How to Transfer Files to Kindle by Cable or Internet

The two main ways to get your own books onto a Kindle are by connecting it to your computer with a USB cable, or sending them online using Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. Both methods are free, and each works best for different file types and situations.

Transferring by Cable (AZW3, PDF)

1. Plug your Kindle into your computer with its USB cable and unlock the device.
2. Your Kindle will show up as a drive or device named Kindle. Open it.
3. Go to the documents folder and copy your file there (AZW3 or PDF).
4. Eject the Kindle safely before unplugging. The book will appear in your library.

On Mac: Some recent Kindle models connect as a media device (MTP) instead of a drive. Windows shows them in Explorer, but on Mac you’ll need an MTP app like OpenMTP, or use the internet method instead.

This method works without Wi-Fi and allows AZW3 files. You can transfer comics and other files in AZW3 format, as well as PDFs. Legible delivers AZW3 for cable transfer, and PDF for comics.

Transferring Online (EPUB, PDF)

Using Your Browser

1. Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle and sign in with your Kindle’s Amazon account.
2. Drag and drop your file (EPUB or PDF, up to 200 MB).
3. Select your Kindle and send. The file will show up in a few minutes if your Kindle is on Wi-Fi.

By Email

1. Your Kindle has an email address ending in @kindle.com. You can send approved files as attachments from your authorized email account.
2. Amazon converts EPUB and PDF files sent this way. To convert a PDF to text, add "convert" in the email subject. Amazon’s conversion works best with simple text PDFs; with notes or scanned files, results may vary. For more details, see Send to Kindle with PDF: What “convert” Really Does and When to Use It.

From Your Phone

With the Kindle app installed, open your file, tap Share, and choose Kindle.

Note: Send to Kindle does not accept AZW3 or MOBI files. If you’ve converted a book to send online, download it as EPUB.

If Your Book Doesn’t Show Up

• By cable: Make sure it’s in the documents folder and the file extension is .azw3 or .pdf.
• Online: Connect your Kindle to Wi-Fi and sync. EPUBs sent with Send to Kindle arrive as books with their index.
• Your personal documents appear under the "Documents" filter in your library.

If your file is a PDF, it’s best to convert it for better readability before sending. With Legible, you can choose "By cable" or "By internet" and get the right format for each method.