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Answer

Can a Kindle read EPUB files?

Updated:

Yes, through Amazon's Send to Kindle service: it accepts EPUB files and converts them so they appear in your Kindle library, but a Kindle does not open an EPUB copied straight onto it by USB. Amazon's help page lists EPUB among the supported formats and allows documents up to 200 MB through Send to Kindle for Web.

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Ways to send an EPUB to a Kindle

  • Send to Kindle for Web: upload the file from a browser, up to 200 MB per document (Amazon Help, read 2026-11-04).
  • Email: attach the EPUB to your personal Send to Kindle address, from an approved sender. Amazon allows up to 25 attachments and 50 MB in total per email.
  • The Kindle app for iOS and Android, and the Send to Kindle desktop apps for Mac and Windows.

What happens to the file

Amazon converts the EPUB to its own Kindle format and stores the result in your library, so it downloads to every Kindle device and app on your account. Amazon announced EPUB support for Send to Kindle in 2022; the current list of supported formats includes EPUB, PDF, Word, HTML, text and common image types, and no longer lists MOBI.

Because the file is converted again on Amazon's side, a clean EPUB matters. An EPUB with broken structure can be rejected or come out with formatting problems. Checking it with EPUBCheck before sending is a good habit when something goes wrong.

Sending a PDF instead

Send to Kindle also takes PDFs, but a PDF stays a fixed page: on a 6-inch Kindle the text is tiny and you zoom and pan. Converting the PDF to a reflowable EPUB first gives you a book that adapts to the Kindle's screen and your font size.

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FAQ

Can a Kindle read EPUB files?

Yes, through Amazon's Send to Kindle service: it accepts EPUB files and converts them so they appear in your Kindle library, but a Kindle does not open an EPUB copied straight onto it by USB. Amazon's help page lists EPUB among the supported formats and allows documents up to 200 MB through Send to Kindle for Web.

Do I need to convert an EPUB to MOBI or AZW3 for my Kindle?

No. Send to Kindle takes the EPUB and does the conversion for you. Amazon's supported-format list no longer includes MOBI.

Why was my EPUB rejected by Send to Kindle?

Amazon's error list includes unsupported formats, password-protected or encrypted files and corrupted files. If the file is not protected, run the EPUB through EPUBCheck to find structural errors.

Will the book sync between my Kindle and the phone app?

Yes, when "Add to your library" is on: Amazon then keeps the document in your Kindle library, and it can be downloaded to any device linked to your account.