correctly.

The file is DRM-protected

Some ebooks are protected with DRM and can only be opened in specific, authorized apps. In those cases, you’ll usually need to use the official app or a solution provided by the store where you obtained the book. Avoid any methods that violate copyright or terms of service.

If you keep running into problems, our dedicated troubleshooting guide “EPUB won’t open” – common errors and fixes goes deeper into file type issues, corruption, DRM and more safety checks.

Recap: opening EPUB files with Wizread

No matter which desktop OS you use, the steps are always:

Open Wizread on Windows, macOS or Linux.
Import your EPUB by drag & drop or via the Import book icon.
Find the book in your library and click Read.
Enjoy a focused reading view where you can read and take notes comfortably.

Once you’ve done it once, opening EPUB files on any desktop becomes a simple habit: open Wizread, import, read. From there, you can explore how safe EPUB and PDF files are to refine how you handle downloads, and use our cross-platform ebook organization guide to keep your growing library tidy.