Send Books to Kindle from Mac: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to get your own documents, ebooks, and PDFs onto your Kindle using a Mac. You’ll learn the two main methods — emailing the file to your Kindle’s personal address and using the Send to Kindle app — plus how to avoid common hiccups. No special software is required for the email method, but the app is faster for multiple files.

What You’ll Need

A Mac with an internet connection.
A Kindle device or the free Kindle app on another device (phone, tablet, or computer).
Your Amazon account credentials.
The document you want to send (e.g., PDF, EPUB, DOCX, TXT, MOBI, AZW).
Your Kindle’s personal @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com email address (found in your Amazon account).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Email the Document to Your Kindle

Find your Kindle email address: Go to Amazon.com/myk and sign in. Under Digital Content, select Devices. Your Kindle’s email address is listed under each device (e.g., yourname_123@kindle.com). Note it down.
Add your sending email to the approved list: On the same page, click Preferences then Personal Document Settings. Scroll to Approved Personal Document Email List and click Add a new approved e-mail address. Enter the email address you’ll be sending from (your Mac’s Mail app or any email account you use). This step is mandatory – if you skip it, Amazon will ignore your email.
Compose the email: Open Mail (or any email client) on your Mac. Create a new message addressed to your Kindle’s email address. The subject line can be anything, but leaving it blank works. The body can be empty too – Amazon only cares about the attachment.
Attach your document: Click the attachment icon (paperclip) and select the file from your Mac. You can attach up to 25 files per email, but keep the total under 50 MB. If your file is larger, convert it to a compressed format or use the Send to Kindle app.
Send the email: Hit send. Amazon processes the file and delivers it to your Kindle within a few minutes (usually 1–5 minutes). If you sent it to your @free.kindle.com address, the file converts to Kindle format and is delivered over Wi-Fi. If you used @kindle.com, delivery may incur a small fee unless you’re sending to a device registered to the same account.
Sync your Kindle: On your Kindle, make sure Wi-Fi is on. If the document doesn’t appear automatically, tap Sync from the menu (or pull down on the home screen to refresh). On the Kindle app, tap Sync in the library.

Method 2: Use the Send to Kindle App (Recommended for Multiple Files)

Download the app: Open the Mac App Store and search for “Send to Kindle”. Download and install the free app from Amazon.
Sign in: Launch the app and sign in with your Amazon account. You’ll see a list of your registered Kindle devices and apps.
Drag and drop files: Drag your document files directly into the app window. You can also click Browse to select files. The app accepts PDF, EPUB, DOCX, TXT, MOBI, and a few other formats.
Choose the destination: In the app, select which device or app you want to send to (e.g., “My Kindle Paperwhite” or “Kindle for iPhone”). If you leave it as “Default”, it goes to all devices.
Click Send: Click the Send button. The app uploads the files to Amazon’s cloud and delivers them to your selected device(s). You’ll see a confirmation when it’s done.
Sync on your Kindle: As above, sync your device to pull the new documents.

Common Mistakes

Not approving your email address: Sending from an unapproved email results in a “Delivery Failure” notification. Always add the sender to your approved list first.
Sending unsupported file types: Some formats like .pages or .epub (older models) may not convert. Convert to PDF or DOCX first.
Using the wrong email address: Double-check that you’re sending to the Kindle’s email, not your own. A common typo is @kindle.com vs @free.kindle.com – they behave differently.
File too large: Emails over 50 MB are rejected. Compress PDFs or split large files.
Ignoring the “Convert” option: When emailing, if you put “Convert” in the subject line, Amazon converts the file to Kindle format (AZW3) which is better for reflowable text. If you leave it blank, it sends as-is (PDFs stay PDFs).

Tips

Use the Send to Kindle app for most cases: It’s faster, handles multiple files, and doesn’t require email approval.
Send to @free.kindle.com to avoid charges: If you’re on Wi-Fi, use the @free.kindle.com address to avoid any potential fees. (Note: Amazon removed fees for personal documents sent to US accounts in 2022, but it’s still good practice.)
Organize with collections: After delivery, create a “Docs” collection on your Kindle to keep personal documents separate from books.
Convert EPUB to Kindle format: If you have an EPUB, the Send to Kindle app will automatically convert it to a Kindle-friendly format. If you email an EPUB, it may not work on older devices – convert to MOBI or PDF.
Use “Convert” in subject line for better formatting: For text-heavy documents, adding “Convert” in the subject line (when emailing) makes Amazon reflow the text so you can adjust font size and line spacing.

Troubleshooting

Document not appearing on Kindle: First, check that you’re connected to Wi-Fi and sync your device. If it still doesn’t show, go to Amazon.com/myk, under Your Devices, check the Personal Documents tab – it may show a delivery status. If it says “Delivered” but isn’t on your device, contact Amazon support.
“Delivery Failure” email: This usually means your sending email isn’t approved. Go to your Amazon account, add the email address, and resend.
File not converting: Some PDFs with complex formatting (scanned images) won’t convert well. Try converting to DOCX or TXT first, or use the “Convert” option in the subject line.
File too large: Compress the PDF using Preview (File > Export > Reduce File Size) or use a free online tool. Alternatively, split the PDF into chapters.
Send to Kindle app not working: Ensure you have the latest version from the Mac App Store. Sign out and back in. If it still fails, use the email method as a fallback.
Charges on @kindle.com: If you accidentally send to @kindle.com, you might see a charge on your Amazon account. To avoid this, always use @free.kindle.com when emailing from a computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send books from my Mac to Kindle without email?

Yes, the Send to Kindle app (available for Mac) lets you drag and drop files directly. It’s faster and doesn’t require email approval.

What file formats can I send?

You can send PDF, EPUB, DOCX, TXT, MOBI, AZW, and a few others. EPUB is converted automatically when using the Send to Kindle app. For email, PDF, DOCX, TXT, and MOBI work best.

Is there a limit on file size?

Yes, for email, the total attachment size must be under 50 MB. The Send to Kindle app supports larger files (up to 200 MB for PDFs, but it may take longer).

Why did my document arrive but with poor formatting?

PDFs are often formatted for print and may not reflow on a small screen. Try converting to DOCX or TXT, or use the “Convert” option in the email subject line to let Amazon reflow the text.

Can I send books to someone else’s Kindle?

Yes, if you have the recipient’s Kindle email address and they have approved your email address in their Amazon account. However, they may be charged if you send to @kindle.com.

How do I remove a document from my Kindle library?

On your Kindle, long-press the document and select “Delete from Library”. To remove it from the cloud, go to Amazon.com/myk, under Personal Documents, select the document and delete it.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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