How to Load Ebooks on Your Device

This guide shows you how to download an ebook file and open it on a Kindle, Kobo, Nook, another e-reader, an iPhone or iPad, or an Android phone or tablet. Start with the quick chooser below, then follow the section for your device.

Before You Begin

You need the ebook file on your phone, tablet, or computer before you can add it to a reading app. If you received a download link, tap or click it once and wait for the download to finish.

Know which file you have

• EPUB is usually the best choice for novels. The text can resize and reflow to fit your screen.
• PDF preserves the original page design. It works well for illustrated or formatted books, but text may be small on a phone or compact e-reader.

Three important checks

1. Finish the download. Do not try to open a file while the browser is still downloading it.
2. Remember where it went. Look in Files or Downloads on a phone or tablet, or in the Downloads folder on a computer.
3. Use only files you are allowed to read. These instructions are for legally obtained EPUB and PDF files.

If tapping the link only opens a preview

A browser preview is not a failed download. Use the browser Share or Download command to save the file, then open the saved copy in your reading app. On an iPad or iPhone, choose Save to Files if you do not yet see Books as an option.

Kindle E‑Readers and Kindle Apps

Method 1 — Send to Kindle from any web browser

1. Open Send to Kindle. Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle and sign in to the same Amazon account used on your Kindle.
2. Add the file. Drag the EPUB or PDF onto the page, or select the file from your device.
3. Send it. Confirm the document details and choose Send. Keep the browser open until the upload completes.
4. Sync your Kindle. Connect the Kindle to Wi-Fi. Open the Library and use Sync if the book does not appear within a few minutes.

Method 2 — Share from an iPhone, iPad, or Android device

1. Install and sign in to the Kindle app. Use the Amazon account connected to the Kindle where you want to read.
2. Find the downloaded file. Open Files or Downloads, or open the attachment from your email.
3. Use Share. Choose Kindle from the share menu. If it is hidden, choose More and enable Kindle.
4. Add it to your library. Enter a title if prompted, turn on the option to add it to your library, and select Send.

Method 3 — Send by email

Every Kindle account has a Send to Kindle email address. The email you send from must be on your approved personal document email list. Attach the EPUB or PDF, send the message, then connect your Kindle to Wi-Fi and sync. You can find both settings under Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon.

Kindle notes

• Do not copy an EPUB directly to a Kindle with a USB cable. Kindle e-readers do not open EPUB files directly; Send to Kindle converts them.
• A PDF can be sent to Kindle, but its fixed pages may be harder to read on a small screen.
• Make sure the Kindle app and the Kindle e-reader use the same Amazon account.

iPhone and iPad

Open an EPUB or PDF in Apple Books

1. Download the file. Tap the download link. If a browser preview opens, tap Share and choose Save to Files.
2. Open Files. Look in Downloads, On My iPhone or iPad, or iCloud Drive.
3. Open the share menu. Touch and hold the file, then tap Share. You can also open the file first and tap the Share button.
4. Choose Books. If Books is not shown, scroll through the app row, tap More, and select Books.
5. Find the book later. Open Apple Books and tap Library. EPUB files normally appear under Books; PDFs appear under PDFs or in the Library.

Send the same file to a Kindle instead

Install the Kindle app, sign in, then share the downloaded file to Kindle. After Amazon processes it, sync the Kindle e-reader or Kindle app.

If Books is missing from the share menu

• Confirm that the Apple Books app is installed.
• Save the file to Files first, then share it from the Files app.
• Tap More in the share menu and add Books to your available apps.

Android Phones and Tablets

Upload to Google Play Books

1. Install and open Play Books. Sign in to the Google account you want to use.
2. Enable PDF uploading if needed. Tap your profile picture, choose Play Books settings, and turn on Enable PDF uploading. This setting is not normally required for EPUB files.
3. Download the ebook. Open Files, My Files, or Downloads after the download finishes.
4. Open it with Play Books. Tap the file or its menu, choose Open with, then select Play Books or Upload to Play Books.
5. Find it later. In Play Books, open Library and then Uploads.

Other Android reading apps

Many Android devices also support EPUB readers such as the device maker's reading app. Use Open with and choose the app you prefer. For PDF files, you may use Play Books, Google Drive, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or another PDF reader.

Send the file to Kindle from Android

Install and sign in to the Kindle app. In Files or Downloads, select the EPUB or PDF, tap Share, choose Kindle, and send it to your Kindle library.

Kobo E‑Readers

Copy an ebook to Kobo with USB

1. Connect the Kobo. Use a USB cable that supports data, not a charge-only cable. Tap Connect on the Kobo screen if asked.
2. Open the Kobo drive. On Windows, open File Explorer and choose the Kobo drive. On a Mac, open Finder and select the Kobo under Locations.
3. Copy the ebook. Drag the EPUB or PDF onto the Kobo drive. You may place it in the main directory or a folder you use for books.
4. Eject safely. Use Eject in Windows or Finder before unplugging the cable.
5. Wait for import. The Kobo will process new content. Open My Books to find it.

Kobo notes

• PDF pages do not reflow like EPUB text, so reading may require zooming and panning.
• Some Kobo models offer Dropbox or Google Drive import. Availability and menu names vary by model and software version.

Nook E‑Readers and Tablets

Connect the Nook to a computer, open the Nook drive, and copy the file into Books, Documents, or My Files. Safely eject the device, then look in the Nook Library or My Files area. Exact folder names vary by model.

Other E‑Readers

Most e-readers that support EPUB and PDF files use the same basic USB process. This includes many PocketBook, BOOX, reMarkable, and Android-based e-ink devices, although menus and supported features vary.

General USB method

1. Check compatibility. Confirm that your model supports EPUB or PDF. If it is a Kindle, use Send to Kindle for EPUB instead.
2. Connect with a data cable. Unlock the e-reader and approve file transfer or USB storage mode if prompted.
3. Open the device on the computer. Use File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. Some Android-based devices may require a file-transfer utility on Mac.
4. Copy the file. Place it in Books, Documents, Digital Editions, or the folder recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Eject and refresh. Safely eject the device, disconnect it, and open or refresh its library.

Using a reading app instead

If your e-reader runs Android, you may be able to install Kindle, Google Play Books, Kobo, or another reader from its app store. Download the ebook, tap Open with, and select the reading app.

Troubleshooting

Quick success check

• The ebook appears in the reading app or device library.
• You can close the book and find it again without using the original download link.
• You can change text size in an EPUB, or zoom a PDF.

Official Help Links

Menus can change after an app or device update. If your screen looks different, use the official help page for the latest model-specific instructions.

• Amazon Send to Kindle
• Amazon Manage Your Content and Devices
• Apple Support for saving and reading PDFs in Books
• Google Play Help for uploading EPUB and PDF files
• Kobo Help for adding EPUB and PDF files
• Barnes and Noble Nook Support

A final note

Device names, menu labels, file-size limits, and supported cloud services may change. If a step does not match your screen, search the manufacturer's official help site for your exact device model and the words add EPUB or add PDF.