How to Transfer Your Manuscript to Kindle

Test your formatted manuscript on a real Kindle device or app before publishing. Choose the method that works best for you.

Why Test on Kindle First?

Testing on actual Kindle devices helps you catch formatting issues, verify chapter breaks, check typography, and ensure your book looks professional before publishing to KDP. What looks good in Word may render differently on e-readers.

1

Find your Kindle email address

Go to amazon.com/mycd → Preferences → Personal Document Settings. Your Kindle email looks like: yourname@kindle.com

2

Add your email to approved list (optional)

In Personal Document Settings, add your email to the "Approved Personal Document Email List" if you want to send from any email address.

3

Email your manuscript

Send an email to your Kindle address with your .docx file as an attachment. The subject and body can be anything.

4

Wait for delivery

Your document will appear on your Kindle within a few minutes (device must have Wi-Fi enabled).

Pros

  • Wireless - no cables needed
  • Works from anywhere
  • Syncs to all your devices

Cons

  • Requires internet connection
  • May take a few minutes
  • 50MB file size limit

Troubleshooting Tips

Document not appearing?

Wait 5-10 minutes for wireless delivery. Try syncing your Kindle (Settings → Sync) or restarting the device.

Formatting looks wrong?

Kindle converts .docx files to its own format. Some advanced formatting may not transfer perfectly. For the most accurate preview, use Amazon's Kindle Previewer tool.

File too large for email?

Email has a 50MB limit. Use USB transfer for larger files, or compress images in your document.

Related Resources

→ View FAQ: Using Kindle Previewer for advanced testing→ Amazon KDP: Supported eBook formats→ Manage your Send to Kindle email settings