Extract text from Notability notes (NBN)
To convert NBN notes to another format, you need Notability or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Proprietary Note Archive" file type, you need software like Notability or a similar tool.
A .NBN file is a proprietary digital note file created by Notability, a popular note-taking application primarily used on iOS and macOS devices. These files are used to store handwritten notes, typed text, synchronized audio recordings, and inserted images in a single package. The files are managed and opened exclusively using the Notability app.
The .NBN format poses significant real-world challenges because it is heavily restricted to the Apple ecosystem. It requires the specific Notability software to open natively, which operates on a subscription model. The files are completely unsupported by standard web browsers, Windows PCs, or Android devices. If you share a .NBN file with someone who does not use Apple hardware or the specific app, they cannot view your notes or play the embedded audio.
To share notes universally, the best conversion target is a PDF document. Converting to PDF flattens the vector handwriting and text into a universal file, though synchronized audio recordings and stroke animations will be lost. Alternatively, because the file is an archive, converting to ZIP allows you to extract the raw embedded images and media.
Because .NBN is a closed, proprietary format, it is extremely difficult to open or convert externally. Often, only the original Notability software can properly read or export the structured data. However, convert.guru can still identify the file format, inspect the file, and show text or internal content. Just drag and drop your file to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your NBN file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ZIP, NSA, NIX and NF1 files.
If you want to convert NBN file to , you can use Notability or similar software from the "Digital Note Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to NBN, try Notability or another comparable tool in the "Digital 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 NBN converter.