How To Read PDF Documents On Kindle

Reading eBooks on a Kindle is a popular pastime, but many users face issues when they try to read a PDF document. This is because they are clueless about how to read PDF documents on Kindle. If you were wondering how to open PDFs on Kindle, read this guide. 

How To Send A PDF To Your Kindle

Kindle Devices support PDF format, but not to the fullest extent. There are certain limitations like – 

• The PDFs can be zoomed, and users can see an enlarged view, which does not adjust the text flow.
• The page cannot be turned while the PDF is in zoom mode.

Currently, no apps are available to optimize PDFs for Kindle. You can transfer PDFs to Kindle and read them in the existing format or convert them into Epub, Mobi, or AWZ3. Here are five different methods that facilitate transferring PDFs to Kindle devices.

Method 1: Send PDFs Using Email

The first method is to send PDFs via the Kindle Email Account. The Amazon Kindle team recommends this method. Here is what you need to do:

1. Turn on your Kindle device.
2. Go to the “Settings” menu and select “Your Account.” Your Kindle account’s custom email address is listed under “Send-to-Kindle E-mail.”
3. Find the PDF file you want to convert on your computer or phone.
4. Email the PDF as an attachment to your Kindle email address, including the word “convert” in the subject line to initiate the conversion process.
5. After a moment, sync your Kindle device. The converted PDF will show up in your Kindle library.
6. Tap on it to download and read PDFs on Kindle.

Method 2: Send PDFs Using Cable

For most of you, the best way to read PDFs on Kindle is to send them to your Kindle by connecting your Kindle to your PC with a cable. 

1. Connect your Kindle with your PC.
2. Next, open the Kindle drive on your computer using Windows File Explorer (W + E).
3. Navigate to the Documents folder on your Kindle device.
4. Copy and paste all the PDFs you want to read from your PC to the Documents folder.
5. Disconnect the Kindle, and you will find that the PDFs have been added to your reading list.

Method 3: Send PDFs Using the App

Amazon Kindle provides a desktop application called Send-to-Kindle, which allows users to upload PDF files and other supported formats to their Kindle devices across multiple platforms. This free “View PDFs on Kindle” app is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.

1. Download the Send-to-Kindle app from Amazon, install it, and launch the program on your computer.
2. Log in to your Amazon account.
3. Drag and drop your PDFs into the app.
4. Click “Send” and after a few minutes, you’ll find the PDF in your Personal Documents Library.

Method 4: Download PDFs Using Browser

The Kindle is a book reading table and includes a browser app. While it may not be as fully featured as mainstream browsers, the Kindle’s browser can still allow you to view PDFs on Kindle.

1. Tap the Menu icon on the Home screen and select the “Experimental Browser” option.
2. Enter the URL of your PDF in the address bar.
3. You can then read the PDF directly within the Kindle browser.

Method 5: Download PDFs using Dropbox

Kindle supports useful apps like Dropbox. Many users find Dropbox invaluable as it provides a centralized location for storing and syncing files efficiently. If you have a Dropbox account, you can easily read PDFs stored in Dropbox on your Kindle.

1. First, open Dropbox on any device and save the PDF you want to read on your Kindle.
2. Then, access Dropbox on your Kindle and tap “Export.”
3. Choose “Save to SD Card” and locate the PDF file you want to add to your Kindle.
4. Finally, tap “Export.”

Bonus: Why Are Some PDFs Not Compatible With Kindle?

Believe it or not, your Kindle is not designed to read PDFs in an optimized state. Hence the PDFs you import or download on your Kindle may open as Static images. You can zoom in or out and scroll them too, but that is not good enough for reading purposes. A PDF on Kindle defeats the purpose of why Kindle was designed. This happens mainly because of two reasons:

• PDF files lack the necessary information to reflow content effectively. This is why PDFs do not automatically adjust for reading on the Kindle—you can’t modify the layout, font size, line spacing, or other formatting options.
• PDFs are rich in various elements. Alongside plain text, they often include tables, images, and other multimedia components. However, the Kindle struggles to render these elements properly, particularly images.

What Should I Do If The PDF Is Not Compatible With Kindle

If you are facing issues with reading PDFs on your Kindle, we recommend that you convert PDFs for Kindle in supporting formats like Mobi, Epub, or AZW. There are many online apps that allow Converting PDFs for Kindle. We have mentioned the ones that we have tried and tested personally for our Kindle device.

Convert PDF to AZW Format

Step 1: Navigate to the Online Converter website on any browser on your PC. ( Paste this URL in your browser – https://www.onlineconverter.com/pdf-to-azw)
Step 2: Click on the Choose File button.

Step 3: Select the PDF file from your PC.
Step 4: Click on the Convert button.
Step 5: Wait for the process to complete.

Step 6: Click on the Download Now button and the file will be downloaded in your default Downloads folder.

Note: To send the converted AZW file to your Kindle you can use the above-explained methods using a cable, dropbox, or email.

Convert PDF To Mobi Format

Step 1: Open the Convertio website on your browser by visiting here – https://convertio.co/pdf-mobi/
Step 2: Click the Choose Files button and select the PDF you wish to convert.

Step 3: Click on the Convert button.
Step 4: Wait for the conversion process to complete.

Step 5: Click on the Download button and the PDF-converted Mobi file will be available in your Downloads folder.

Convert PDF To Epub

Step 1: Click on this link to open PDF24 Tools on your browser.
Step 2: Click on the Choose Files button and select the PDF file you wish to convert.Step 3: Click on the Convert button.
Step 4: Wait for the process to complete.Step 5: Click on the Download button.

Editor’s Tip: Use Systweak PDF Editor To Manage Your PDFs PDF is a common document-sharing format; you may receive/download PDF daily. You can open these PDFs on your PC or mobile device or send them on your Kindle. If you wish to modify and manage these PDFs before sending them to your Kindle via email or cable or converting them into a different format, use Systweak PDF Editor. Systweak PDF Editor is a complete PDF solution with which users can edit, annotate, rotate, split, merge, apply passwords, digital sign, etc on their PDFs and customize them according to their needs. Once the users have made the changes on their PDFs, they can simply convert the PDF to Epub format using Systweak PDF Editor and share them on the Kindle email. This tool reduces the need for using multiple tools for managing PDF files and all this can be done offline on your PC.

Also Read: How to Edit PDFs that are Read-only

Read PDFs On Your Kindle

We have explained different methods to send your PDFs to your Kindle via Email, Cable, Dropbox, Download in Browser, and Send-To-Kindle app. You can try all methods and use the one that suits your needs. You may not be able to optimize PDFs for Kindle but you can convert them to AZW, Mobi, or Epub using the free online web tools explained above and then send them to your Kindle. Finally, if you wish to make changes to the PDF file before sending it to your Kindle or converting it then we recommend using Systweak PDF Editor tool for this purpose. Do share your choice of method and why you choose it in the comments section below.