How to Share Kindle Books with Your Family and Friends

Books are wonderful things, and eBooks are even better in some ways. Since they weigh nothing, you can carry as many as you want in your pocket, making them perfect for long trips and commuting.

But there are certain ways for a physical book to trump its digital sibling, and being able to share books with friends and family is one of them. Since your eBooks are tied to your device, you might be less happy to hand your Kindle over to someone else while they read the latest bestseller.

Fortunately, you don’t need to do this, as Kindle eBooks actually have a built-in lending feature. It’s called the Family Library, and a lot of Kindle users might not know it because, well, it’s not easy to find. However, it is worth finding out as it is a convenient way to share your Kindle book collection with other Kindle users. Here is how to use it.

If you’re looking to capitalize on your bookworm tendencies, we’ve also rounded up the best free Kindle books and the best websites for downloading free audiobooks.

How to Share a Kindle Book with Family

One of the easiest ways to share eBooks is by using Amazon’s Family Library feature, which allows you to share books with your immediate family members. The Family Library allows up to two adults and four children to share some or all of their Kindle books, apps, and audiobooks with each other. Don’t worry about interrupting another reader’s progress, as each family member can progress separately and at their own pace, whether they’re using a Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis, or Amazon Fire. Plus, they can borrow books for as long as they want.

However, sharing titles can take a bit long. Before you can start sharing Kindle books with your family, you must give other family members permission to access your Family Library. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Go to the Manage your content and devices section of your Amazon account.

2nd step: Under the Preferences tab, click the Households and family library section.

Step 3: Click on Manage your household.

Step 4: From there, press the Add an adult / Add a child / Add a teenager button.

Step 5: Ask the other adult / child to enter their Amazon email and password (if they have one) or create a new account.

Step 6: Click on Yes to allow your account and that of the other adult or child to share payment methods.

Step 7: Choose the books you want to share with the other adult / child and ask the other adult / child to choose the books they want to share with you.

Step 8: Click on To finish.

How to lend new Kindle books

Now that you’ve added adults and kids to your Family Library and shared your previous purchases, you’re ready to start loaning out new Kindle books. Here’s how:

Step 1: Head to the Manage your content and devices section of your Amazon account.

2nd step: Select the View family library link of the Your content tongue.

Step 3: Select the book (s) you want to share with a family member, then click Add to library.

Step 4: Choose a family member, then click Okay.

How to Download a Kindle Book from Family Library

Fortunately, once you’ve set up Family Sharing, it’s super easy to access and download your books. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Head to the Manage your content and devices section of your Amazon account.

2nd step: Choose the books you want to send to your device or app, then click Deliver.

Step 3: Select where the books should be sent from the pop-up menu, then click Deliver one more time.

How to Share a Kindle Book from the Product Detail Page

One of the easiest ways to share a Kindle book is to go to its product page in the Kindle Store. Here’s what you need to do to make it happen:

Step 1: Go to the Kindle Store on your computer and enter the name of the title you want to loan.

2nd step: Click on the book you wish to lend from the resulting list.

Step 3: Click on Lend this book on the product page.

Step 4: Once completed, you will be sent to Lend this book page, where you can enter the recipient’s email address and an optional message.

Step 5: Click on Send now.

How to Share a Kindle Book from the Manage Your Content and Devices page

You can also share books on a Kindle without having to go to the Kindle Store. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Log into your Amazon account as you normally would and navigate to the Manage your content and devices page.

2nd step: Click the Actions button next to the title of the book or magazine you want to lend. To select Lend this title.

Step 3: Enter the recipient’s email address and an optional message.

Step 4: Click on Send now.

How to request a Kindle book from a friend

You can request a Kindle title from a friend if you don’t have a library card or the budget for new books. You will receive an email notification when your friend loans you the book, inviting you to download it to your Fire tablet, Kindle e-book reader, or the Kindle app.

Downloading it is simple:

Step 1: Open the e-mail message with the subject line “A book on loan for you.”

2nd step: Click it Get your loaned book now button. A link will open in your web browser.

Step 3: Log into your Amazon account as usual.

Step 4: If you have a Fire tablet, Kindle eBook reader, or the Kindle app, select the device you want the book delivered to, and then click Accept the loaned book.

If you don’t have a Fire tablet, Kindle e-reader, or Kindle app, click Accept the loaned book and follow the onscreen instructions to download the Kindle app.

How to return a loaned Kindle book

Book loans automatically expire when the 14 day loan period is over, so you never have to worry about delivering it on time if you are a beneficiary of a book loan. If you happen to finish it earlier, you can return it earlier. Here’s how:

Step 1: Log into your Amazon account as you normally would.

2nd step: Go to Manage your content and devices page.

Step 3: Click it Actions button next to the borrowed book.

Step 4: To select To delete from the resulting list of options.

Step 5: Click on Yes to confirm your return.

Things to Know Before Lending or Borrowing a Kindle Book

You can still share books with someone who isn’t in your family group, but the process is a little different. Here’s what you need to know before sharing a Kindle book with a friend:

• You can only lend a Kindle book to another reader for a maximum of 14 days. Whether it be The road not taken Where Dante’s Hell, your friends have two weeks to complete anything you send them. But don’t worry that they’ll start reading immediately or send the loan off too early. If they don’t accept the loan within seven days, it goes back to your library.
• A Kindle book can only be loaned once. Once you’ve loaned a track once, you can’t share it anymore – it’s locked in your library.
• During this two week period, you will not be able to read the book you have loaned unless your friend returns it to you sooner.
• The borrower does not need to have a Fire tablet or a Kindle e-book reader to open the book, but they will need to download the Kindle app.
• Not all Kindle books can be loaned. Some publishers place restrictions on lending; if you don’t see an option to loan out a Kindle book, it can’t be shared.

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