PDF support on the Kindle is experimental and via conversion of PDFs to Kindle format. This post covers how to do kindle pdf conversions for Kindle 1 and Kindle 2.
Amazon also has the Kindle DX which has in-built PDF support (licensed from Adobe). Check out my Kindle DX PDF FAQ for details.
Kindle PDF Conversion using MobiPocket Creator
There are a few ways to convert PDF files for the Kindle. One is by using the MobiPocket Creator – MobiPocket Creator – a free software from MobiPocket. In addition to PDF you can easily convert Word, HTML, and .txt for the Kindle. If you do not use the link above and go to the MobiPocket Software page, then you will get a choice between Home edition and Publisher edition, choose MobiPocket Creator Publisher edition. The Home edition does not have the PDF option.
Here’s a video walkthrough (The first 7:43 – then it repeats) – done
Another option is to use Stanza, which lets you ‘read eBooks on your Mac or PC and share with your iPhone, iPod Touch, & Kindle.
Kindle PDF Conversion via Amazon’s PDF Conversion Service
Finally there is paid and free conversion to Kindle format. For PDF files this is ‘experimental’.
Paid Conversion (10 cents per file) -
An attachment sent to your Kindle’s e-mail address (“name”@kindle.com) will be converted and delivered wirelessly to your Kindle for a charge of only ten cents per document.
Free Conversion – instructions from Amazon’s page (the ‘converting your personal documents’ section is what you should look at) are
If you are not in a wireless area or would like to avoid the ten-cent fee, you can send attachments to “name”@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed back to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection.
If the lack of PDF support was holding you back from buying a Kindle you should see that you can either use MobiPocket Creator or Stanza or Amazon’s experimental conversion and PDF support on the Kindle is no longer as much of an issue (some files still don’t convert well). Combined with all the other Kindle benefits it makes sense to order an Amazon Kindle Now!.
Detailed PDF Conversion Steps for Mac and Windows
How to Use Stanza to convert pdf files for your Kindle on the Mac -
“Simply open the book in Stanza, plug in your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable that was supplied with the device, select File->Export Book As->Amazon Kindle, then browse to the Kindle on the save file dialog. The Kindle will appear in the dialog with the name you assigned to it when you first registered it.”
How to use MobiPocket Creator to convert pdf files for your Kindle on the PC (see video above for actual walkthrough) -
- Make sure you have the Publisher Edition.
- When you start MobiPocket Creator, the main screen has on the right ‘Import From Existing File’ options – one of which is PDF.
- Choose the file(s) to import. And import it.
- After that select Build from the top menu.
- This will create the file + by default opens the file folder.
- In this folder, look for a file with .prc extension and copy it to the Kindle’s Document folder.
4.2
Take personal content along with you
Protect the distribution of copyrighted content
Filed under: kindle | Tagged: amazon kindle mobipocket, amazon kindle pdf, amazon kindle word, kindle convesion, kindle pdf, kindle to pdf, mobipocket creator kindle, pdf conversion kindle, pdf kindle, pdf to kindle
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Not all PDFs can be converted. There are DRM issues, plus any PDF that is mostly graphical in nature (pictures, diagrams, charts, tables, etc.) will probably not convert well. This is why Amazon says their conversion process is experimental.
Another issue with conversions where MobiPocket is great: when you email a text file, Word doc, PDF, etc. to Amazon for conversion, the author’s name doesn’t get listed on the Kindle home page – instead, your email address displays. But if you use MobiPocket Creator to do the conversion, you can add the book’s author and cover artwork, etc. in the setup, and it will load to the Kindle.
[...] BTW, since most of these are in PDF format, this would probably help – How to view PDF files on the Kindle. [...]
This didn’t help at all. I have a MAC, not a windows machine.
Then buy a Windows machine.
Or install Windows on a VM
Well – i couldn’t find anything to convert pdfs to kindle format on the mac. So you have two options
1) use the free or paid pdf conversion service from amazon.
2) use the MobiPocket software via a virtual machine (parallels, Fusion) or use Boot Camp.
hope this helps.
I did a little searching around and a program called Stanza can convert pdf files to the kindle format if you are using a mac. From what they say on their website the pdf function can be a little hit or miss. I have not bought a kindle yet but I use a mac. If I do get one I’ll let you know how well the program works for me.
For the time being, I’ve downloaded the program and I tested opening some pdf files (text only, no graphics) and Stanza opened them fine. I copied the instructions below from the Stanza website.
“Simply open the book in Stanza, plug in your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable that was supplied with the device, select File->Export Book As->Amazon Kindle, then browse to the Kindle on the save file dialog. The Kindle will appear in the dialog with the name you assigned to it when you first registered it.”
Hope this helps out the Mac users.
wow – thanks a ton Jeff.
I imported a PDF into mobipocket creator and it “converted” it into a subfolder. however, there were no files with .prc extension. The kindle could not “see” any of the files that were created. So what good is this?
Craig managed to resolve this.
Step 1: Import a pdf file into mobipocket creator.
Step 2: USe the ‘Build’ button/feature to create the actual book.
drop a comment if you have any questions.
I tried the conversions using both Stanza and the Amazon service. If the pdfs are heavily formatted they are not going to work that well. I have a bunch of development books I purchased in pdf and they are very difficult to read on the kindle. Formatting is off and the TOC doesn’t work and in many cases is not properly aligned. I am going to keep trying. My overall impression is that this is only good as a last resort. If the books you want are available in the kindle format, as much as I hate to suggest it, re-purchase them!
[...] works but want to make sure this is possible before purchasing one. I just ran across this: How to view PDF files on the Kindle Amazon Kindle Guide, Free Books & Resources There may be a way after all. I also noticed that the Kindle also renders jpegs. Acrobat (if you [...]
The MobiCreator software creates html files. You can edit the Html file to fix any formatting issues, etc, before you build the .prc book.
I do have a Kindle, and I also do use the mac. And Stanza does work as a converter.
Thanks to Jeff’s very helpful comment (thanks!) I checked out Stanza. After downloading and opening the program, I took me less than a minute to export my book-length PDF as a Kindle .azw file. Brilliant! I’ve only done this one conversion so far so I can’t say how well Stanza will work in all circumstances.
[...] on PC (choose the publisher edition), or using Stanza on Mac. Full details at my article on converting PDF files for the Kindle. You can also try PDF Hammer’s tool for editing PDF files in your [...]
[...] tried that and as I mentioned before I’m not super techie I did find this though hope it helps How to view PDF files on the Kindle Amazon Kindle, Books & Amazon News Blog __________________ [...]
Has anyone used KINDLE to display scientific articles that contain figures? I am a MAC user and would need to convert from PDF. There are always figures, often in color. Any idea how these would convert and appear in B&W? Can a Kindle handle this?
Try this out, it worked for me.
open your PDF document
do a “save as” to a Word Doc format – for 800 pages it took about 2 minutes
Open the new Word document
do a “save as” to a Plain Text TXT format – took about 1 minute
connect your kindle to your computer and put the new TXT file on your kindle.
and now you will have the document on the kindle to read.
seems too simple, but it is working for me.
It sounds like if it’s a PDF file that has been scanned (i.e. we get a lot of reading from books that are scanned as pdf filesso we don’t all have to have every book) then the conversion is not going to go so well? The conversion only works for PDF files that are CREATED as such, like, with the original text rather than a scan of a page? Does anyone understand what I am trying to ask?
Megan – yes – i get what you are saying, and yes, it does make a lot of sense. Intuitively i’d say that’s exactly what the problem probably is –
1. PDF files that are mostly scanned images don’t convert well to Amazon Kindle format.
I think we need to experiment a little bit, perhaps ask people to send in PDFs that don’t convert well, and see whether they really are mostly scanned images.
people – please send in any pdfs that don’t convert well I can take a look.
Hmm… well, does anyone know if Kindle 2.0 is supposed to support this? I saw a lot of speculation on what people would LIKE to have for 2.0 but not so much for what it will actually have. I suspect Amazon that not moving along so fast with their development or not having a lot of success…
My old scanner actually converted scanned docs to word files. Just because something was scanned doesn’t mean it won’t work.
Don’t bet on it though.
I put a scientific paper with a heck load of graphs on my kindle. It’s okay. Not great, but workable. 3 stars out of 5.
Will someone please make an ebook creator for mac already!
In case anyone didn’t catch this: The MobiPocket Creator is now entirely free.
[...] Can I read pdf documents on the Kindle? A: After converting you can – Here are some Kindle PDF conversion instructions. [...]
I wrote a windows app a couple of months ago now that handles all these formats including PDB files using some of the stand alone converters listed here. The app figures out the filetype from the extension and then figures out the correct workflow itself making this a 2 step process. Select your source file and select where to save it. It is still beta and I update it once or twice a week but I myself and some others have found it very useful so far.
Here is a link to sourceforge
http://sourceforge.net/project/platformdownload.php?group_id=248415
[...] eHarlequin you can get 16 free eBooks (in PDF format) – do check out the pdf conversion post if you don’t know how to convert PDF files to kindle [...]
[...] – 24 or so. Magazines – around 20. Also you can load your own documents provided you’ve converted them into Kindle format. The first two methods described here work for convertible formats like PDF, HTML, DOC document [...]
I’ve dropped my Kindle a few times already (not on purpose of course) and it seems to be working without a hitch; so they’re durable at least
If you send your pdf to be converted what is “name”@free.kindle.com
“name” what do I put there my name or what ?
when you set up your kindle, you select an email address. see the first photograph at this post – http://ireaderreview.com/2009/02/23/manage-my-kindle-kindle-2-amazon/
and how I have thekindleblog@kindle.com as my email address. “name” refers to the part before the @ i.e. “thekindleblog”
you can go to your Manage My Kindle Section and pick an email address there or change it.
Wow, that Stanza is brilliant. I can download any large-sized document directly to my Kindle, whereas before I was hampered by docs under 5 MB! Thanks so much for the tip.
[...] In case you wanted to transfer PDF’s on a Kindle [...]
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[...] wirelessly costs an additional 10 cents per file. To avoid that charge users can go through a tedious conversion process that involves emailing the file to their Kindle associated account and that transferring it to the [...]
[...] this a true wireless device. But worth it for the long, long battery life and the nice screen. Kindle PDF conversion – View PDF on Kindle « Kindle 2, Kindle Books Reader 2.0 – Amazon… PDF support on the Kindle is experimental – there are a few ways to convert PDF files for the [...]
[...] this a true wireless device. But worth it for the long, long battery life and the nice screen. Kindle PDF conversion – View PDF on Kindle « Kindle 2, Kindle Books Reader 2.0 – Amazon… PDF support on the Kindle is experimental – there are a few ways to convert PDF files for the [...]
[...] is SO much better than both the Stanza way, and Amazon’s own converter. Follow the 6 steps: HERE. And you’ll be fine. Yes, it’s a Windows program. I haven’t researched Mac [...]
[...] the PDF to Kindle Conversion post for details (there’s a Kindle 2 PDF video walkthrough too) – [...]
[...] While Kindle 2 does not read PDFs natively, you can translate any PDF to Amazon’s Kindle format for free. [...]
[...] is SO much better than both the Stanza way, and Amazon’s own converter. Follow the 6 steps: HERE. And you’ll be fine. Yes, it’s a Windows program. I haven’t researched Mac [...]
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Nice site….informative. DX is the one for me however, Regarding annotating….is that useful or not really designed for it? regarding PDF/Newspaper/Book reading…..are we able to copy and paste text into the email app and summarize things and perhap print it? Will the lack of folders (mind boggling) we addressed in a software update or would that require buying a new device? thanks, Jerry
Jerry,
1) annotations are useful, although they’re a little difficult to do. Thye do not work with PDFs on the Kindle DX. You have to convert PDFs to Amazon format to be able to add annotations and highlight and do clippings.
2) email app? there is no email app. you can email from the browser – yes. i’ll have to check on whether you can copy paste. will update in a bit.
no option to print from kindle.
3) lack of folders. don’t know if/when that will be addressed. Its been ongoing since the first kindle came out in nov end 2007.
ok thanks. I am just trying to determine…if i am making annotations, how can i have some kind of output that i can see if my kindle is off, hence copy and paste into email and send so i can print. or save it to a format that i can transfer to usb and then print. it has a lot of cool features, but it is missing a lot of no-brainers too. it feels like a great idea that is half way there. Without this site…..i would not have considered buying it. Now i am half-way there…..
Jerry,
here’s what’s possible –
1) All annotations are saved in the My Clippings File.
2) You can transfer that file to your PC. And then use it, or better still …
3) here’s a macro for word that extracts all the notes and clippings specific to a book from the MyClippings file – http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/543/comment-page-1
4) then you can print it out.
Agree with you that these are things which should be options from the kindle itself.
Perhaps its an attempt to prevent outright piracy?
perhaps something else.
can I convert a newspaper on newsstand to be read on a DX?
I don’t understand your question.
If you’re asking whether you can scan in a newspaper, create a PDF and read that – yes.
Not sure what your question is.
I live at Sunset Beach, NC. I subscribe to a newspaper (Charlotte Observer) which I read on the internet. The subscription is through Newsstand, and I log on there to read the paper each morning. Can I log on with a Kindle DX or down load some way to read newspaper.? Thanks for quick reply!!!
Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 seems to have the ability to “Save as Text” (under the File menu). Doesn’t that solve most of these problems? (aside from the notion that images aren’t converted)
My experience with PDF conversion is… white spaces got trimmed randomly.
http://www.billibala.com/gizmo/492/kindle-pdf-and-file-conversion
Any light on what I can do?
use MobiPocket Creator.
if you’re having problems even after using MPC
leave a comment with a link to the file and i’ll see if i can do a white space free conversion for you.
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I’m a Mac – and Kindle DX User. I heavily rely upon calibre (open soure; available for mac, win, linux). It is a ebook Library manager on first sight. On second sight it can import, export and convert a wide range of formats (pdf, lit, ltf, azw, prc, mobi, html, doc, …). It even can load rss feeds and build complete subscriptions (full news article, not just the intro) and send it to your kindle account mail address (or just copies it via usb to your reader). It auto detects your reader (not just kindle) and can be set to sync subscriptions automatically when attached. There is a lot more to this. It’s version 0.6.11 right now. Still a way to go but already usable on a day per day basis. Especially if you’re outside the US and want make use of your Kindle device in a effectively manner.
I want to use the Kindle for tech books. Some of which have CDs available with the paper version. Is the content of the CDs available with the ebooks.
Sonja, you might want to get in touch with the author/publisher about that.
or kindle customer service.
not sure how amazon and publishers handle tech books with cd content.
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ok – i found this page that is in russian (i guess) and lets you download the charlotte observer.
http://vedomosti.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
if your newsstand lets you save the file to read offline, then you can take the file it saves and see if its a non DRM’ed PDf that can be read on the Kindle DX. if you can save the offline version and tell me what format it is and whether it opens in adobe reader, I could tell you whether it would probably work.
also, call up kindle customer support –