Here’s an interesting detail that just turned up at MobileRead. You can now send ePub ebooks by email to Kindle ereaders and Kindle apps.
Amazon even has ePub listed as a supported format now for the Kindle Personal Documents Service, and there’s a note saying the Send-to-Kindle applications will also support ePub starting in late 2022.
I just tried sending a DRM-free ePub ebook to my Kindle Paperwhite and it worked. It gets treated as a typical personal document so there is no cover image, and the file is no longer in ePub format once it reaches a Kindle since Amazon converts it to Kindle format (AZW3).
The ability to send ePubs to Kindles has unofficially been supported for years, but you had to change the file extension to .png before sending. This just makes it easier and removes a step.
Even if it’s only through conversion, Amazon adding support for ePub is a smart move. Maybe it could be a sign that some new features will be coming to personal documents on Kindles later this year as well (there’s also a note on that page saying they’re going to drop support for sending MOBI files later in 2022 because the format won’t support any newer features).
How to Send ePubs to Kindles
If you want to send an ePub ebook to your Kindle, just attach the ebook file to an email and send it to your Kindle’s unique email address that’s listed in the settings menu.
You can find your Kindle’s email address by going to Settings > Your Account > Send-to-Kindle Email.
You can also find your Kindle’s email address on the Your Devices page at Amazon.
You can send ePubs to Kindle apps too, not just Kindle ereaders. Those also have a unique email address shown in settings and on the devices page at Amazon.
It’s important to note the ePub files have to be DRM-free, of course. It’s not going to work with Adobe ePubs or any protected files.
See the Kindle Personal Documents Service page to learn more about sending personal documents and files to your Kindle library.
This sounds great. I previously used the rename to .txt trick to send epubs. Glad to see that I can send my books directly and that they will automatically be converted to azw3.
What I really want to see, however, is Amazon delivering my personal documents in kfx format so they work with all the format’s features.
I wonder if they will start doing that later this year. At the very least they should add support for showing book covers. The generic personal document covers are annoying.
I used the rename to .png trick a lot. It’s not that I can’t do the conversion, but it was an extra annoyance, since my ebook library is primarily ePub. But there are definitely times when I want a particular book on both my Kindle and Kobo and the trick worked, so….
Yes, I also hate the generic personal document covers. I’m not expecting they’ll change that, though it would delight me if they did!
I bet they keep azw3 for personal documents though. Otherwise, they open the door for people to buy ebooks from competitors and still get the same features. Again, I’d be delighted to be proved wrong!
I wish library PDF books could open on kindle.
About. Frickin’. Time.
What does DRM free mean?
Without DRM.
Without copyright protection.
DRM-free ebooks are free from restrictions so they aren’t locked into one system like Amazon or Apple. See here: The eBook DRM Guide.
I used it and its working!
What are the benefits or advantageous of using the Amazon service to convert epubs to azw3 versus using Calibre?
Thanks!
Convenience, for one. Also having it added to your Kindle account for syncing and backup.
On a similar note, would you consider doing a review of the service called BookFusion? They have an app and a Calibre add-in that may make it easier to sideload books on the fly.
I posted the question here because I’m not aware of a way to contact you. 🙂
Sorry, I don’t review apps. There’s just not much value in it considering anyone can try it themselves for free.
Maybe just the Calibre add-in?
The thing is I stopped using Calibre years ago. I don’t like all the extra steps and hassle of managing an ebook library. It serves no purpose for me, and since I use multiple devices I have no need to convert formats.
Best news for a lot of time! It works nicely! Android’s and iOS’ apps show mini covers! Best regards from Brazil Nathan!
I don’t get why they show covers in the apps but not on Kindles. Come on, Amazon!
Completely agree with this! It would make it such a nicer experience!