The three ways to get books on your Kindle
You can put books on your Kindle through the Kindle Store (Amazon's online bookstore), by sending files directly to your device, or by borrowing from your library. The Kindle Store is the most straightforward — you buy or borrow a book, and it appears on your device within seconds. Sending files yourself works if you have a PDF, EPUB, or other document format and want to read it on Kindle. Library borrowing is free and works through most public library systems in the United States, though the process takes a few extra steps.
Which method you use depends on what book you want and whether you want to pay. If you know the title and it exists in the Kindle Store, buying or borrowing there is fastest. If you have a file on your computer, sending it to your device takes about five minutes. If you have a library card, borrowing is free but limited to books your library owns in digital form.
Key Takeaways
- The Kindle Store is built into your device or app, and books appear when ready after purchase or borrowing.
- You can send your own files (PDF, EPUB, Word documents) to your Kindle by email, and they convert automatically.
- Most public libraries lend Kindle books for free through their digital collection, accessible through your library's website or the Libby app.
- Your Amazon account and Kindle device must be registered to the same email address for books to sync across devices.
- Borrowed library books expire automatically and disappear from your device on the due date — no late fees.
Buying or borrowing from the Kindle Store
Open the Kindle Store on your device or in the Kindle app on your phone or tablet. On a Kindle e-reader, press the Menu button (three horizontal lines), then select Store. On the Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, tap the three-line menu icon in the top left, then tap Kindle Store. On a computer, go to amazon.com, click the menu, and select Kindle Store.
Search for the book title or author name. When you find it, you will see the price and a button that says either "Buy Now" or "Borrow for Free" (if your account has borrowing turned on). Tap or click the button. The book downloads to your device when ready — usually within a few seconds. You do not need to do anything else. The book appears in your library on your device and stays there until you delete it.
If you do not see a "Borrow for Free" button, your account may not have the borrowing feature turned on, or the book may not be available to borrow. Borrowing through the Kindle Store is different from library borrowing — it is a feature Amazon offers to some customers, and the terms vary. Check your account settings under Manage Your Content and Devices to see if borrowing is available to you.
Sending files from your computer to your Kindle
This method works if you have a document on your computer — a PDF, Word file, EPUB, or other format — and you want to read it on your Kindle. First, find your Kindle's email address. On your Kindle device, go to Settings, then Device Info, and look for the Send-to-Kindle Email. Write this address down or copy it. On a phone or tablet app, go to Settings, then tap your account name, and look for Send-to-Kindle Email under Devices.
Open your email (Gmail, Outlook, or whatever you use). Start a new message and address it to your Kindle's Send-to-Kindle Email address. Attach the file you want to send — click the attachment button and select the document from your computer. You can leave the subject line blank or write anything you want. Send the email. Within a few minutes, the file will appear on your Kindle device. The Kindle converts it automatically, so the formatting may change slightly, but the text will be readable.
If the file does not appear, check that you used the correct Send-to-Kindle Email address and that the email came from the same email address your Amazon account is registered to. If you send from a different email, the Kindle will not accept it. Also check that the file format is supported — Kindle accepts PDF, EPUB, MOBI, AZW, DOC, DOCX, HTML, TXT, and a few others. If you are sending an EPUB file and it does not convert well, try converting it to PDF first using a free tool like Calibre.
Borrowing books from your public library
Most public libraries in the United States lend Kindle books through a service called OverDrive or Libby. Check your library's website — look for a link that says "Digital Library," "eBooks," or "Borrow eBooks." Click it. You will be asked to log in with your library card number and PIN (usually your last name or the last four digits of your phone number). Once you are logged in, search for the book you want.
When you find a book, click "Borrow" or "Check Out." You will see a list of formats — select "Kindle Book" or "Kindle Edition." The system will ask where you want to send it. Select your Kindle device from the dropdown menu. Click "Send to Kindle." The book appears on your device within a few minutes. You do not need to do anything else — it will automatically disappear from your device on the due date, usually 14 or 21 days after you borrow it.
If a book is checked out, you can place a hold on it. The library will notify you when it becomes available, and you will have a few days to claim it before it goes to the next person on the list. Some libraries also use the Libby app, which does the same thing but through an app on your phone instead of the library website. Both methods are free and work the same way.
Making sure your devices are set up correctly
For books to appear on all your Kindle devices and apps, they must all be registered to the same Amazon account. On a Kindle e-reader, go to Settings, then Device Options, and look for your registered email address. On the Kindle app, go to Settings, then tap your account name. Make sure the email address is the same across all your devices. If it is not, you will need to deregister one device and register it again to the correct account.
You can also turn on Whispersync, which syncs your reading progress across devices. If you start reading a book on your phone, you can pick up where you left off on your Kindle e-reader. Go to Settings on your device, find Whispersync or Synchronize, and turn it on. This is optional but useful if you read on multiple devices.
Troubleshooting books that do not appear
If you bought or borrowed a book but it does not show up on your device, first check your library. On a Kindle e-reader, press Menu and select Library. On the app, tap Library at the bottom. The book may be there but not downloaded yet — if you see it in your library, tap it to start the read. If it is not in your library at all, go to Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon.com. Search for the book title. If it is there, click the three-dot menu next to it and select "Deliver to [Your Device Name]."
If you sent a file by email and it did not arrive, check that the email was sent to the correct Send-to-Kindle Email address and that it came from your registered Amazon email. Also check your email's sent folder to confirm the message went through. If the file is very large (over 50 MB), the Kindle may reject it. Try converting it to a different format or splitting it into smaller files.
Understanding Kindle format and file types
Kindle books come in different formats depending on where you get them. Books from the Kindle Store are in AZW or AZW3 format, which is Amazon's proprietary format. These books are optimized for Kindle devices and look the best. Library books are usually in EPUB format, which Kindle converts automatically. Files you send yourself can be in many formats — PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DOC, DOCX, TXT, and others.
The format matters because it affects how the book looks on your device. AZW and AZW3 files adjust to your font size and screen size, so the text reflows. PDF files do not reflow — they stay in their original layout, which can make them hard to read on a small screen. If you have a choice between formats, AZW3 or EPUB will look better on a Kindle than a PDF. If you only have a PDF, it will still work, but you may need to zoom in to read it comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Kindle books on my phone or tablet if I do not have a Kindle device?
Yes. read the free Kindle app from the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore. Log in with your Amazon account, and all your Kindle books appear in the app. You can read them on any phone or tablet. The app works the same way as a Kindle device — books sync across devices, and you can adjust font size and background color.
What happens to borrowed library books when the due date passes?
Borrowed books disappear from your device automatically on the due date. You do not need to return them or pay late fees. If you want to keep reading, you can place a hold on the book again and borrow it once more when it becomes available. Any notes or bookmarks you made in the book are lost when it expires.
Can I lend my Kindle books to someone else?
Books from the Kindle Store cannot be lent or shared — they are licensed to your account only. Library books also cannot be shared. If someone else wants to read a book, they need to buy it themselves or borrow it from the library using their own account. Some publishers allow lending through the Kindle Store, but most do not.
Why is a book I want to read not available in Kindle format?
Not all books are published in Kindle format. Older books, self-published books, and some academic texts may only be available in print. You can still read them on Kindle by converting a PDF or other file format yourself using a tool like Calibre, but the formatting may not be perfect. Check your library first — they may have the book in print or digital format.
Do I have to pay for the Kindle app or for a library card to borrow books?
No. The Kindle app is free to read. A library card is free if you live in the area served by a public library — you can get one by visiting your local library branch in person or explore online through your library's website. Both are completely free.