Add a PDF to a Kindle

Your Kindle can be a great tool for your personal or professional life. While the primary function is as an ebook reader, some Kindles can play .mp3s, be used to read local e-newspapers, and even be used to read a wide variety of documents. The PDF is currently one of the most popular read-only file formats. Getting a PDF onto your Kindle isn’t too hard by either connecting it to your computer via USB, or emailing the document to your Kindle’s personalized email address.

Steps

Adding a PDF Via USB

  1. Convert the desired document into a PDF. If the file you wish to read is a document you’ve written or received, or other format that Kindle can’t read, convert the file to a PDF. Certain files can easily be converted to PDFs depending on what the original file is, such as a .jpg pf .png. However, word documents require a bit more work.
    • Open the document you wish to convert to a PDF. On a Mac go to the ‘’’File’’’ menu and click on ‘’’Save As’’’ in the drop down menu. You should see a ‘’’Format’’’ section with a drop down menu. Click PDF, then ‘’’Save’’’. If PDF is not an available format, you may need to install a PDF conversion software or use an online converter service.
    • On a PC, in your word document, click ‘’’File’’’, then ‘’’Save As’’’. Under the “File Types” section you will see a “Create PDF/XPS Document” option. You will then have the option to save the file type as a PDF.
    • You can also try going to the ‘’’Print’’’ menu in a document or on a webpage to convert or save your file as a PDF. Go to the ‘’’File’’’ menu, click ‘’’Print’’’. Then, in the print menu, you should have the option to save the document as a PDF instead of printing it. Other applications, like photo viewers or editors will give you the option to export your document as a PDF under File, Export as PDF.
    • Additionally, there are a number of programs or web services that will convert your PDF to a native .mobi format for easier reading like Calibre, or PDF4Kindle.[1]
  2. Connect your Kindle to your computer. Once you have your PDF ready to be transferred, it’s time to plug your Kindle into your USB drive. Do this using the Kindle's standard USB cord. Make sure that your Kindle is turned on.[2]
    • Not all USB cords will effectively connect your Kindle to your computer allowing you to transfer files. Some cords only charge the device. For this reason, it’s always advisable to use the cord that came with your device.[3]
    • Sometimes, you may have to install separate software to connect your Kindle to your computer, especially if you are using the Kindle Fire. If you are on Mac OS X 10.5 and above, it is recommended that you use the Android File Transfer application.[4]
    • For Windows, it is recommended that you have at least Windows Media Player 11 installed.[5]
  3. Locate your Kindle folder on your computer. Once your Kindle is successfully connected to your computer, open your Kindle drive. You can find the Kindle drive in the same place your external USB drives appear.
    • On a Mac, this is typically right on the desktop. If not, open your ‘’’Finder’’’ and locate the Kindle drive from the left panel.
    • On a PC, if you don’t find your Kindle drive on your desktop, you can find it in the ‘’’Computer’’’, ‘’’My Computer folder’’’.
  4. Open your Kindle’s files. Right now your Kindle is acting like an external hard drive storing information such as your books, music, and any other files you may have.
    • Depending on which model you have, you will see a number of different folders and files. You want to locate your ‘’’Documents’’’ folder.
  5. Open the ‘’’Documents’’’ folder. This will bring you to where all your e-reading material is stored. You may see several folders within this folder and a couple different file types. You don’t need to click on anything once inside your document folder.
    • The standard file type for a Kindle e-book is either .mobi or .azw, but your Kindle will accept a variety of file types, like PDF.
  6. Locate the PDF you wish to transfer. Your PDF should be stored on your desktop if you moved it, or in whichever folder you sent it to when you converted the file to PDF, like your ‘’’Documents’’’ folder. Click on the PDF file to select it. Now drag the file into your Kindle Documents folder. The PDF will now automatically sync with your Kindle. Close the ‘’’Documents’’’ folder.
    • You can also choose to right click on the PDF file and click ‘’’Make a Copy’’’. Then go back to your Kindle’s documents folder, right click inside the folder, and click ‘’’Paste’’’.
  7. Disconnect your Kindle. If using a Mac, simply click the Kindle icon and drag it to the trash. If using a PC, click on the ‘’’Safely Remove Hardware’’’ icon, and select ‘’’Eject Amazon Kindle’’’. You may now disconnect the device from your computer.
  8. Unlock your device. Each Kindle unlocks a little differently, so follow the unlocking instructions to get to your home screen. Your recently converted PDF will appear in your documents or books list.
    • If you have both cloud storage and local storage on your Kindle, make sure that you are viewing the ‘’’On Device’’’ section of your Kindle.
    • Simply click on or tap the screen to launch your PDF and enjoy.

Adding a PDF Via Email

  1. Locate your Send-to-Kindle email. This is a specific Kindle email address that is attached to each Kindle device or app. You can find your Kindle email address by visiting the ‘’’Manage your Devices’’’ page from your Amazon profile.[6]
    • Login to your Amazon.com account. From there, click on the ‘’’Your Account’’’ button from the toolbar at towards the top of the page.
    • Scroll down the page until you see the ‘’’Digital Content’’’ section. Click on the ‘’’Manage Your Content and Devices’’’ link.
    • Now, you’ll see three tabs towards the top of the page. ‘’’Your Content’’’, ‘’’Your Devices’’’, and ‘’’Settings’’’. Click on the ‘’’Your Devices’’’ Tab.
    • Locate your Kindle and click on it. From there you’ll see some information. Your Kindle email will be displayed along with the type of Kindle you own, and the serial number.
  2. Add a personal approved email to your account. In order to send emails to your Kindle and receive your files effectively, you need to make sure that the email you’re sending your PDF from is approved.
    • Navigate to the ‘’’Personal Document Settings’’’ page from your ‘’’Manage your Kindle Page’’’.
    • From the same page where you viewed your ‘’’Send-to-Kindle’’’ email, click on the third tab at the right, the ‘’’Settings’’’ tab.
    • In the settings tab from the ‘’’Manage Your Content and Devices’’’ page, scroll all the way toward the bottom of the page until you see the ‘’’Approved Personal Document E-mail List’’’ section.
    • Here you can see which email addresses you have already approved, and add a new email address if you wish.
  3. Send your PDF as in an email. Now, simply open your email and address an new email to your Send-to-Kindle email address. Click the paperclip icon on your email to attach a file and locate your PDF.
    • If you want to automatically convert your PDF to Amazon’s .azw file type for better integration, type “convert” into the subject line.
    • You don’t need to include anything else in your email.
    • Make sure that the email you are sending your PDF from is on your approved list.

Adding a PDF Via Dropbox and BookDrop

  1. Use BookDrop. BookDrop is a way to connect your Dropbox to your Amazon Kindle Account. Go to getbookdrop.com to begin connecting your Dropbox and Kindle. [7]
    • BookDrop is a free third-party service. It will ask you to log into your Dropbox account and authorize BookDrop with Amazon like you did with your email.
    • Bookdrop works with any Kindle device or mobile Kindle app. This means that it will work on tablets with a Kindle application as well.
  2. Click to login with Dropbox. Once on the site, you will see a large button that asks you to login with your Dropbox account. Click the button and you’ll be taken to your Dropbox account. This web app creates a way to add books to your Dropbox/Apps/book-drop folder, which is created once you sign in. [8]
    • Once you’ve authorized the service through your Amazon account, you’ll be able to drop PDF files into this folder. The files will be transferred to your Kindle automatically.
    • In addition to PDFs, BookDrop can send other file formats both native and non-native to Amazon. You can transfer .epub, .cbr, and .cbz as well. However, these file types will vary in quality as none of these are officially supported on your Kindle.
  3. Click the next button to "Activate BookDrop". Upon clicking this button, you will see an area of text asking you to drag the bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar.
    • There will also be a blue arrow directing you to drag the button into your bookmark bar.
    • Click and hold the button and drag it up into your bookmarks bar.
  4. Visit your Manage Content and Devices page on your Amazon account. Once you drag the button into your bookmarks bar you’ll see a third step appear. Click the link to go to your Amazon page.
    • You may be asked to login into Amazon. Enter your username and password to sign in. You will be automatically taken to your Manage Your Content and Devices page.
  5. Click on your “Activate BookDrop bookmark. While on your Manage Your Content and Devices page, go to your bookmarks list and click on the “Activate Bookdrop” bookmark.
    • While still on your Amazon page you’ll see a BookDrop popup. It will have a list of your devices.
    • Click on the device you wish to connect. Then click the blue “Activate BookDrop” button in the lower right corner.
    • Once you activate BookDrop you’ll have a sample PDF. You can find this PDF in your Dropbox/Apps/book-drop folder and on your Kindle.
  6. Add your own PDF. To add your own PDF to your Kindle, go to your Dropbox account. Find your Dropbox/Apps/book-drop folder. Click the upload file icon, choose your PDF, and click “OK”.
    • Once your PDF has uploaded, click “Done”.
    • Make sure your Kindle is connected to Wi-Fi.
    • Locate your PDF file on your Kindle in your “On Device” section. It may take a few minutes for your PDF to show up.

Tips

  • PDFs don't always display well on a Kindle, especially if they contain a large amount of pure text. You may want to convert it to an eBook format instead.
  • If your Kindle isn’t connecting to your computer via USB, try restarting your computer and you Kindle. If restarting doesn’t work, try a different USB cord.
  • Always properly eject your Kindle from your computer before unplugging the Kindle to ensure that you don’t corrupt, or lose any files.
  • If neither of these solutions work for you, you can try certain third-party apps like BookDrop. BookDrop allows you to automatically email Kindle files from a Dropbox folder to your Kindle.[7]

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/pdf4kindle-converts-pdf-files-to-native-kindle-books-762908817
  2. ↑ http://smile.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201733700
  3. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201735880
  4. ↑ https://www.android.com/filetransfer/
  5. ↑ http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8163
  6. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/email
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://getbookdrop.com/
  8. ↑ https://getbookdrop.com/about
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