Amazon is making it easier to convert EPUB ebook files to the Kindle’s proprietary file format later this year. In “late 2022,” Amazon’s Kindle Personal Documents Service will support EPUB files, broadening the sourced content available for Kindle readers.
As revealed by Amazon, the recently updated Kindle Personal Documents Service help page states that there will soon be a workaround to streamline how to convert EPUB files for Kindle.
At first, Amazon Kindle’s original AZW ebook file format was based on the MOBI format. This file was first required per the Mobipocket in 2000. The file formats have slowly changed over time to KF8/AZW3 format and now the KFX, which is proprietary to the Kindle.
There are numerous other e-readers available on the market. However, most typically use the EPUB file format. With how popular the format is, most e-reader users have amassed a catalogue of content built on this format. Throughout the years, Amazon has refused to support EPUB on Kindle devices. Users were either forced to commit to Amazon’s ecosystem or make due with their content being split between multiple ecosystems.
As Gizmodo reports, users will be able to either email EPUB files to their Kindle or use the Send to Kindle app to get EPUB ebooks onto their Kindle devices. The Kindle won’t be able to natively load EPUB files so users won’t be able to connect to a computer and load EPUB files manually. Instead, the Send to Kindle app will automatically convert said files.
Amazon also notes that older MOBI files, such as .AZW and .MOBI, won’t be supported starting in late 2022. “This change won’t affect any MOBI files already in your Kindle library. MOBI is an older file format and won’t support the newest Kindle features for documents.” However, the Send to Kindle support for these files will cease later this year.
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