Guide
How I use Send-to-Kindle with low vision
How to load non-Amazon content onto the free Kindle app and across devices, and how I use Send-to-Kindle to display large print.
One of my favorite things about the free Amazon Kindle app is the Send-to-Kindle feature, which offers an easy way to sideload content and does not require users to have a Kindle device. Send To Kindle content is added to the device library and can be used across devices just like other titles purchased from the Kindle store, making it easier for me to configure display options like large text, highlights/annotations, and line spacing. Here is how I use Send-to-Kindle with low vision, and how this free tool has helped me tremendously in college and for leisure reading.
What is sideloading?
In this context, sideloading refers to loading titles into a reading application that were purchased or downloaded from another source. Readers can upload files using the file browser or cloud storage tool and then read it with their preferred reading application and display settings. Examples of file formats that can be sideloaded into reading applications include PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, and EPUB, though the size limits vary between applications. Readers can sideload content into reading applications at no additional cost, though some specialty applications may require a subscription for larger files.
Send-t0-Kindle is completely free to use, though it requires users to have an Amazon account. Once content is downloaded to the Kindle library, it can be accessed offline with the option to have reading progress synchronized across connected devices. Sideloaded content can be read on a Kindle device, mobile application, or in the web browser with no additional downloads required.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Amazon Kindle App and Low Vision Accessibility
Send-to-Kindle file formats and restrictions
Send-to-Kindle supports sideloading with a size limit of 200 MB per file, and takes 2-5 minutes to be delivered to the device library for reading. Send-to-Kindle is available for the following file formats:
- DOC/DOCX
- TXT
- RTF
- HTM/HTML
- PNG
- GIF
- JPG/JPEG
- BMP
- EPUB
For the Kindle mobile apps, Assistive Reader and text-to-speech features are not supported for sideloaded content, though some users have reported being able to use device tools like VoiceOver and Select-to-speak/Speak Text for EPUBs and DOC/DOCX files. However, I have not been able to replicate this consistently in my own trials.
I use Send-to-Kindle most often with EPUB and DOC/DOCX file formats.
Related links
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
Selecting libraries for Send-to-Kindle
Users can configure their Send-to-Kindle settings to send content to all devices or to a specific device connected to an Amazon account. To save documents automatically, users will need to go to their Amazon account to open Digital Content (Manage Your Content & Devices), Preferences, and then Personal Document Setting to ensure that Personal Document Archiving is enabled/turned on.
Send to Kindle library via email
To use Send-to-Kindle with email, users will first need to locate their Send-to-Kindle email address and add approved email addresses that can be used to send content. This can be found within a user’s Amazon account by going to Digital Content (Manage Your Content & Devices), Preferences, and then Personal Document Settings. Once that is set up, users can send content for sideloading by sending a blank email with no subject line to the device’s email address, with the content for sideloading as an attachment.
Users can also customize the email address used for sideloading so that it is something easy for them to remember, though they will still need to manually add emails for approval. For users that regularly receive trusted emails from a specific domain (like a school email address), emails on that domain can be approved by adding an @ in front of the domain. For example, if someone wanted to approve all documents or content emailed from an address associated with my website, they could add “@veroniiiica.com” as an approved sender.
Related links
Send-to-Kindle from web browser
Another option is to go to the Send-to-Kindle website and upload content from the device file browser, which will add the content to the Kindle library for viewing in the web/mobile applications or on a Kindle eReader. This is really helpful for uploading content that has been saved to a computer or another device, such as downloading readings for my classes that I can annotate or access offline.
Related links
- Send to Kindle (amazon.com)
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- How I’m Using My eReader To Support Virtual Learning
Send-to-Kindle with Android and iOS mobile applications
Reading content in another application and want to add it to the Kindle library? Open or select the file in another app and select the Share icon, followed by selecting the Kindle icon. This will save the content to the Kindle library for later reading.
Related links
Send-to-Kindle with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge extensions
Send-to-Kindle offers free web browser extensions for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge so users can save HTM/HTML files directly from their browser to their Kindle library. Once the desired link/content is open, select the Kindle button in the toolbar or extensions menu to save it to the Kindle library. There are three options for using Send-to-Kindle with browser extensions:
- Quick Send instantly sends full pages to the device library- all web content is included
- Preview and send allows users to preview how the webpage will appear in the Kindle app
- Send selection sends selected/highlighted text from the page directly to the Kindle app, not the entire webpage
Send-to-Kindle with Microsoft Word (Office 365 subscription required)
Users can send content from Microsoft Word for the web or desktop applications directly to their Kindle library for further reading (not editing). This requires a Microsoft Office 365 subscription for use.
To send documents to Kindle from Microsoft Word, open the File/Menu tab and select Export, followed by Send documents to Kindle. From there, users can select how they want to read their file, with options for reading like a Kindle book with customizable display options for font size, background color, etc, or have it read like a printed document with embedded elements and formatting.
Additional information on file conversion and display can be found at the Amazon support link below.
Related links
- Tips about Converting Personal Documents to a Kindle Format – Amazon Customer Service
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
Send-to-Kindle from Windows computer or Mac
Users can download the Send-to-Kindle app for their Windows or Mac computers to send files directly from their file browser or using drag-and-drop within the app. To send files quickly from the file browser, right-click on the desired file. For Mac devices, select the Send to Kindle option from the list of options. For Windows devices, select the Send To option, followed by Kindle.
Related links
Examples of how I use Send-to-Kindle
Here are some examples of how I use different Send-to-Kindle options as a student with low vision or for leisure reading:
- One of my professors would email class readings in advance instead of having us use a textbook. I would copy the attachments into a new email and send it to my Kindle library directly from my university email, so I could adjust the display formatting on my iPad and position it comfortably under the lined bifocal in my glasses.
- I downloaded several articles from the university library for my research and used the Send-to-Kindle website to upload them to my Kindle device. Since I wasn’t using my personal computer at the time, I had logged into my Amazon account using a private browsing window so that my login information wasn’t stored and made sure to close all windows before I left.
- My friend texted me a file containing a story they wrote, so I shared the file from my mobile device to the Kindle app so I could enlarge the text more easily and not rely on browser zoom.
- For another virtual class, my professor shared a large amount of text content in the course website, and I wanted to save it for easy access later. I used the Microsoft Edge Send-to-Kindle extension to send the selected text to the Kindle app so I could find it easily when working on an assignment later, and not have to go back to the course website.
- When putting together my AT Assessment presentation, I sent a copy from Microsoft Word to my Kindle library so I could read through the document more easily while recording demonstrations or screensharing.
- I downloaded several titles from Bookshare, and wanted to add some of them to my Kindle library. I selected files from my download folder on the computer, and then sent them to my Kindle library so I could read them on my iPad.
Related links
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
- Tips To Stay Organized In Virtual Classes
- Fast Facts About Bookshare
Additional resources on how I use Send-to-Kindle with low vision
- Want to learn more about reading sideloaded content with the Kindle app and how I use it with low vision? Read Amazon Kindle App and Low Vision Accessibilityand Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- Knowing how to sideload content is an important technology skill to have for college transition! Read about additional tech skills that all college students should have in Ten Information Technology Skills Every College Student Needs and Ten Tech Skills Every College Student Needs For Virtual Classes
- I created this resource for Send-to-Kindle as part of my EDAT 649 class (AT Assessment) at George Mason University. Check out more free resources I created for this class by visiting EDAT 649 Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com
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