You have an ebook as an EPUB file. Maybe you wrote it, or someone sent it to you. You try to get it onto your Kindle, and nothing happens. It doesn't show up, or Amazon sends it back, or it won't open.
There are two usual reasons. Either the file was sent the wrong way, or something inside the file is broken. This guide helps you find which one, and fix it. To check the file for errors, you can use Ebook Medic, which checks EPUB files and fixes common problems.
Reason 1: The file was copied the wrong way
Kindle e-readers can't open an EPUB that you copy over with a USB cable. The file may just not show up in your library.
What to do: send it with Amazon's Send to Kindle instead. Amazon changes the EPUB into a file your Kindle can read and puts it in your library. You can usually send it from:
- Amazon's Send to Kindle web page,
- the Kindle app on your phone or computer, or
- email, to your Kindle's own email address.
For email, the message must come from an address on your approved list. You'll find your Kindle email address and the approved list in your Amazon account, under your device and personal document settings. Amazon's Send to Kindle help page has the latest steps and the file types it accepts.
Reason 2: Something inside the file is broken
If Send to Kindle won't take the book, or it shows up but won't open, the EPUB itself may have errors. Many reading apps on a computer are forgiving, so a broken book can look fine there and still fail on Kindle.
An EPUB is like a small zipped folder. Inside are your chapters, pictures and cover, plus a few "map" files that say how it all fits together. One missing file or one bad name can spoil the whole book.
The easy way: Ebook Medic
- Go to tools.ltd/ebook-medic.
- Click Choose an EPUB, or drag the file into the box.
- Press Check my ebook.
- Ebook Medic checks the book with the same rules as EPUBCheck, the checker ebook stores use. It fixes what it safely can, then checks again. Your book never leaves your device.
- Look at your results. You see the error count before and after the fix, for free.
- If you want the fixed book, get it in step 3. Then send that copy to your Kindle.
Ebook Medic fixes common, simple problems: a wrong first file inside the EPUB, files that are listed but missing, file names with spaces, and missing book details. It never makes up a missing chapter. If a problem needs a person to fix it, the report tells you which ones are left.
The free way: EPUBCheck yourself
EPUBCheck is the official free checker for EPUB files. You can download it and run it yourself. It's very thorough, but it's made for technical people, and the messages can be hard to follow. If you're comfortable with that, it's a good choice.
Reason 3: The book is locked
Books bought from some other ebook stores come with copy protection. A locked EPUB usually won't work on a Kindle, and fixing tools can't help with that. Ask the store you bought it from what your options are.
Other things to try
- Export it again. If you wrote the book, save a fresh EPUB from your writing program and send that one.
- Use simple file names. Rename the file to something plain, like "my-book.epub," with no symbols.
- Try a free converter. Calibre is a free program that can turn an EPUB into a Kindle file you can copy over with a cable. It won't fix errors inside the book, so check the file first.
- Have a PDF version? Kindle can open PDFs too. If yours is too big to send, shrink it with PageKit.
Which fix should I try first?
| What happened | Try this |
|---|---|
| Copied with a cable, book doesn't show up | Send it with Send to Kindle |
| Send to Kindle won't take it | Check it with Ebook Medic |
| It opens on your computer but not on Kindle | Check it for errors |
| Bought it from another store | Ask that store, it may be locked |
Frequently asked questions
Can a Kindle read EPUB files?
Not when you copy them over with a cable. Kindle e-readers don't open EPUB files that way. Send the EPUB with Amazon's Send to Kindle instead, and Amazon changes it into a file your Kindle can read.
Why won't Send to Kindle take my EPUB?
Often the file has errors inside it, or it is locked with copy protection. Check the file for errors first. A locked book has to come from the store you bought it from.
Will Ebook Medic make my book work on Kindle?
We can't promise that. Ebook Medic checks your book with the same rules as EPUBCheck, the checker stores use, and fixes common problems. A clean result is a very good sign, but not a promise.
Is Ebook Medic part of Amazon?
No. Ebook Medic is an independent tool. It checks EPUB files and fixes common problems.
Related guides: How to check an EPUB file for errors · KDP EPUB upload error? · More ebook guides