You can read Kindle books on a PC by installing Kindle for Windows or opening Kindle for Web in your browser, then signing in with the Amazon account containing your books. Choose the Windows app for offline reading or the browser for reading online without installing the desktop app.
The Windows app installation steps apply to Windows 11, which Amazon lists for its current desktop app. If your PC runs an operating system the app does not support, Amazon directs you to Kindle for Web.
The short version
- Windows app: Install Kindle for Windows, sign in, and double-click a book in Library to download and open it.
- Browser reading: Open Kindle for Web and sign in to read eligible books online.
- Offline reading: Finish downloading your books in the Windows app before disconnecting.
- Missing books: Check that you signed in with the purchasing account, then sync the Windows library with F5.
| Reading method | When to choose it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle for Windows | Reading online or offline | A compatible PC and completed downloads for offline reading |
| Kindle for Web | Reading without installing the desktop app | Internet access and a title eligible for browser reading |
| Compatible EPUB or PDF reader | Reading an eligible exported purchase | A publisher-enabled DRM-free download |
Install Kindle for Windows and open a book
Open Amazon’s Download Kindle Apps page, choose the Windows download option, and follow the installation instructions. You can also find Amazon Kindle: Reading App in Microsoft Store, check compatibility, and install the app offered for your PC.
Open the app and sign in with the Amazon account you used to purchase your Kindle books. Select Library, then double-click a book cover to download it. Wait for the download to finish and the book to open automatically. If necessary, double-click the cover again.
Amazon ended support for the legacy app previously called Kindle for PC on June 30, 2026. Use the replacement Kindle for Windows app, or choose Kindle for Web if the current app is incompatible with your PC.
Read Kindle books in your browser
Open Kindle for Web in a compatible desktop browser. Select Sign in with your account when prompted, sign in with the Amazon account containing your books, and open a title from Library. You do not need a Kindle device.
Amazon lists minimum browser versions of Chrome 87, Firefox 78, Edge 87, and Safari 11. Some titles cannot be read in the browser, so use the Windows app for a book that is not eligible for Kindle for Web.
For a separate reading window in Microsoft Edge, open Kindle for Web and select Settings and more > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. In Chrome, select More > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app... and follow the installation instructions. These options apply where your browser permits website installation. Either option still uses Kindle for Web and requires internet access.
Download books before reading offline
Use Kindle for Windows when you need to read without an internet connection. While connected, open Library and double-click each book you want to download. Let each download finish before disconnecting.
You can also download a whole collection instead of opening its books individually. On the Windows app’s home screen, right-click the collection’s name and select Download. Keep the PC connected until the collection has finished downloading.
Kindle for Web reads online and does not download books to your computer, including when installed as a browser app. If you encounter old Kindle Cloud Reader instructions for reading offline in the browser, use the Windows app’s downloads instead.
Fix missing books and reading position sync
If a purchase is missing, first confirm that you signed in with the Amazon account used to buy it. Connect your PC to the internet, select Library in the Windows app’s left navigation bar, and select the sync icon. You can also press F5 anywhere in the app. Wait until the sync icon stops spinning.
To continue from a position saved on another Kindle app or device, open Kindle for Windows on Windows 11 and select More > Settings > Sync, then turn on Sync. Amazon enables this setting by default. Keep the PC connected while it synchronizes.
You can also open Manage Your Content and Devices in your Amazon account, select Preferences > Sync Settings, and turn synchronization on. Then connect and sync the Windows app. When account synchronization is off, Kindle for Web still saves its own reading activity but does not synchronize it to other apps.
Adjust the page and move through your book
While reading in Kindle for Windows, press Page Down, Right Arrow, or Down Arrow for the next page. Press Page Up, Left Arrow, or Up Arrow to go back. To search within the book, press Ctrl + F, or use Ctrl + G to go to a location.
Press Ctrl + D to add a bookmark and Ctrl + N to open the annotation notebook. Increase the font size with Ctrl + + or decrease it with Ctrl + -. Those font shortcuts do not work on comics or children’s content. When you finish reading, press Ctrl + W to close the book.
In Kindle for Web, move to the top of the reader if the toolbar is hidden, then select Aa. Adjust Font, Font Size, Page Color, Layout, Margin, or Reading Progress to suit your preferences. The book’s format determines which adjustments you can use, and Layout supports one or two columns.
For pages whose text cannot be resized, Windows Magnifier can enlarge the view in either the app or browser. On Windows 11 or Windows 10, press Windows + + to start Magnifier, then use Windows + + or Windows + - to adjust magnification. Press Windows + Esc to close it.
Add purchases and borrowed books
To buy another book from Kindle for Windows, select Kindle Store in the left navigation bar and purchase the title using the offered purchase option. Purchasing availability depends on your marketplace and account. Return to Library and sync if the purchase does not appear.
With an active Kindle Unlimited subscription in a supported country, find a title carrying the Kindle Unlimited badge and borrow it. Open the Windows app with the same Amazon account, then download the title from Library. You can have up to 20 Kindle Unlimited titles borrowed at once.
With a library card from a participating U.S. public library, borrow a Kindle-compatible ebook in Libby, then select Shelf > Loans > Read With... > Kindle. Sign in to Amazon when prompted and select Get Library Book.
Open the loan in the Kindle app registered to that account, or in Kindle for Web when the title supports it. Not every Libby title offers Kindle delivery, so these steps apply only to loans with that option.
Add personal ebooks to your Kindle library
For a personal EPUB, PDF, or another compatible document already on your PC, open Kindle for Windows and select Library > Import in the left menu. Find the file, select Open, and follow the import prompts. Sync the library and allow processing to finish before opening the document.
You can also drag a supported file into the Windows app’s library. Amazon supports EPUB, PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, and BMP files. After dragging the file in, sync the library, wait for the document to appear, and open it.
Alternatively, open Send to Kindle and upload a supported document of 200 MB or less. Turn on Add to your library, wait for processing, then sync the Windows app and open the document. This uploads a file you already have rather than downloading a purchased Kindle book.
Read eligible purchases in another ebook reader
Some purchased Kindle books qualify for EPUB or PDF downloads through Manage Your Content and Devices. Sign in with the purchasing account, locate an eligible publisher-confirmed DRM-free purchase, and use its EPUB/PDF download option. Open the downloaded file in a compatible PC reader.
These exports exclude Kindle Unlimited and other loaned books. Older DRM-free publications may also need the publisher to enable downloads, so DRM-free status alone does not guarantee a download option.
If you have calibre installed, select Add books and add the eligible downloaded EPUB. Select the book, then select View or press V to read it. A supported EPUB needs no conversion. Protected Kindle downloads cannot simply be imported and converted into readable books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kindle for Windows read a book aloud?
Yes, you can use Assistive Reader with eligible content in Kindle for Windows. Open the book, select Aa, and enable Assistive Reader, then press Ctrl + T to toggle speech. Press Space to pause or resume.
Does Kindle for Windows work with screen readers?
Yes, you can read supported titles with Windows 11 Narrator, NVDA 2017.1 or higher, or JAWS. Check the book’s product details for Screen Reader: Supported before choosing it, since behavior varies by title and screen reader. On Windows 11, press Windows + Ctrl + Enter to start Narrator, then press the same combination to stop it.
Can you preview a Kindle book before buying it?
Yes, you can select Read sample below the cover image on eligible Amazon book detail pages to open a preview on your PC. Samples contain only part of the book, and some formats and languages are excluded.
Can another adult share a Kindle book with your PC account?
Yes, you can receive eligible content through linked adult Amazon Family accounts, subject to marketplace requirements. If you are sharing a title, open the Content page, select Books, choose the title, and select Add to Library to open the Family Library options. If you are receiving it, sign in to Kindle on your PC with your own linked adult account and open the shared book.
How do you make existing Comixology purchases appear in Kindle?
On your Comixology settings page, select Show your Comixology books. Refresh or sync the Kindle library, then open the comic associated with that account. Synchronization may take several hours.