Book lovers no longer need to lug around a number of hardback favorites, thanks to lightweight devices like the Amazon Kindle. These-book readers make it possible to carry around your whole collection in your pocket, saving you space and weight, and sparing you the trauma of accidentally ripping the cover of your favorite read. Unfortunately, though, Amazon's popular Kindle platform doesn’t support books in one of the usual formats for e-books: EPUB.
If you're a canny shopper (and know where to look), you can read a lot of books for completely free, as some classics are available through platforms like Project Gutenberg. However, most of those downloadable classics come in the EPUB file type. Luckily, with a little know-how on your side, you can easily render EPUB files readable on Kindle devices.
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Kindle supports Amazon’s proprietary format, AZW, as well as the similar MOBI format. If you have an EPUB file that you want to read on a Kindle, the simplest way is to convert it to MOBI, and there are several programs that will allow you to do this. Follow the steps below to access a wealth of open-source and free-to-use literature accessible only in the EPUB format.
Convert EPUB files to MOBI using Calibre
One of the most popular ways to convert to MOBI is with Calibre, an e-book organization program that also allows users to convert their books into different formats.
Step 1: Download Calibre.
You can download Calibre for free online. It's available on Windows, MacOS, Linux, and portable devices.
Step 2: Add an EPUB book to the library.
To do this, download the EPUB file to your computer. Click on the button labeled Add books in Calibre.
Note: These screenshots are from the MacOS version of Calibre -- but the procedure for Calibre on Windows is exactly the same.
Step 3: Or select a specific file.
If you want to select one specific file, click Add books from a single directory. Then find the file and select it.
Step 4: Select the e-book in your Calibre library, and click Covert books.
Step 5: Set the output format to MOBI.
The previous step will open a new window, giving you numerous options for adjusting the metadata and formatting the new file you will create. For our purposes, the only thing that matters is the output format, which you can select from a drop-down menu in the upper right. Make sure this field is set to MOBI.
Step 6: Wait. The conversion process may take a minute.
Step 7: Once it's finished converting, right-click on the e-book in your library and select Open containing folder. The MOBI file should be there.
Step 8: Plug in your Kindle to your computer, and copy and paste the MOBI file to your Kindle.
How to email the file directly to your Kindle
You can email your file directly to your Kindle. This step is optional and for people who don't have access to a USB cable. It can be done quickly, as long as it's not a giant comic book or a file with tons of large photos.
Step 1: Navigate to the Content and Devices page on your Amazon account.
Step 2: Click on the Devices subhead and select the device you want to send your file to. Be aware that you might have to click the device twice to view its information.
Step 3: After you can see the data, you'll see that your Kindle has an email address attached to it.
Step 4: Open your email and include the converted file as an attachment.
Step 5: Send it off to your Kindle's email.
Step 6: Wait. You should receive the file in a few minutes or so if the Kindle is successfully connected to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
Convert EPUB files to MOBI using Kindle Previewer 3
You can also take advantage of another reliable program that converts EPUB files to MOBI called the Kindle Previewer. This helpful app lets you preview e-books on a variety of Kindle models. Kindle Previewer will automatically convert EPUB files into MOBI files to create a high-quality, authentic preview for users.
Step 1: Download Kindle Previewer 3. This program is from Amazon itself and is currently available as a free download for Windows and MacOS.
Step 2: Install Kindle Previewer 3 on your device with Windows or MacOS.
Step 3: Choose Open book. It's located on the main page.
Step 4: Wait. It’ll take a brief amount of time for the conversion process to finish.
Step 5: A dialogue box will appear when the conversion process is complete. This box will give you a link to the folder location where your converted file was saved. Click on that link to see where your file is located.
Step 6: Transfer your MOBI file to your Kindle. To do this, simply plug your Kindle device into your computer and copy and paste the MOBI file. And you’re done.
