Transferring, Downloading, and Sending Files to Kindle Keyboard

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Learn more about transferring Kindle content via USB.

Transferring Files to a New Kindle

If you already own a Kindle and Kindle content, you can  download content to your new Kindle. Download your books and personal  documents, directly from your new Kindle wirelessly and transfer subscriptions  from the Manage Your Kindle page. Transfer personal documents, and MP3 and Audible files from your computer  to your new Kindle Keyboard via USB.

Downloading Archived Items From Kindle

Kindle displays the items you've downloaded on the Home screen. If you have Kindle content or personal documents stored in your Kindle Library  that aren't displayed, you can download them from Archived Items when your  Kindle's wireless connection is turned on. Your purchases are also available  for download on the Manage  Your Kindle page. Additional information is available on the Your  Kindle Library Content Help page.

To download archived items:

1. Select Archived Items" from the Home screen or "View Archived Items from the menu.
2. Select the item from the Archived Items screen.

Transferring Periodical Subscriptions

To transfer a periodical subscription for delivery of future issues from one Kindle to another, follow these steps:

1. From your computer's Web browser, go to the Manage Your Kindle page.
2. Scroll down to the section entitled "Your Active Kindle subscriptions".
3. Under "Deliver future editions," select the Kindle to which you would like the subscription to be transferred, and then select "Save."
4. Upon publication of the next issue, the periodical will appear in the designated Kindle.

Downloading Archived Items Without a Wireless Connection

If you are travelling outside a Free 3G area and/or do not have access to Wi-Fi, you can still download your Kindle content archived on Amazon.co.uk to your computer and transfer it via USB to your Kindle.

To download items Archived on Amazon.co.uk to your computer:

1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.
2. You'll see your Kindle library. To the right of the book title you want to transfer to your Kindle, click "Actions".
3. You may be prompted to open or save the file; choose "Save" and select a location that is easy to find again, such as the desktop.
4. Select the Kindle your wish to transfer the file to and click the "Download to computer" button.
5. Once the file has been saved, connect your Kindle Keyboard to your computer using the USB cable. Plug the larger end of the USB cable into an available USB port or a powered USB hub connected to your computer, and the smaller end into your Kindle.
6. Follow the instructions in the Transferring Files Via USB section below to place the file on your Kindle.

Transferring Files Via USB

Watch this video to learn how to transfer content to your Kindle.

System Requirements

• Windows-based: Windows 2000 or later.
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.2 or later.
• USB port: An available port or an attached USB hub with an available port.

Making the Connection

The illustration below shows a Kindle and a laptop computer connected through the USB cable.

To connect Kindle to your computer:

1. Kindle comes with a single cable that doubles as a power adapter and USB cable. The plug adapter comes connected to the charging cable and you can remove the plug adapter to use your charging cable as a USB cable. When your Kindle is plugged into your computer, your Kindle will appear as a removable mass-storage device.
2. Plug the larger end of the USB cable into an available USB port or a powered USB hub connected to your computer.
3. Connect the other end of the USB cable to the micro-USB port on the bottom of your Kindle.

When connected to your PC, your Kindle will go into USB drive mode and its battery will be recharged by the computer. Your Whispernet service is temporarily shut off and you will not receive any of your subscriptions while in this mode. Also, your Kindle is not usable as a reading device while you are in USB drive mode, but will return right to where you were when you unmount or eject the device from your computer.

Using Kindle while Charging via Kindle Micro-USB Cable

You can use your Kindle while it is connected via USB and charging from your computer by unmounting or ejecting it so Kindle exits USB drive mode.

• Windows Vista and 7: Click on the Start button, select "Computer" from the options, right-click on the Kindle drive icon and select "Eject" from the pop-up menu.  
• Windows XP: Right-click on the "Safely remove hardware" icon in the lower left-hand corner of the task bar and follow the on-screen instructions to remove Kindle.
• Mac OS: Cmd-click on the Kindle device icon and choose "Eject."

Kindle will then exit USB drive mode and display the Home screen. You'll see a lightning bolt on the battery status icon in the upper right corner of the screen that indicates your Kindle is still charging.

To move files to and from Kindle:

1. Connect your Kindle to your computer as described above. Your Kindle should appear on your computer in the same location you would normally find an external USB drive.
2. Use your computer's file browser to drag and drop files to and from Kindle.
3. When finished, use your computer's undock, eject, or unmount feature to remove your Kindle.

Remember, Kindle will only recognise transferred files if:

• File types are listed in the Files Kindle Recognises section below.
• Files are transferred to the correct folder for their type.
• Files are free of Digital Rights Management (DRM) software.

Sending Personal Documents to Kindle

Kindle Personal Documents service  makes it easy to take your personal documents with you, eliminating the need to  print. Kindle Personal Document Service allows you to:

• Read your personal documents on your Kindle. You and your approved contacts can send personal documents to your Kindle Keyboard using your Send-to-Kindle e-mail address.
• Store your personal documents in your Kindle Library. You can download your archived personal documents to your Kindle device conveniently anywhere, at any time. These documents will be stored in your Kindle Library until you delete them from Manage Your Kindle.
• Create bookmarks and annotations on your personal documents. Just as with Kindle books, Whispersync automatically synchronises your last page read, bookmarks, and annotations for personal documents (with the exception of PDFs) across your Kindles.

Detailed information on Kindle Personal Document service is available on our Kindle Personal Document Service help page.

You and your approved contacts can e-mail personal documents to your Kindle Keyboard through your Send-to-Kindle e-mail address. You must ensure that:

• You have approved the sender's e-mail address. Learn More.
• You gave the sender your Send-to-Kindle e-mail address.
• Your document is a supported file type. Learn More.

The documents will be sent to your Kindle and also be stored in your Kindle library if your Personal Document Archive settings have been Enabled. Learn More.

For detailed instructions on topics such as Sending Personal Documents to Kindle, Your Send-to-Kindle e-mail Address, Setting up Approved Contacts, and Supported File Types view our Kindle Personal Document Services help page.

Finding the Send-to-Kindle e-mail address on your Kindle:

The Send-to-Kindle e-mail address associated with your Kindle Keyboard will be displayed on the Kindle Keyboard's Settings screen. You can find this address from your Kindle's Settings screen:

• From the Home screen, select  Menu.
• Select Settings.
• Your Kindle's [name]@kindle.com e-mail address is listed under Send-to-Kindle  E-mail heading.

Personal Document Delivery Fees for Kindle Keyboard 3G

Fees for transfer of personal documents to the Kindle via Whispernet are based on the size of the file submitted (before compression if you use a .ZIP file). Fees will only be charged for documents that are successfully received wirelessly to your Kindle via Whispernet. There is no fee for documents received via the Wi-Fi connection. If you transfer personal documents to your Kindle via Whispernet, the fee is £0.20 per MB.

Fees are rounded up to the next whole MB and apply to each personal document delivered via Whispernet to each Kindle. You can transfer personal documents to your Kindle via USB for free at anytime.

Setting your Personal Document Charge Limit

You have the option to set the maximum amount you wish to pay per document for the Personal Document Service. If the conversion fee for any single document you e-mail for wireless delivery to your Kindle via Whispernet exceeds the maximum, the document will be sent to your @free.kindle.com address and a notification will be sent to your Kindle.

To set the Charge Limit for Personal Document Service:

1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.
2. Scroll down to the "Your Personal Document Charge Limit" section.
3. Enter your preferred maximum charge value.
4. Click the "Update limit" option when finished.

The limit you set is a per document limit. If you send multiple documents for conversion in a .zip file, the total combined charge for conversion of all the documents may exceed your per document limit. As long as each document's charge is below the limit, conversion and delivery will be successful.

Combination of Fees for Personal Document Service

Consecutive orders for Personal Document Service via Whispernet that cost less than 5.00 GBP may be combined into one transaction and appear as a single charge on the statement of your preferred payment method.

Free Transfer of Personal Documents

For example, if your Kindle e-mail address is Jay@Kindle.com, send your attachments to Jay@free.kindle.com.

Downloading to Multiple Devices

Content purchased from the Kindle Store can be downloaded to your Kindle, Android, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as long as you have registered the device to the Amazon.co.uk account that purchased the Kindle content. There is no limit to the number of times a title can be downloaded to a registered device, but there may be limits on the number of devices (usually six) that can simultaneously use a single book.

Currently Kindle subscriptions cannot be automatically delivered to the Home Screen of more than one device. You can download your Kindle subscription to another device from the Archived Items on that Kindle if both devices are registered to the same account.

To change delivery options for your Kindle subscription content, visit the Manage Your Kindle Subscriptions Settings page

Files Kindle Recognises

You can purchase and wirelessly download Kindle books, newspapers, magazines and blogs from the Kindle Store as well as download and read other types of non-DRM text-based content on your Kindle. You can also play Audible audiobooks or MP3 files. When your Kindle is connected to a computer and mounted as a USB drive, you will see three default directories or folders. Here's a list of the directories and the file types recognised by Kindle:

• Documents: Kindle (.AZW, .AZW1). Text (.TXT), Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC)
• Audible: Audible (.AA, .AAX)
• Music: MP3 (.MP3)

Tip: Mobipocket files must have no Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection applied to be readable on your Kindle. If you purchased a Mobipocket file from a Mobipocket retailer, you will not be able to open the file on your Kindle.

Built-in PDF Reader for Kindle

Your Kindle displays most PDF documents without losing the formatting of the original file. You can magnify PDFs by viewing them in landscape mode.

To zoom in on a PDF document, press the Text key (Aa) on the keyboard, select the zoom percentage from the available options, and position the zoom box over the section you'd like to view using the 5-way controller.

When zoomed in on a document, you'll see scroll bars appear at the edges of the page that indicate what section you're viewing. Use the 5-way controller to move across the page and view different sections.

To return to the previous view, press the Text key (Aa) and select "fit-to-screen."

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