You can’t send MOBI files to the Kindle app on iPad anymore, because MOBI isn’t on Amazon’s list of Send to Kindle file types. Convert the book to EPUB first, then send it with Send to Kindle. It shows up in the Kindle app’s Library on your iPad.
These steps follow Amazon’s Send PDF, EPUB and Other Files to Your Kindle help page and its Send to Kindle for iOS page. Amazon says the service is free and that documents sent this way are protected with end-to-end encryption.
How to Get Your Own Books Into the iPad Kindle App
- If your book is a MOBI file, convert it to EPUB. Try using a file converter if your book isn’t in a supported format.
- Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle in a web browser and sign in with the Amazon account you use in the Kindle app.
- Upload your EPUB or PDF file. Amazon says files must be 200 MB or smaller.
- Make sure Add to your library is on, then send it.
- Open the Kindle app on your iPad, tap Library, and download the book.
Result: The book appears in your Kindle library. Amazon says turning on Add to your library lets you download the document on any device linked to your account, and documents you add are private to you.
How to Send a Book Straight From Your iPad
Amazon’s Send to Kindle for iOS page describes a share-sheet method that works without a computer:
- Make sure you have the latest version of the Kindle app.
- Open or select the file you want to send, for example in the Files app, and tap the Share icon.
- Select Kindle in the sharing options.
Result: The file is added to your Kindle library. It should appear within a few minutes, and if you don’t see Kindle in the share options, tap More to find it.
Other Ways to Send a Book
- Email: Amazon says to attach the file to an email and send it to your Send to Kindle email address, which is unique to each device and Kindle app on your account. You need to send it from an approved email address.
- Mac or Windows: install the Send to Kindle desktop app. You can drag files into it, and on a Mac you can also Control-click a file in Finder and choose Send to Kindle.
- Chrome: Amazon offers a Send to Kindle extension for sending web articles and blog posts.
Supported File Types
Amazon’s help page lists EPUB, PDF, TXT, RTF, HTML, and images (JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP). Its iOS page also lists DOC and DOCX for the share-sheet method. MOBI isn’t on either list, which is why older guides that show sending MOBI files no longer match how Send to Kindle works. Sharing a book you bought from Amazon with another person is a separate process, covered in how to lend an Amazon Kindle book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t my MOBI file show up in the Kindle app?
Amazon’s supported list for Send to Kindle doesn’t include MOBI. Convert the book to EPUB and send it again.
Can I read books I send on my Kindle e-reader too?
Yes, if Add to your library was on when you sent it. Amazon says you can then download it to any device linked to your account.
Related Guides
- How to sync Kindle books with your iPhone
- How to add files from iPad to Dropbox
- How to check storage on your iPad
If you also read in Apple’s Books app, here’s how to create a new collection in Apple Books on an iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.