Using non-Amazon mobi books on Kindle reader

[GtrsRGr8]

I did a search and didn't find a thread on this specific subject. If there is one, I apologize . . . .

I just bought a Kindle (first one) a few days ago. It's downloading Kindle/.mobi books just fine from Amazon. However, over the two or three years that I've been into building an ebook library I have also bought some epub and, especially, pdf ebooks along the way. I know that they can be converted to mobi with Calibre, but after I've converted them with Calibre is it possible to get my Kindle reader to download them and for me then be able to read them?

[susan_cassidy]

You can easily transfer them via USB (documents folder) or email them to the Kindle with your Kindle's email address. Then, they will also be put in your cloud.

[GoSharks]

You can also use Calibre to transfer them to your Kindle directly. Depending on where you got your books from, you may need to deal with any DRM with which they are 'infected'. If that is the case, google 'Apprentice Alf's Blog' for 'helpers' and instructions before importing your books to Calibre for conversion.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

You can easily transfer them via USB (documents folder) or email them to the Kindle with your Kindle's email address. Then, they will also be put in your cloud.

Or you can use the "Send to Kindle" app that Amazon provides to send the book to both your Kindle and your cloud storage so that you can read the book right away if you wish and then if you later delete it from the Kindle you can just link to your Kindle account and re-download the book again.Send to Kindle

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

You can easily transfer them via USB (documents folder) or email them to the Kindle with your Kindle's email address. Then, they will also be put in your cloud.

My Kindle's email address? I don't know about that. Can you tell me about it--where I can find it, etc.? Again, this is my first Kindle reader (I've had Kindle for PC for some time now).

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

My Kindle's email address? I don't know about that. Can you tell me about it--where I can find it, etc.? Again, this is my first Kindle reader (I've had Kindle for PC for some time now).

Go to amazon.com/myk and look under devices. You should see email addresses for any devices and compatible apps.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

My Kindle's email address? I don't know about that. Can you tell me about it--where I can find it, etc.? Again, this is my first Kindle reader (I've had Kindle for PC for some time now).

Log into your Amazon account, and click on Manage Your Kindle, then Manage Your Devices on the left. You'll see your registered devices near the top/center, and when you click on each one, you will see the associated email address to each device.

[Glorfindel]

or look under settings

[jscarbo]

If you're a Calibre user, my advice is to forget about using "Send to Kindle" and "Manage Your Kindle". They're awkward, slow and unnecessary.

With Calibre, the best and easiest way to transfer books to your Kindle is to open Calibre, connect your Kindle by usb, highlight the title(s) you want to transfer, and click "Send To Device". The entire process is automated and you can transfer multiple titles at the same time. You can also delete multiple titles by reversing the process. Look for the green checkmark by titles on your device, highlight them, then click "Remove From Device". Be careful to remove them only from the device, not from your Calibre library as well.

[Glorfindel]

and calibre can auto convert them if they are epubs...

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

or look under settings

on your kindle...

[dordale]

Calibre is great for transferring files to your Kindle. That's what I use as well. Only reason I can think of that you wouldn't want to do this is if you use multiple Kindle devices--you won't be able to sync your position on books side-loaded through Calibre. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd love to know if there is actually a way to sync content that's been side-loaded to Kindles through Calibre.)

[GtrsRGr8]

Thank you so much, all of you. You've given this newbie a lot of great information!

[Little.Egret]

I should point out that all Kindles can read PDFs natively. Converting .PDF to .mobi may give a better or a worse reading experience. On a Kindle Fire of course you can also try different apps.

[JDK1962]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

However, over the two or three years that I've been into building an ebook library I have also bought some epub and, especially, pdf ebooks along the way.

.

My experience, after having had my Kindle for several years now:

(1) Calibre and Apprentice Alf are your friends for getting epubs into your Kindle. Absolutely great. I've read 500+ books on my Kindle and probably 98% started their lives as epubs.
(2) There is no satisfactory solution for PDFs on a 6" Kindle. Yes, the Kindle supports the format, but on average. it's slow, well-formatted but far too small, and disappointing. That's not a slam on the Kindle; it's just not what it's made for.

I gave up after a bit of struggle and went with a Galaxy Pad and Aldiko for my PDF collection. I'm much happier for it. YMMV.