To send a PDF to your Kindle, go to amazon.com/sendtokindle, sign in, drag the PDF in and click Send. You can also email it to your Kindle's own Send to Kindle address from an approved email, or use the Send to Kindle app. The PDF arrives in your library once your Kindle connects to Wi-Fi.
A Kindle is a lovely way to read long reports, manuals and drafts without staring at a laptop. Getting the PDF onto it takes a minute once you know the three routes: a website upload, an email, or the Send to Kindle app. Each has its own limits, and there's one kind of PDF that won't go at all. Here's how to send a PDF, or a book file, without the usual head-scratching.
Three ways to send a PDF
| Method | Best for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Send to Kindle website | One-off files from any computer | Files of 200 MB or smaller |
| Email to your Kindle address | Sending from your phone or inbox | Up to 25 attachments, 50 MB per email |
| Send to Kindle app on Windows or Mac | Right-click sending, lots of files | Same file types |
| USB cable | No internet, or big batches | Not saved to your Amazon cloud |
Send a PDF from the website
- Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle and sign in with the Amazon account your Kindle uses.
- Drag your PDF into the box, or click to choose it.
- Click Send.
- Turn on Wi-Fi on your Kindle and open the library. The PDF appears there shortly.
This is the easiest route for most people, and Amazon accepts files up to 200 MB this way, which covers almost any document.
Send a PDF by email
- Find your Kindle's email address: on Amazon go to Manage Your Content and Devices, then Preferences, then Personal Document Settings. Each Kindle and Kindle app has its own address.
- In the same section, add your own email address to the Approved Personal Document E-mail List. Amazon only accepts files from approved senders, up to 15 of them.
- Email the PDF as an attachment to the Kindle address. You can leave the subject blank.
- Keep each email to 50 MB or less, with no more than 25 attachments.
If you've got lots of files, Amazon suggests zipping them into one compressed folder and emailing that.
PDF or converted text?
A PDF arrives looking exactly like the original page, which is great for forms, diagrams and design-heavy documents but can mean small text on a small screen. If the PDF is mostly words, consider sending a Word document or EPUB instead, which flows to fit the screen and lets you change the font size. Send to Kindle accepts both, along with HTML, RTF and plain text files, and images.
The PDF that won't send
Amazon says Send to Kindle doesn't support password-protected or encrypted files. If your PDF opens with a password, it won't go. Remove the password first in the program that made it, or ask the sender for an unprotected copy, then send that. My guide to uploading a PDF to ChatGPT hits the same wall with protected files, for the same reason.
Sending book files: EPUB and Word
The same steps work for EPUB books you've got from places other than Amazon, such as free classics or a draft from an author friend. EPUB is the best format for a book because it converts cleanly. If a book comes in several formats, pick EPUB for the Kindle.
Sending by USB instead
Plug your Kindle into a computer with its cable, open it like a USB drive, and copy the PDF into the documents folder. It's quick, but Amazon is clear that files sent over USB aren't saved in your Amazon cloud. If you remove one from the Kindle later, it's gone, and it won't sync to your Kindle app on your phone either. For most people the website or email is the better choice.
Send from your phone
On a phone, the Kindle app's share option is the quickest route. Open the PDF in your files app or email, tap Share, and choose Kindle from the list of apps. Pick the device to send to and confirm. The file goes to your Kindle library the same way as a website upload, so it'll be waiting on your Kindle and in the Kindle app on the phone. If Kindle doesn't show in the share list, scroll to the end and tap More to add it.
If the PDF doesn't appear
- Check the Kindle is on Wi-Fi and use Sync in the menu.
- Make sure you sent it to the right Kindle's address; each device has its own.
- Check you emailed from an approved address.
- Look in the Documents section of your library, not Books.
- Check the file isn't password protected, and is within the size limit.
If you're reading drafts of your own writing on your Kindle, my book writing prompts pair nicely with a quiet editing session away from the laptop.
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My verdict
Use amazon.com/sendtokindle for most PDFs: drag, drop, send. Set up your Kindle email address and approved senders once if you'd rather send from your phone or inbox. Strip any password before sending, and use Word or EPUB instead of PDF when the document is mostly text, because it'll be far easier to read on a small screen.
If that raises the next question, see How to Send a Fax From Email: Address Format and Steps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a PDF to my Kindle?
Upload it at amazon.com/sendtokindle, email it to your Kindle address, or use the Send to Kindle app.
What is the file size limit for Send to Kindle?
Up to 200 MB on the website, and 50 MB per email.
Why won't my PDF send to Kindle?
Password-protected or encrypted PDFs aren't supported, and email must come from an approved address.
Where do I find my Kindle email address?
In Manage Your Content and Devices, Preferences, Personal Document Settings.
Can I send EPUB books to Kindle?
Yes. Send to Kindle accepts EPUB files.
Are PDFs sent by USB saved to the cloud?
No. USB files stay on that Kindle only.
