Kindle-Compatible File Formats
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Load Books Directly Over USB
The Kindle is mostly designed for Wi-Fi management of its files, but you can also load them directly onto it like any USB drive. Plug your Kindle into your PC with a compatible USB cable (most use microUSB), then copy and paste your DRM-free files into the “Documents” folder on the device. If they’re in the correct format, they’ll appear in on your Kindle’s library when you unplug it.
There are three different ways to send files to your Kindle once the installation is setup: you can open the program manually, then drag and drop one or more files into the interface. You’ll then be able to send the files to specific Kindle devices (eReaders, mobile phones with the Kindle App installed, et cetera). The books will download to your selected devices the next time they’re synced to the network.
You can achieve the same thing by right-clicking the files and selecting “Send to Kindle…”
…or by choosing “Send to Kindle” from the Print command of compatible apps.
Send Books Using Your Email Client
The email address for this specific device or app is shown. You can click the “edit” button to change the @kindle.com address to something more memorable.
Now switch over to your preferred email client. I’m using Gmail on the web, but any standard email system on any device should work, so long as it allows you to attach files. Create a new email, pop in the address, and attach your documents or files.
Organize, Convert, and Transfer Books Using Calibre
RELATED: How To Organize Your Ebook Collection with Calibre
We’ve covered Calibre before: it’s an excellent third-party suite for creating and managing ebooks. Here’s an exhaustive look at everything you can do with the program, but if all you want is to get books onto a Kindle (which Calibre can do automatically with file conversion and transfer), follow these simple steps.
From the main interface, click “Add books,” then navigate to the folder and file you want to send and select it. Plug in your Kindle to your PC, then right-click the book file in Calibre and click “send to device,” then “Send to main memory.” The file will be moved to your Kindle, and if necessary, converted to a compatible file format at the same time.
The converstion, in particular, is what makes Calibre so useful, even if you don’t use it as an organization too. A lot of DRM-free books come in EPUB format, which Kindles don’t support. Calibre allows you to convert them to the similar, but Kindle-friendly AZW3 format, allowing you to get nearly any book on your Kindle.
