Last Updated on June 25, 2021 by sellboxc
Reading an Amazon Kindle Mobi eBook file is like reading a PDF, all you need is the free reading software designed for your device or app. But for many people the challenge isn’t finding the free software (click here for that), it’s how to get the darn eBook file onto your device! The most popular ways to do this are:
- Download the file and then transfer it via a cable.
- Import it into iTunes and then sync with your iOS device.
- Use a cloud storage app like Dropbox, Box, SugarSync, SkyDrive, etc.
- Use your Amazon account.
Why is this good to know?
- If you are a publisher you may wish to sell eBooks direct from your website. Or maybe you have your Mobi file and want to email it to family and friends rather than ask them to buy your book from Amazon. In this case simply email them a link to this article (or use this short link: http://sellbox.us/1fhgmv5).
- If you are a reader there are many other stores that sell or give away eBooks in the Kindle Mobi file format. Examples include All Romance Books, your local library, Feedbooks and Project Gutenberg.
The simplest method for “sideloading” a Kindle eBook
Often called sideloading, a term that is more descriptive of transferring eBooks using a cable, is most easily accomplished using your Amazon Kindle account. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Login into your Amazon account.
Select Manage Your Kindle. Remember, you don’t need to own a Kindle device; this applies to Kindle reading apps too. [Update: this option is now called Manage Your Content and Devices.]
#1
On the left side, select Personal Documents Settings (#1 below) and you will see a screen that looks like this:
#2
When you registered your Kindle device or software you received a Kindle email address. This is located under Send-to-Kindle E-Mail Settings to the right of the column called Name. For example, the email address for the Name “dw” in the image above is wogahn@kindle.com. Note this name (btw, you can change it to something else, assuming it’s available.).
#3
Now enter your email address in the Approved Personal Documents E-mail List. The only people that can email a Kindle document to your Kindle device/software are people with an email address listed here. So even though I gave you my Kindle email address above you can’t send me a file until I add your email to this list. As you see, my email is listed here so I can send Mobi files to any of the emails listed under the Send-to-Kindle E-Mail Settings under #2.
That’s it! Now all you need to do is email your Mobi file to your [name]@kindle.com email address, just like you do any other file. If your Kindle device or app has a fast connection is shouldn’t take too long before your eBook file appears, ready to be read.
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