Connect, Browse, and Transfer Files on E-Reader

Use a USB cable to connect your Kindle and choose between browsing and transferring files to and from your computer, or charging only.

Connect Your Kindle E-Reader for Mac Users

To transfer files to Kindle, we recommend using our wireless Send-to-Kindle service (Send to Kindle(https://www.amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle)), which can securely transfer files up to 200 MB each. Supported file types include: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, EPUB.

If you prefer to use a USB cable to transfer files, Kindle Scribe and 2024-released Kindle devices require a separate application, such as our Send to Kindle app for Mac OS, which now supports USB file transfers. The USB Manager feature works with Intel and Mac M1-M3 computers with MacOS 12 and above. To install the app, follow the instructions below.

Note: Mac computers before OSX 10.5 or Kindle device models released earlier than 2024 (except for Kindle Scribe) don't require a separate application to transfer files. Identify Your Kindle E-Reader.

Send-to-Kindle for Mac Instructions:

To install the Send-to-Kindle app, download the SendToKindleForMac-installer.pkg file. By using Send to Kindle, you agree to the terms in Send to Kindle Legal Information.

To connect your Kindle to your Mac and browse or transfer files:

Use the USB cable that came with your Kindle and plug it to the USB port on your computer.
Open Send-to-Kindle app.
Access the USB File Manager feature on the top-left of the screen under Tools > USB File Manager.

Alternatively, after logging in with your Amazon account, click “Open USB File Manager” on the top right of the Send-to-Kindle window.
A separate window will appear allowing you to browse your Kindle’s files and folders.
Drag and drop files/folders between your Mac computer and the “Documents” folder on your Kindle.

To delete or rename files on the Kindle, right-click or two-finger tap on the file and select “Delete“ or “Rename”. You can also delete by selecting a file and pressing Command + Delete on the keyboard.

Try these troubleshooting steps if you experience issues when transferring files on Mac:

If the Kindle isn’t recognized on your computer when connecting a USB cable, try the following:
- Close other USB file transfer applications.
- Click the “Connect device” button on the USB File Manager window.
- Unplug and replug the USB cable to the USB port on your computer.
The USB File Manager only supports drag and drop at this time.
USB transfers of more than 2,000 files at a time are not supported.

Note: There are also various third-party software options available for transferring files to a Mac computer, however, Amazon is unable to verify or guarantee the security, functionality, or reliability of these third-party options.

Connect Your Kindle E-reader for Windows Users

You don't require a separate application to connect and transfer files on Windows computers. Kindle devices appear as an external storage drive on the computer's desktop when you first connect them via USB. The Kindle device shows up as "Kindle" or "Kindle Scribe" in File Explorer instead of a drive letter.

Try these troubleshooting steps if you experience issues when transferring files:

If an error occurs or the Kindle isn’t recognized, unplug and replug the USB cable to the USB port on your computer.
To transfer a file between your computer and your Kindle successfully, the entire file path shouldn’t exceed 256 characters.
Any renaming, compressing, or extracting of the file needs to occur on the computer and not within the Kindle file system.

Note: There's no need to select an eject button on the Mac or Windows computer. To eject the Kindle, select the Disconnect button on the Kindle screen or unplug the USB cable from the computer.