Extract text from KeyNote notes (KNT)
To convert KNT notes to another format, you need KeyNote NF or other Text software.
To convert other file formats to the "Hierarchical Notebook File" file type, you need software like KeyNote NF or a similar tool.
A .KNT file is a structured notebook and database file created by Tranglos KeyNote, a popular but now legacy Personal Information Manager (PIM) for Windows. It stores multi-level, tabbed notes that contain rich-text formatting, embedded images, macros, and styles. These files were widely used by writers and programmers to organize snippets of information in a hierarchical tree structure.
Originally developed by Tranglos Software, the format is now primarily supported by a community-driven fork known as KeyNote NF. Because .KNT is a highly specialized, proprietary container, standard text editors and modern note-taking apps cannot open it natively. Furthermore, KeyNote is strictly a Windows application. If you switch to a Mac, iOS, or Android device, you will be entirely locked out of your notes unless you find a workaround.
To preserve your data for the future, you should convert .KNT files to standard formats like RTF (Rich Text Format), TXT (Plain Text), or PDF. Keep in mind that while the text and basic formatting will transfer, the complex nested folder structures and custom macros unique to KeyNote will likely be flattened or lost during conversion.
Converting .KNT files is notoriously difficult because the format can also utilize internal compression or strong encryption (like Blowfish). Standard online document converters usually fail when they encounter this proprietary architecture. However, just drag and drop your file onto convert.guru to identify the format and inspect its internal content. If your file is unencrypted, our analyzer can often detect and extract the embedded rich text, allowing you to recover your legacy notes without needing to install outdated Windows software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your KNT file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted KEY, KS-IG and KTH files.
If you want to convert KNT file to TXT, RTF, DOC, DOCX, ODT, PAGES, TEX, LATEX, MD, MARKDOWN, LOG or NFO, you can use KeyNote NF or similar software from the "Hierarchical Note Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert PDF, DOC, ASC, TODO, NFO, MEMO, README, DOCX, JPG, TXT, NOTE or RTF files to KNT, try KeyNote NF or another comparable tool in the "Hierarchical Note Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our KNT converter.