The estimated reading time for this post is 6 minutes
Q. I hope you can help me. My best friend highly recommends a book that’s only available as a Kindle book. I don’t have a Kindle or even a smartphone. I just use my computer for everything. I thought I couldn’t get the book she recommended but then she told me that I could read Kindle books on my computer.
Could you explain to me whether that’s true or not? If so, how can I read a Kindle book on my computer? (I’m hoping it is true because I really want to read that book!)
A. Great news! Your friend is correct: you can read a Kindle book on a computer. You don’t need a Kindle ereader, smartphone or tablet to read a Kindle book. Whatever you’re using to read this article you can use to read a Kindle book.
Reading a Kindle book on your computer is easy. You can start reading your Kindle book in just a short amount of time, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your book.
2 Ways to Read Your Kindle Books on Your Computer
You have two ways to read a Kindle book on a computer. One way gives you more features making if closer to the experience of reading it on a Kindle. The other way is quick and easy, just opening up a website and reading your book.
First, you can download software from Amazon to access your Kindle library and download and read Kindle books on your computer. Second, you can also use the Kindle Cloud Reader for reading Kindle books by just opening a web page.
Both ways of reading Kindle books are free to use (though you have to buy the Kindle books) and allow you to read your books even when you’re offline. With both ways of reading you must log into your Amazon account to register your computer.
[note]To begin your Kindle library, go to Amazon and search for the book you want after you have registered your computer. [/note]
Kindle Software
You can download software to your PC or Mac to read Kindle books on your computer.
For PC:
Go to Amazon’s Support Page for Kindle for PC and click on Download & Install the Latest Version of Kindle for PC. Follow the instructions on Amazon’s website for downloading and setting up Kindle for PC.
For Mac:
Go to Amazon’s Support Page for Kindle for Mac and click on Download & Install the Latest Version of Kindle for Mac. Follow the instructions on Amazon’s website for downloading and setting up Kindle for Mac.
Reading a Kindle book using software
To read a book using Kindle software, click on the Kindle icon to open the software. The first time you open the software you will have to log into your Amazon account to register your computer and access your Kindle library.
You will see your Kindle library complete with full color book covers. You can search for the book you want and then click on the cloud icon to download the book to your computer.
[tip]You must be connected to the Internet to download a Kindle book to your computer but you can read the book even when you’re offline.[/tip]
You can control how your Kindle book appears on your screen by clicking on the Aa button at the top of the screen. You have a choice of:
- font size,
- words per line,
- brightness and
- color of the page (white, black or sepia)
You can display the page in single or double column formats. You can also search within the book, navigate around the book, create highlights and read your highlights using the software.
Highlight a word to look up its definition, add notes, find out more information via Google or Wikipedia and more.
You can maximize the size of the window to fill up your screen or adjust it to cover just part of your screen. Your reading progress will appear at the bottom of the screen, showing you how much of the book you’ve read.
Kindle Cloud Reader
Kindle Cloud Reader is a website where you can read your Kindle books. The advantage of Kindle Cloud Reader is that you don’t have to download any software so you can access your Kindle books without using software or an app. This makes reading Kindle books on your computer faster and easier plus comes in handy when you’re using a computer at work, school or any computer that isn’t your own. You can also use Kindle Cloud Reader on your mobile device without having to download a Kindle app.
Go to the Kindle Cloud Reader website and log into your Amazon account.
With the Cloud Reader you’re given the option to either read your Kindle books online or download them to your device to read offline. If you’ll be using your computer to read Kindle books on an airplane or another place where you don’t have Wi-Fi available, you should choose “Enable”. If you don’t want the book to be downloaded to the computer you’re using then choose “Not Now”.
You can find out more information about using the Kindle Cloud Reader from the Amazon Help page.
As with Kindle software for your computer, the Cloud Reader allows you to choose:
- font size
- single or double columns
- margins
- color of the page (white, black or sepia)
— by clicking on the Aa icon at the top of the page.
You can also highlight a word to see the definition and take notes but you don’t have as many options as you do with Kindle software.
[tip]You can use the Kindle Cloud Reader on mobile devices instead of using the Kindle app. [/tip]
Whispersync
With Whispersync you won’t lose your place when you start reading on one device and continue reading on another one. If you read a Kindle book on your computer, your place is saved so you can pick up where you left off reading on another computer, a Kindle or a mobile device.
Whispersync also works between Kindle books and Audible audiobooks so you can switch back and forth between the two formats without losing your place in the book.
To use Whispersync, click on the icon of circle arrows at the top of your screen.
Find out more about Whispersync from Whispersync for Voice: The Marriage of Kindle and Audible.
Bottom Line
You can access and read your entire Kindle library on your computer. You can choose from using Kindle software or Cloud Reader to read your Kindle books. If you’re using your own computer and want the added features, you may prefer to use Kindle software. If you’re using a computer belonging to someone else, you can use the Kindle Cloud reader to read your Kindle books.
Enjoy your Kindle book!
Your Thoughts
Have you ever read a Kindle book on a computer? Did you know that you can use your computer to read a Kindle book? Let us know in the Comments section below!
_______________________
The Happy Place
If you’re looking for an inspirational book to start or add to your Kindle library, check out The Happy Place by fellow blogger and Wonder of Tech reader Lori Gosselin. If the winter blues have gotten ahold of you or you want encouragement to make positive changes in your life, this book may be just solution you’re looking for.
The book is a mere 88 pages, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in the quality of both its writing and the message it delivers. On sale for $0.99 at Amazon, The Happy Place is an inexpensive way to get started trying a Kindle book.
Hi Carolyn,
This is indeed a wonderful tutorial on how to read a kindle, especially on a computer 🙂
I know the tough time I had when I had to do it the first time, being a non-tech person. But with time and patience I found out about it. Don’t ask me about reading it on my mobile, that I can never do, though my kids manage that pretty well…lol 🙂
Need to share this with others because I know there are many like me who must be stuck with this one.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena, Yes, it can be confusing to know how to read a Kindle book on a computer because there are two choices. Some people don’t know about both choices and others confuse the two choices.
It comes down to whether you want to download software to your computer for added features. If those aren’t important to you, or you are on a computer that is not your own, use the Kindle Cloud Reader. But if you’re on your computer and want more features, download the Kindle software.
You’re right, there are also two choices on mobile devices: apps and the Cloud Reader. You can read your Kindle books using the Cloud Reader on a mobile device but most people prefer the Kindle apps which have more features.
Thanks so much for sharing and for your lovely comment, Harleena!
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks so much for this – not only for the mention for which I am honored, but for this great resource for people who don’t understand this process. It’s so well explained here that it is now my go-to resource for explaining how people can read a Kindle book even if they don’t have a Kindle Reader!
Lori
Hi Lori, You’re welcome. I suggested your book because I think I highlighted more in your book than in any other Kindle book I have read! It’s a great book to demonstrate how highlighting works on the Kindle for computer.
You’re right, Lori. Many, many people don’t realize that you don’t need to have a Kindle to read a Kindle book. I have mentioned it in a lot of my articles on Kindle books but I realized that a separate article was needed to not only make it clear but to explain how to do it.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words!
Thank you for this robust information I never thought I can not use kindle from the computer.
Hi Melanie, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re not alone. Many people don’t realize they can read Kindle books on a computer. I have included that information in a lot of articles but explaining the process in a separate article may be more helpful in spreading the word.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us!
Hello,
Well yes I don’t have kindle device and I’ve download few kindle ebook and it was pending to read. I guess I’ll surely check this site to readout the ebooks.
Thanks
Hi Samir, Yes, you can read your Kindle books on your computer. You can either download the Kindle software or use the Cloud Reader, which ever works best for you!
Really great explanation Carolyn and as you already know, you taught me how to do this last year. I wasn’t aware that I could read them on my computer either and I was so upset that everything I wanted was on Kindle.
I really think this was a smart way for them to go. Just like the issue of the person in your question had, no Kindle and no smartphone. So this was how I was reading mine but once again, I bought me a Kindle a couple weeks ago as a Christmas gift to myself and I’m thrilled with it. For those times I’m so ready to walk away from the computer.
Really great share Carolyn, once again thank you for your thorough explanation.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Yes, I had received similar questions from many readers before so when this reader asked the question, I knew it was time for an article on how to read a Kindle book on a computer.
Many Wonder of Tech readers don’t have any devices other than their computers, but they can still read Kindle books.
I’m with you, Adrienne, I like reading on my Kindle even though I can read Kindle books on my computer and other mobile devices. Nothing beats my Kindle Paperwhite for reading books. The features on the Kindle are very useful and I really enjoy the eInk screen because it’s so much easier on my eyes. Like you, I spend the day on my computer so I don’t need any more eyestrain.
I also like that my Kindle is for reading only. I can’t seem to finish a Kindle book on my computer or my iPad because I am so easily distracted.
I use Windows 8 – it came with a Kindle App, so I didn’t have to worry about downloading anything.
I do have a few books on the list (almost all of them I got for free through deals and stuff), but I haven’t read any of them (I just forget to read the book via Laptop). Plus, these days I don’t use the tablet very much, so that option is not viable.
But, I have taken it seriously (not intentionally though). I just bought one of my text books through Kindle, so every time I want to read that text book, I am reminded about the books in Kindle market place 😀 (Hopefully I will be able read it soon…my other reading list is kind of big right now ~ about 50 more books to go).
Anyways, thank you for sharing this, Carolyn 🙂 Hope you are having a great week!
Hi Jeevan, Yes, now that you have a Kindle textbook you may find that accessing it on your computer is very helpful. Whispersync will come in handy too so you can switch back and forth between your laptop and your tablet.
Good luck in your class, Jeevan! :-bd
Currently working on Ubuntu and Cloud Reader is doing a good job, but as well as the application Calibre which can read almost every ebook format.
Hello Kaloyan, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Good point, Calibre is an excellent resource as well. I tend to prefer Kindle books specifically because of Whispersync. I like being able to switch devices and pick up where I left off on another device. I especially appreciate that feature between audiobooks and ebooks and Kindle/Audible allow me to do just that.
You’re right, for people who want to read ebooks in different formats, Calibre is a great tool for that. Thanks so much for sharing that valuable information with us, Kaloyan!
Hi Carolyn,
I have Kindle on my iPad, but thanks to your post, now I know how to make it available for my wife on her Windows computer. I never doubted there was a way to do it; I had just never considered it.
Thanks a lot!
Have a great weekend 🙂
Bill
Hi Bill, That’s great that this article introduced the idea of reading a Kindle book on the computer for your wife. Sometimes we don’t think of these things until they are presented to us.
I hope she discovers many new favorites now that she will be reading Kindle books, Bill. Enjoy!
Hi,
nice post indeed.I use kindle software on my laptop to read kindle book.and my phone has inbuilt kindle cloud reader. thank you for more informative post. keep sharing.
Hi Sameer, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m glad you’re making good use of your devices to read Kindle books. Thanks for sharing that with us!