After we purchased some books from Kindle store, those titles will be saved in Kindle cloud. Then whenever we want to read our kindle contents, we can download them from the cloud to our kindle device or kindle app. But how to download Kindle books with easy steps? Why I failed to download the Kindle book for offline reading? Here is the ultimate guide to this topic.
3 Methods to download Kindle contents
How to download Kindle files from the Kindle library onto our devices?
Step 1: Buy Kindle books.
Visit Amazon store official site please. Then shop in Kindle store by searching the Kindle titles you want to read. Buy with 1-click.
We can buy Kindle books on our Kindle devices, or Kindle apps, or directly purchase from online kindle store via opening a browser.
Note:
1. We can't directly buy Kindle books in the Kindle for IOS app. Please use Safari to access Kindle store and purchase the book you want to read, then "Deliver to: xxx's Kindle for IOS".
2. Amazon has also disabled the ability to buy ebooks in the Kindle app for Android since Google has started mandating that all apps had to use their billing system by June 1st, 2022.
3. In 2023, there are basically two ways to purchase Kindle books. One is with Kindle devices (fire tablets, e-ink, e-ink tablet such as Kindle Scribe), and the second is with a browser to access your Kindle store or Kindle Cloud Reader online library.
Step 2: Sync and download Kindle titles.
We can read Kindle books with the Kindle eReader (such as Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire HD), or Kindle app (such as Kindle for Mac, Kindle for Android).
By default, all new bought Kindle books will be saved in the Kindle cloud. If we want to download the kindle book from the library to the local devices, we should sync the Kindle first.
Open the Kindle app, tap on "Sync" icon. If you didn't log in the app, register your Kindle first.
On Kindle e-ink and tablet devices, click on "Settings" -> "Sync Your Kindle".
In general, by syncing the Kindle, all books will be saved to your Kindle library (which contains the new books you bought). You can find them by tapping on Cloud/Archives/All tab.
Tips:
If you can't find the books in your library (after syncing the Kindle), please visit amazon official site and access "Your Content and Devices".
Choose "deliver to Default Device (or) Others", select your device, deliver, OK.
Then, click on the book cover, downloading begin. Wait a moment until the downloading progress ends. Once completed, you can open the book with your Kindle.
How long does it take to download a Kindle book? I should say this depends on your own network connection status and the book files size. Usually it shows up in 60 seconds or so.
To make sure you download the latest version kindle books, you can update your kindle books regularly.
Frequently Asked QuestionsQ1: Is it possible to bulk download kindle?
A: In fact, there is no option to bulk download Kindle books. We are allowed to download title by title. But with the double-click, it's really pretty fast.
Q: What's the Kindle book download location?
A: Books that downloaded from Kindle e-ink or tablet devices are saved in "Documents" folder. They will be saved as AZW3 or KFX format.
If the kindle contents are synced and downloaded via Kindle for PC/Mac, they will be saved in "My Kindle Content" folder. Usually those files are with .azw suffix.
Kindle for Android books will be PRC or KFX.
Optional method: Download & transfer via USB
If still failed to download your Kindle files to your Kindle devices, we can try this method.
Access "Manage Your Content and Devices", select the book you want to download, click on "More Actions".
Then, select "Download & transfer via USB".
From the new window, select your Kindle (the correct Kindle device name), download.
Note:
1. This method can only help re-send Kindle books to our Kindle devices (Kindle e-ink or kindle tablets). It doesn't function for downloading books to Kindle app. From the screenshot image, you will notice that these options(export books from kindle apps) are grayed out.
2. Not all books can be obtained with this method. If you can't see the "download and transfer via usb" option, you should try the method 1 I mentioned above.
3. This method works pretty well when you want to download Kindle files without wifi.
4. Books downloaded with this method will be .azw3 format. Once completed, copy these files to your Kindle device via USB please, to the "Documents" folder.
5. When asked how to download kindle books to PC/Mac, this method works well too (while the mostly considered method is downloading via Kindle desktop).
6. Newly update 2023: Amazon disabled the downloading Kindle Unlimited e-books from the Manage Your Content section via USB.
Optional method 2: Download Kindle books to Android (kindle app or sd card)
Run the kindle android app, and then click the cover to download books. If you'd like to “Download to SD Card”, please Go to “Settings” and move exiting library.
Books are saved in the ‘books’ folder of Google Play or on the SD card.
Optional method 3: Download via Kindle Cloud Reader (Offline)
Updated on August 12, 2020: Amazon has further upgraded Kindle Cloud Reader in August 2020 for security reasons, which has finally made it impossible to download books from Kindle Cloud Reader.
Kindle Cloud Reader is a web app which is designed for reading Kindle titles without a Kindle. And what's better, it also allows us read kindle titles for offline reading.
1 Make sure you are usingthe latest version of Google Chrome/Microsoft Edge browser.
2 Log in to Kindle Cloud Reader.
3 Open the book and the download will begin soon.
10 Solutions when Kindle books won't download
Above methods are easy to go, but in fact there are many people have met the problem that they are not able to download a Kindle book that they had previously purchased.
So here are 10 solutions when Kindle books won't download.
Solution 1: Shut down and restart your device.
This is the easiest one and it fixs most problems.
Solution 2: Confirm the wifi connection.
Disconnect and reconnect the wifi, confirm it's working .
Solution 3: Sync Kindle again.
Only by syncing Kindle, the new Kindle books can be shown correctly on our device.
Solution 4: Deregister and register again.
If the book or app gets stuck downloading partway, deregister it first (Settings -> Registration -> Deregister).
This will delete all your books from the cloud.
Once registered again, try re-downloading it from the cloud section.
Optional: We can also deregister the device by managing "You Content and Devices".
Solution 5: Fix for Amazon license limit error.
While trying to download a Kindle title on a new device, you may come across an error with Amazon: License Limit Reached.
With most Kindle books, we can only get six copies downloaded to various devices and apps. If you try to download a book to a seventh device you'll get a license limit exceeded warning. In this situation, you should deregister any old devices that you no longer use (old phones, old copies of the desktop app, etc.).
Simply log into your Amazon account -> Your Content and Devices -> Devices -> Device Actions -> Deregister.
Once that is done, relaunch the kindle app or device and it should open just fine.
Tips:
How to check what the download limits of one kindle book? Visit the book "Product detail" part, and confirm whether there is "Simultaneous device usage:" note or not.
In my own opinion, most books have a license limit of 6 simultaneous downloads, while some, especially those etextbooks have a lesser limit.
Solution 6: Confirm whether the payment method is valid or not.
Check your digital orders first. Make sure the book that you were trying to download was indeed completed by heading over to Amazon.
What's more, it would be better to check your payment settings too. I mean if the default 1-click payment was invalid, the order won't be approved by Amazon.
Solution 7: If you deleted one book by mistake, purchase it again
We all know that we can delete Kindle books from the cloud, but we should also recognize that if deleting contents by this method, we are not able to recover them any more unless purchasing again.
Solution 8: Failed to enable Kindle Cloud Reader offline?
As what I said above, Amazon stopped the downloading option in Kindle Cloud Reader since August, 2020. In other words, it's impossible to download books via kindle cloud reader. Please try above methods.
Solution 9: Unable to download newly published Kindle books via older version Kindle?
Updated on Jan 10, 2023: It seems like Amaon have switched off azw download at old Kindle PC versions for books published after 2nd January 2023, which causes DeDRM not working for those books (new purchases of books published last year still work). The current available solution to dedrm kindle books 2023 is to download kindle books via kindle android on Android emulator.
Some kindle textbooks(especially those large size books) also require the latest version of Kindle app to download. And Kindle eInk devices are not compatible with them, too.
Solution 10: How do I download Kindle Unlimited books 2023?
Above downloading method works for all books that you buy individually from Amazon directly. Because you "own" them.
However, Amazon blocked the downloading of books that use "Kindle Unlimited" which is a subscription(runs $9.99 per month, for unlimited of select Kindle titles). Because you don't own titles through Kindle Unlimited, you are borrowing them.
What's worse, when trying to download Kindle unlimited books to computer via older version Kindle for PC/Mac desktop, you will receive a message like "Item not available for this device type"(Windows) or "PCMAC_126_Delivery_Error_Upgrade_Mac"(Mac).
At this stage, the unique solution to download such books is to directly use the latest version of the Kindle app(or device).
Another important thing to clarify, you will lose access to all books if you cancel the rent service. In other words, if you cancel your Kindle Unlimited membership, you'll lose access to your borrowed titles at the start of the next billing period.
Download Kindle books to PDF? Of course YES
Most of people wonder how to download Kindle books as PDF. But at the first part I've introduced Kindle common formats in breif, Kindle books are with kindle its own formats, not the PDF or ePub.
But this doesn't mean that we can't achieve this goal. Here highly recommend you use Epubor Ultimate.
See? It helps you convert Kindle to PDF and remove DRM quickly.
Say more, my top pick is downloading kindle books first to your computer and then back up them. Above tools help you back up kindle books with ease.
Note: Unfortunately, Kindle Unlimited books and Kindle textbooks are as of yet uncrackable by DeDRM/NoDRM.
Angel Dan has covered software online marketing for more than 6 years. She joined Epubor since 2013, covering content writing, affiliate marketing, global brand expansion, video marketing, and business development.
I was gifted an ebook for Xmas. I do not own an 'iphone' of any kind. I do not have a Kindle tablet. I do have a Android based Lenovo Tablet. I have never done this before. I thought I would download it to the PC and then to the Tablet. In the PC I found a Folder labeled "My Kindle Content" w/ correct date. Nothing playable in it even after I downloaded the Kindle App.
Maybe I did it all backwards. I have the App now. I tried to start all over. Amazon: "You have already accepted the book" Go away. I tried Amazon Chat - no record of your buying anything and we do not care about gifts. Go away.
I said thanks to the giver and will now see if the local library has it.
If you have not opted into all the gimmicks do not even try to get ebooks from Amazon. Just what Amazon needs: Free money. I wonder how many other books were paid for and then lost.
Addon to an earlier comment. I knew the download location so did not read that line:at first. "They will be saved as AZW3 or KFX format." Amazon gave me a AZW3...I need KFX. But some how all I have is "UNKNOWN AZW" with no number
never mind at all. I just searched PC and tablet with the title. I have no idea what I did. It is just gone. nothing on Recycle Bin either.
Sorry to bother you!
Thank you for your comments. For the files in "My kindle content" folder are encrypted with Kindle DRM. That's why you cannot open or read it. Please follow this guide to remove kindle drm : https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html
Also, for the kfx format, it only can be read on kindle related apps or device. Are you sure this is what you want?
Another thing, the .azw file actually is kfx format.
where are my kindle books. my books have been purchease
To get the books, please install the kindle for pc/mac and then click the book cover to download it.
Or if you have kindle eink devices, just register it with your amazon account and then your purchased book will be displayed under your library.
For more questions, please feel free to contact us via epubor.iris@gmail.com
Have a nice day.
Thank you for asking. As you have registered your kindle keyboard, you can use "Download and transfer via usb" to download kindle books and then remove drm with Epubor Ultimate. You can follow this guide: https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth4
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Have a nice day!
Hello. I'm having trouble removing DRM and converting ebooks purchased from amazon. I heard that Amazon changed their DRM policy.
I would like to know if the Epubor team is already aware of this and if they are working to correct this new policy.
Now we are working on this issue. Once there is a solution, we will let you know. The older kindle books still can be cracked with Epubor Software.
There is still another way to remove drm from this kind of kindle books if you have any kindle eink device registered with your amazon account. Please download the kindle books via "Download and transfer via usb" and then remove kindle drm with Epubor Ultimate. Here is the detailed guide: https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth4
When I download book through your app it shows after download
Your ebook has decrypted. The TXT file just save 20% of ebook content. Please register the
software, then get all contents and the valid ebook format.
Hello,
Note: The free trial version of Epubor Ultimate only helps you decrypt and convert 20% of the books in TXT format (images not included). Once you purchase the software and register it with your license, you will get the complete book converted with all the images and in the proper format you want like PDF/Epub/Mobi/AZW3/TXT.
If you are interested in Epubor Ultimate, here we can offer you a 10% discount to buy this software. Just click the following link to buy it. (The lifetime license will never expire and you can use it forever, but the one-year license will expire one year later. So it's suggested to buy a lifetime license at this time.)
Any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team