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For a Kindle Store book, deliver it from the Amazon account that bought it. For a personal PDF, EPUB, or other document, use Amazon’s Send to Kindle service for wireless transfer, or copy it over USB. The right steps depend on the file and, for USB transfers from a Mac, your Paperwhite’s release date.
Choose the right transfer method
| What you’re transferring | Recommended route | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| A book purchased from the Kindle Store | Deliver it through your Amazon account | Choose the registered Paperwhite as the delivery device. Amazon’s [manual delivery instructions] cover this account-based method. |
| A personal file, such as a PDF or EPUB | Send to Kindle | Wireless delivery supports specified formats up to 200 MB per file. See Amazon’s [file transfer and format guidance]. |
| A personal file you want to copy directly from a computer | USB | Use the Kindle’s Documents folder. Mac instructions vary for Kindle Scribe and Kindle devices released in 2024 or later; see [Amazon’s USB instructions]. |
Deliver a Kindle Store purchase to your Paperwhite
- Sign in to the Amazon account used to purchase the book.
- Open Manage Your Content and Devices and go to the Books list.
- Find the title, choose “Deliver or Remove from Device,” select your registered Kindle Paperwhite, and apply the change.
The Paperwhite must be registered to that account. The book is delivered through Amazon; it is not a personal file to copy into the Documents folder. Store-book rights restrictions are separate from personal-document transfer: Send to Kindle is not a way to bypass restrictions on a purchased book. Amazon explains those restrictions in its [Kindle Direct Publishing DRM guidance].
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Send a personal document wirelessly
Amazon recommends Send to Kindle for personal documents and says sending them to your Kindle library and devices costs nothing extra. Use Amazon’s Send to Kindle page for the current upload controls; the interface can vary by method and may change.
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Amazon lists these Send to Kindle file types: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, and EPUB. The maximum is 200 MB per file. A format being supported does not guarantee identical layout or reading features across documents and devices.
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- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
Check the Paperwhite after sending
After upload, allow the document to arrive on the Paperwhite, then open the library and download it if it is not already on the device. The service is a wireless alternative to connecting a cable, not a method for changing the rights on a Kindle Store book.
Transfer files with a USB cable
Amazon’s directions differ by computer operating system. Connect the Paperwhite with a USB data cable that works with both the reader and computer; Amazon’s cited instructions do not list connector types for every Paperwhite generation, so check your model and cable before buying an accessory.
Rank #2
- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
On Windows
- Connect the Kindle to the computer and open the device’s storage when it appears.
- Copy your file into the Kindle’s Documents folder.
- Eject the Kindle safely before disconnecting it, then check the library on the reader.
Amazon says the full file path must not exceed 256 characters.
On a Mac
- Connect the Kindle and open the USB File Manager in the Send to Kindle app if your model requires it.
- Drag files to or from the device’s Documents folder.
- Eject the reader safely before unplugging it.
Amazon specifies that Kindle Scribe and Kindle devices released in 2024 or later require a separate app for USB file transfers on Mac. Models released before 2024, except Kindle Scribe, do not require it. Amazon’s cited page does not provide a Paperwhite-by-generation connector matrix, so confirm your model’s requirements rather than assuming a port or cable type.
Rank #3
- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
USB transfer limits
- The USB File Manager does not support drag-and-drop transfers of more than 2,000 files at a time.
- For Windows, keep the full file path at or below 256 characters.
Troubleshoot a document that will not convert or display properly
Send to Kindle may need to convert a personal document for Kindle reading. Amazon’s [conversion tips] identify several document-specific causes of failure:
- Password protection or security settings: remove them before sending the file.
- Word ink drawings: delete ink drawings that can cause conversion errors.
- Large or complex tables: simplify the tables if conversion fails or the result is difficult to read.
- Language support: check that the document’s language meets Amazon’s supported-language requirements.
For a file that transfers but looks different from the original, check the document itself and the reading device rather than assuming every file type preserves the same page layout.
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- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Adapts to your surroundings – The auto-adjusting front light lets you read in the brightest sunlight or late into the night.
Know what to expect from notes and highlights
Amazon’s personal-document notes guidance distinguishes supported document types and Kindle devices. It says other Kindle e-readers can use highlights and text notes with the listed personal-document types imported through Send to Kindle. The available actions and presentation depend on the document format and device, so do not assume that every file will support the same annotation experience.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
