How to Open Your EPUB and PDF Files on Any Device

First: choose the right file

Choose EPUB for a phone, Kindle or other e-reader. EPUB text adapts to the screen and lets you change the font size. The paragraph-by-paragraph layout is usually the most comfortable choice on a narrow display.

Choose PDF when you want the page to look exactly as designed. It is best for the side-by-side layout, larger tablets, computers and printing. You can keep both files and use a different one on each device.

• Kindle or small e-reader: EPUB, paragraph-by-paragraph layout.
• Phone: EPUB for adjustable text; PDF only if preserving the page layout matters more.
• Tablet or computer: PDF for two columns; EPUB for adjustable text.
• Printer: PDF.

Find the file after downloading

A browser normally saves the book in its Downloads list and in a Downloads folder. If the PDF opened in the browser instead, use the download-arrow button in the PDF toolbar to save a copy. Files received by email must be downloaded from the attachment first.

The filename should end in .epub or .pdf. Changing that ending does not convert a file, so do not rename an EPUB to PDF or the other way around.

Kindle e-readers and the Kindle app

Use Amazon's Send to Kindle service for both EPUB and PDF. Kindle does not open an EPUB copied directly over USB; Send to Kindle converts it and adds it to your Kindle library. Once processed, the book can appear on registered Kindle e-readers and Kindle apps after they sync.

1. Open Send to Kindle in a browser and sign in with the Amazon account used on your Kindle.
2. Drag the .epub or .pdf file onto the upload area, or choose it with the file picker.
3. Confirm that the document should be added to your library and send it.
4. Connect the Kindle to Wi-Fi, open Library and run Sync if the book does not appear automatically. Look under All rather than Downloaded if necessary.

• For comfortable reading, send the paragraph-layout EPUB. Amazon converts it to a Kindle document.
• Use PDF when you specifically want the fixed side-by-side pages. On a small Kindle screen, you may need to zoom and pan.

iPhone and iPad

Apple Books can keep EPUBs and PDFs in its library. Safari downloads are usually in Files → Browse → iCloud Drive → Downloads, although your Safari settings can use On My iPhone or On My iPad instead.

1. Open the Files app and find the downloaded book.
2. Tap an EPUB. If it does not open in Books, touch and hold the file, choose Share, then choose Books.
3. For a PDF, open it, tap Share and choose Books. You can also read the PDF directly in Files.
4. Open Books → Library to find the saved book later. With iCloud enabled for Books, it can sync to your other Apple devices.

Android phones and tablets

Google Play Books is a reliable option for both EPUB and PDF and can sync your uploaded books across devices signed in to the same Google account. EPUB upload works directly; for PDFs, Google may first ask you to enable PDF uploads in the Play Books settings.

1. Install or open Google Play Books.
2. For PDFs, tap your profile picture → Play Books settings and turn on Enable PDF uploading.
3. Download the book, open Files or Downloads, find it, and choose Open with or More.
4. Choose Play Books or Upload to Play Books. Find it later under Library → Uploads.

Mac

For EPUB, the built-in Books app is the simplest option. Open Books and choose File → Import, select the EPUB, then click Import. You can also drag the EPUB into your Books library or double-click it.

For PDF, double-click the file to read it in Preview, the built-in PDF reader. You can also import a PDF through Books, but current versions of macOS may still open it in Preview or in whichever PDF reader you have set as the default.

Windows computers

PDF needs no extra app: double-click it and Windows will normally open it in Microsoft Edge, whose built-in reader supports local PDF files, search, zoom and printing.

Windows does not include a general EPUB reader. Install the free, open-source calibre app, choose Add books, select the EPUB, then double-click the title or choose View. If you prefer not to install software, upload the EPUB to Google Play Books in your browser and read it there.

Linux computers

Most desktop Linux distributions include a PDF viewer, so double-clicking the PDF should be enough. A modern browser can also display it. For EPUB, calibre is the most consistent cross-distribution option and is available for 64-bit Intel and ARM Linux.

1. Install calibre from its official download page, following the Linux instructions for your system.
2. Open calibre and choose Add books, or drag the EPUB into its library.
3. Select the book and choose View to open it in calibre's ebook viewer.

Chromebook and reading across several devices

On a Chromebook, or whenever you want the same reading position on several devices, upload the EPUB or PDF to Google Play Books. On a computer, open your Play Books library, choose Upload files, and select the book. It then appears in the Uploads collection on devices where you use the same Google account.

Uploading creates a private copy in that provider's cloud. If you would rather keep the book only on your device, use a local reader such as Apple Books, Preview, calibre or your device's PDF app instead.

Kobo and other e-readers

Kobo officially supports non-protected EPUB and PDF files. Connect the e-reader to your computer with USB, tap Connect on the Kobo, open the KOBOeReader drive, drag the file onto it, eject the drive safely and disconnect. The imported title appears under My Books. EPUB is normally easier to read than PDF on a small e-ink display.

For another e-reader, check the manufacturer's support page for “sideload EPUB” or “personal documents.” Do not assume Kindle's method applies: Amazon converts EPUB through Send to Kindle, while many other readers accept EPUB directly over USB.

Printing a bilingual book

Open the PDF, choose Print, and preview the result before committing the whole book. Use Actual size or 100% when the page already matches your paper; use Fit if any content is clipped. Duplex printing with Flip on long edge usually reads like a bound book. Print two test pages first, because printer margins and duplex settings vary.

If the book will not open

Work through these checks in order. The files are DRM-free, so no password or authorization step should be required.

• Check that the download finished and that the filename ends in .epub or .pdf, not .part, .download or .html.
• If you received a ZIP archive, extract it first; reading apps normally cannot open an EPUB while it is still inside a ZIP.
• If an EPUB fails on Kindle, send the original EPUB through Send to Kindle instead of copying it by USB.
• If two columns are too small on a phone or e-reader, use the paragraph-layout EPUB. The fixed side-by-side PDF is intended for wider screens.
• Download the file again if its size is 0 KB or the transfer was interrupted.
• Still stuck? Email bilingual.books.support@gmail.com and include your device, operating system, reading app and whether the file is EPUB or PDF. Do not send account passwords.