Kindle guide

How to read EPUB books on Kindle

Four ways to get an EPUB onto your Kindle, plus what to do when a book won’t go through. Updated October 28, 2026.

Kindles do not open EPUB files copied straight onto the device, but Amazon’s Send to Kindle service accepts EPUB. It converts the book to a Kindle format, stores it in your library and syncs it to every Kindle and Kindle app on your account. There are four ways to use it.

Only DRM-free EPUB files work. Books bought from other stores with DRM will be rejected.

Method 1: Email the EPUB to your Kindle

  1. Sign in to Amazon and open Manage Your Content and Devices.
  2. Go to Preferences → Personal Document Settings. Note your Send-to-Kindle email address (it ends in @kindle.com).
  3. In the same section, add the email address you will send from to the Approved Personal Document E-mail List.
  4. Email the EPUB as an attachment to your Send-to-Kindle address. The subject line can be empty.
  5. Wait a few minutes, then open your Kindle. The book appears in your library.

Method 2: Use the Send to Kindle desktop app

Amazon offers a free Send to Kindle app for Windows and Mac. Install it, sign in with your Amazon account, then drag the EPUB onto the app window or right-click the file and choose Send to Kindle.

Method 3: Upload through the web

Go to Amazon’s Send to Kindle web page in any browser, sign in, and drag your EPUB into the upload area. This works on any computer without installing anything.

Method 4: Share from your phone

On iPhone or Android, with the Kindle app installed, open the EPUB in your Files or Downloads app, tap Share and choose Kindle.

Loading books by USB instead

If you prefer to copy files with a cable, your Kindle will not read EPUB this way. Convert the book first: current Kindles read AZW3 and MOBI files placed in the “documents” folder, and older models need MOBI. The free desktop app Calibre can convert EPUB to AZW3 or MOBI for this.

If Send to Kindle won’t accept the book

  • Check the file is DRM-free and opens in another reading app.
  • Make sure you sent it from an approved email address.
  • Very large files can exceed Amazon’s limits; check Amazon’s Send to Kindle help page for the current size limit.
  • Books with complex fixed layouts may not convert well. As a fallback, convert the EPUB to PDF and send the PDF; Kindle displays PDFs, though the pages stay fixed.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kindle read EPUB files?

Not directly over USB, but you can send EPUB files with Send to Kindle. Amazon converts them to a Kindle format and adds them to your library.

Why was my EPUB rejected by Send to Kindle?

The most common reasons are DRM protection, a damaged file, a file that is too large, or sending from an email address that is not on your approved list.

Do I need to convert EPUB to MOBI for Kindle?

Not for current Kindles; send the EPUB itself. MOBI is only useful for older devices you load by USB, and Send to Kindle no longer accepts MOBI.

Will my EPUB sync across my Kindle devices?

Yes. Documents sent with Send to Kindle are stored in your Amazon library and appear on every Kindle device and app signed in to your account.