Tips to open FB2 file

Can't open the FB2 file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open FB2 files as well as a list of programs that support FB2 files.

FB2 file extension

File Name FictionBook 2.0 Format
File Developer FictionBook
File Category Text Files

The FB2 file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the FB2 files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the FB2 file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 7
  • 2
  • 5
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0

What is FB2 file?

The FB2 file has been categorized as Text Files. The creator of this file is FictionBook. Additionally, the Text Files category contains 440 of other files. FictionBook 2.0 Format is supported by 4 operating systems. These systems consist of Android, Linux, Mac OS, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The Calibre application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Kovid Goyal. There are also 14 alternative programs to handle the FB2 file. You can use Cool Reader, Apache OpenOffice, FBReader, Athenaeum in case Calibre cannot be used.

How to open FB2 file?

The most common problem when using FictionBook 2.0 Format is that a specific FB2 is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that FB2 files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the FB2 file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Calibre

The first step is to check if the computer has the Calibre program installed. This can be achieved by typing Calibre into the operating system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support FB2 files.

Programs to open FB2 file

Remember to download programs supporting FB2 files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Calibre with FB2 files

If, despite the installed application, the FB2 file does not start in the Calibre application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the FB2 file with the Calibre program.

Step 3. Update Calibre to the latest version

If, however, after binding Calibre with FictionBook 2.0 Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the Kovid Goyal website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the FB2 file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to FB2 files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our FB2 file. Sometimes virus-infected FB2 files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the FB2 file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair FB2 file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact FictionBook
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted file FB2 except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the FB2 file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the FB2 file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the FB2 file again. However, some background programs may block the FB2 file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.