Most Kindles and some Kindle apps (for iOS/iPad and Android) support a simple method called Send to Kindle. You must have a Kindle account with Amazon to use this method.

1. Download and install a small program on your computer called Send to Kindle for PC or Send to Kindle for Mac. Once you have installed this program, you can use it to send  a variety of books and documents to your Kindle or Kindle app.
2. When the program prompts you, log in to your Kindle account.
3. In Windows/File Explorer or the Mac Finder, locate the ebook file you want to send, right-click it (or control-click on a Mac), and select Send to Kindle.
4. A dialog box will appear. Edit the title and author fields as needed.
5. You will see a list of your devices and apps that support the function. Select the reader(s) you want, and wait a short time for the book to appear on the device. It will be listed with your personal docs.

You can send to multiple devices at once. You can also check a box to archive the book in your Kindle library (recommended), which will make it readily available in case you get a new device or need to copy it to an app again for any reason. This service is free from Amazon if you use Wi-Fi to connect to your Kindle or app. If you use Whispersync (cellphone service), a small fee may be applied to your Kindle account.

Note: The “Send to Kindle” service is not supported by the Kindle reading apps for PC or Mac, or the Windows Phone reading app. If you plan to read your book in the “Kindle for PC” or “Kindle for Mac” reading software, you must use a different method to sideload the book.

WARNING: The Kindle app for Windows 8 Phone does not support sideloading in any form, and your choices are to use a different format and reading app, or buy the book directly from the Kindle store.

(Note: iPads and other iOS devices do not support drag and drop. See iPad, iPhone, or other iDevice for other options.)

1. Connect the device to your computer using its USB cable.
2. In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it.)
3. Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
   • On many Kindle models, you should browse on the device for a folder called Documents or My Documents.
   • On a Kindle Fire tablet, look for Internal Storage and then Books.
   • For a Kindle app on another kind of device, such as an Android tablet, the folder may be named Kindle or Kindle Contents. Hint: If you already have books in your Kindle app, look for other ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc). If you find .epub files instead, keep looking for a folder with Kindle-format books.
4. Drag the book file from your computer and drop it into that folder. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
5. Sometimes the book will appear at once in the Kindle or app library list. If it does not, you may need to sort differently or look in a different category in the library, such as On Device or Documents or Docs.

1. Import the book into your iTunes library, from wherever you saved it on your computer.
2. Connect your iDevice to your computer using its USB cable.
3. Use the iTunes sync function to copy the book to your iDevice.
4. Read the book in iBooks on the iDevice.

1. Save your downloaded ebook to a cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive), or the Calibre content server*.
   *See Calibre’s help files for detailed information on using the content server.
2. Use Safari to navigate to your book’s folder in the cloud, or in the Calibre library.
3. Tap the download link in the cloud storage folder. A page opens in Safari, asking if you would like to open the book in iBooks (for .epub books) or another reader, if you have other apps installed (including the Kindle app for .mobi books).
4. Tap the reader of your choice to download the book into the selected app’s library.

1. Connect the device to your computer using its USB cable.
2. In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
3. Browse to your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
4. Browse on the device for a folder containing other .epub files. (Folder names may vary.)
5. Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
6. On some devices the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book. On a Nook, for example, you may find sideloaded books under My Stuff or My Documents.

1. Connect the device to your computer, using its USB cable or your Wi-Fi network.
2. In Windows/File Explorer, the Mac Finder, etc., locate the downloaded book file on your computer. (It will be in your Downloads folder, or wherever you chose to save it when you downloaded it from BVC.)
3. Locate your device, which will appear as another disc drive or something similar.
4. Browse on the device for a folder containing ebook files of the same format as the one you downloaded.
   • For .epub apps, it may be called “Ebooks” or “My Documents” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your reading app, look for ebook files in .epub format.
   • For the Kindle app, it may be called “Kindle” or “Kindle Content” or something similar. Hint: If you already have other books in your Kindle app, look for ebook files in Kindle format (.mobi, .azw, .prc).
5. Drag the book file from your computer and drop into the folder on your device. (You can also Copy and Paste.)
6. In some apps the book will appear at once in the book library. If it does not, you may need to select a command to Open a book file and browse for the book.

Some apps, such as Aldiko and FB Reader, offer the ability to connect to folders you’ve previously set up in cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive (formerly Skydrive), and Calibre’s content server.

1. Refer to your app’s instructions for information on importing from such sources.
2. See Calibre’s help files for further details on using the Calibre content server.

Windows Phone presents special challenges because of the way files are handled, and because fewer reading apps are currently available. Drag and drop is not supported, nor is Send to Kindle. WARNING: At present, if you want to read an ebook in the Kindle app on a Windows phone, you must buy the book in the Amazon Kindle store.

1. To read an .epub book—download a book-reading app such as Freda or Fiction Book Reader from the Windows Phone store. Both support download from the cloud. (Neither gives a perfect rendering of ebook formatting, but they may be acceptable for reading straight text such as a novel or short story.)
2. It’s not recommended to read a .mobi file on a Windows phone.

You must first install a reading program, such as Kindle for PC, Nook Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or Calibre.

1. Kindle for PC (for .mobi versions)
   • Locate the book file on your computer and double-click the file. The book should open in Kindle for PC. You may be prompted to choose a program to open the book in; if so, choose Kindle or Kindle for PC.
2. Nook Reader (for .epub books)
   • In the Windows 8 Nook Reader, right-click anywhere in the app and select Open File at the bottom of the screen.
   • In earlier versions of Windows, look in My Library and click on My Stuff. Click the Add New Item button and browse for the book file.
3. Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
   • If ADE is your default reader, you can double-click the .epub book file and the book will open.
   • If ADE is not your default reader, open ADE first, and then drag and drop the book file onto the open screen.

You must first install a reading program, such as Kindle for Mac, Nook Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or Calibre.

1. Kindle for Mac (for .mobi versions)
   • Locate the book file on your computer and double-click the file. The book should open in Kindle for Mac. You may be prompted to choose a program to open the book in; if so, choose Kindle or Kindle for Mac.
2. Nook Reader (for .epub versions)
   • Click the Add File icon at the top of the Nook screen (it looks like a page with a dog-eared corner). Then browse for the book file you downloaded.
3. Adobe Digital Editions (for .epub books)
   • Switch to Library view and select “Add Item to Library” from the Library drop-down menu in the upper left (or press Command-O). Then browse for the book file you downloaded.