Microsoft Word to Amazon Kindle export feature enters beta
Announced in January 2023, the ability to export Microsoft Word documents to Amazon Kindle devices is now available for testing. The feature is available in Microsoft Word for Windows and Word for Mac, but currently only for beta and preview versions of Microsoft Word.
Microsoft plans to introduce the feature in Word for the Web soon as well. The sending feature requires a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Word users find the Kindle export option under File > Export > Send to Kindle. Once selected, they may be asked to sign-in to their Amazon account and to allow the sending.
Word displays two format choices afterwards, Like a Kindle book and Like a printed document. Once a format has been selected, activation of the send button uploads the document to the Amazon account, so that it will become available in the Kindle library.
Microsoft explains the two format choices in the following way:
- Like a Kindle book -- Makes font sizes and page layouts adjustable. Supports handwritten sticky notes with Kindle Scribe. Good for test with simpler formatting and reading on smaller screens.
- Like a printed documented -- Keeps page layouts and formatting as-is. Supports writing directly on the page with Kindle Scribe. Good for test with more complex formatting and elements like embedded tables.
The information is displayed to users who activate the "send to Kindle" button in Microsoft Word.
It may take a "few minutes" before the document appears in the account's Kindle library according to Microsoft.
Word users may visit Amazon's official Send to Kindle website for additional information on the integration of the feature in Microsoft Word. The webpage lists others options to upload documents to an Amazon customer's Kindle library.
There, Amazon customers find options to upload different document and image formats using drag & drop, and how to push documents from various platforms or application types.
Microsoft explains that the new feature may be useful to customers who want to read Word documents on Kindle devices while in transit or when on vacation.
The main advantage over uploading the Word document as is to Kindle is that it is optimized in one of two ways for reading on the Kindle device.
Closing Words
Send to Kindle will be released to stable versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Word for the Web soon. A Microsoft 365 subscription is the main requirement then to make use of the feature.
Now You: do you read documents on Kindle or other ebook readers?
If you send a Word document to Kindle, then edit it in Word and send it again; does it update the last version, or does it just upload another document so you now have two versions?
@ECJ–I’m puzzled about the whole thing and what MS hopes to gain. Anyone with a Kindle and an Amazon account can use the “Send to Kindle” app which works fine. [See previous comment.]
https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle/
Yes, I don’t normally use “Send to Kindle,” but chances are if one sends a Word document to Kindle through MS Word, it will keep adding document after document rather than replacing the old document. It may rename it to (1), (2) or something.
@John G. “This feature should be free of cost (i.e., with no subscription requirement). Or maybe am I wrong and subscription means more likely an account of Microsoft 365?”
That’s what puzzles me. “Send to Kindle” IS free. No MS Account needed; no Word; no MS 365.
What value is MS giving to customers in promoting a product that’s been around for years? None really.
I prefer to save my Word documents or other supported formats to my computer first; then, I can send what I may want to read on the train to Kindle.
This feature should be free of cost (i.e. with no subscription requirement). Or maybe am I wrong and subscription means more likely an account of Microsoft 365?
No. Just no. No Microsoft on my Kindle.
Yes, “Send to Kindle” worked fine; just sent a .png file and a somewhat lengthy .docx file.
Supported File Types: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, EPUB
There is, however, a 200 MB max file size.
Wondering how or why? “Send to Kindle” works fine:
https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle/
I read other documents on my Kindle, including an extensive list of contacts.
What I’m really interested in is whether or not this feature will replace KindleGen, which would be excellent.