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A Kindle is a great way to carry all your books in one simple form factor. A handy device that is lighter than a tablet and relatively inexpensive, the best Kindles make it easy to buy, borrow, and keep your books safe.
Also: You can read PDFs and articles on your Kindle: How to send all kinds of files to your device
Author Donalyn Miller put it best when she said, “You are not done with a book until you pass it to another reader.”
Here’s how to loan a Kindle book so you can share the joy of reading with your family and friends. There are two simple ways. I’ll cover both options, so you can choose which suits your needs.
How to loan a Kindle book with friends
You can loan some books to other users after you’ve purchased them. Unfortunately, many don’t support loaning. The publisher sets the loaning conditions for their books, so the loan term varies, but it is often about 14 days.
Also: How to quickly convert EPUB files to Kindle format – and why it matters
If the recipient does not accept the loan book within seven days, the book will be returned to you.
Use either the mobile app or a web browser to log in to your Amazon account, then access your account settings by clicking Account & Lists in the top-right corner of the page.
Log in, then click on Account & Lists.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Go to Content Library under your Amazon account; this area gives you access to the settings for your purchased devices and content, such as books, apps, video, and music.
Select Books out of your available content. This step will bring up a list of your purchased and borrowed books.
Choose Books.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The list of your purchased books shows options for each book to the right of the page. Clicking More actions shows your options in a dropdown menu.
Click on More actions.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
In the “More actions” menu, click “Loan this title” to lend it to someone else. Next, you’ll be prompted to fill out a form with the recipient’s information.
Click on Loan this title.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Next, you’ll be taken to a form to enter your lending details. These details are the recipient’s email address, name, and sender information with a personal message.
Also: Got an old Kindle? How to resurrect your e-reader with new books
Fill out the form for the loan.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Not all books can be loaned, so if yours doesn’t have the “Loan this title” option, you can try sharing it through your family library.
How to loan a Kindle book with family
An alternative to sharing a book is to use the Family Library.
Also: I’ve been a Kindle user for over a decade – here’s why the Paperwhite is still my top choice
This approach can be taken in the same actions menu that you reach by following steps 1-4 above, or from the book’s options menu within the Kindle app.
Click Manage Family Library instead if there is no Loan this title option in the “More actions” dropdown menu.
Instead of selecting Loan this title, choose Manage Family Library.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Your family library includes the members of your Amazon household.
Select someone in the family library to give them access to your book.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
When you select someone to share the book with, click the yellow Make Changes button to share it with them. You can add or remove books from your family library at any time.
Click Make Changes to confirm.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
How many devices can share a Kindle book?
A Kindle book can only be shared once. After the book is returned to your library in 14 days, you won’t be able to share it again with anyone else.
However, one book can be read on several devices at once, as long as you’re logged in to those devices with your Amazon account through the Kindle app. So you can pause reading a book on your Kindle and pick it back up in the Kindle app on your iPad, for example, and the software will allow you to access it.
Other ways to get the most out of your Kindle:
- How to get (great) free books on Kindle
- How to buy books on Kindle
Can I gift Kindle books?
If your book doesn’t allow lending and you’re okay giving it away, you can gift it through Amazon. In the same options menu within your account settings, you can choose Gift Now on a book you’ve purchased to send it to someone else. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to access the book unless you repurchase it through the Kindle Store.
Can I share a book from my Kindle directly?
Loaning is not available via the Kindle settings, but you can view and manage your family library right on your Kindle device. Here’s how:
- From the Kindle homepage, tap the menu button (the three lines in the top-right corner).
- Select Settings.
- Tap on Household & Family Library.
- Choose which account to manage.
What is Amazon’s Household and Family Sharing?
Amazon Household lets users share some of their Prime benefits with family members, including one other adult, up to four teens, and up to four children. This feature lets other people use Prime benefits on their own accounts without paying for separate subscriptions.
You can share ebooks with other members of your household and add or remove people by going to your Amazon account and clicking on Manage your household.
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