Kindle Paperwhite
Calibre
Managing your library and sending books with Calibre.
Calibre is the free desktop program most people use to keep an ebook library in order and copy books onto a reader. With a Paperwhite it works over USB out of the box, and it can also send books wirelessly to your Kindle email address.
What to know before you start
- Send AZW3, not EPUB. The Paperwhite does not read EPUB files copied over by cable. Calibre converts to AZW3 (also called KF8) automatically when it sends to a Kindle, and keeps your EPUB copy in its library.
- KFX is Amazon’s newer format. It gives slightly better typography and features like Page Flip. Calibre can produce it, but only with the community “KFX Output” plugin installed. AZW3 is fine for most reading; add KFX only if you notice the difference.
- Books land in “Documents”. Sideloaded books show on the Kindle under the Library, tagged as personal documents. They sync their furthest page read across your devices if “Whispersync for personal documents” is on in your Amazon settings.
- Keep your originals as EPUB. Convert once, from the best source, and keep the EPUB.