You signed up for the ARC, the email arrived, you downloaded the file, and now it is sitting on your phone when what you really want is to read it on your Kindle in bed. Getting an advance copy onto the e-reader you actually read on trips up more new ARC readers than almost anything else. Here is how to read an ARC on your Kindle, your Kobo, or any device you like, without the tech headache.
First, what file did you get?
Most ARCs come through BookFunnel, and most are EPUB files, with the occasional PDF. BookFunnel does the hard part for you: when you open your download link, it detects your device and walks you through the exact steps. If you have not grabbed the file yet, our guide to downloading your ARC on BookFunnel covers that first step. Once you have it, here is how to get it onto each kind of e-reader.
Reading on a Kindle
Kindles read their own format, so an EPUB needs one quick hop to get there. The easiest route is Amazon’s free Send to Kindle:
- Send to Kindle by email. Every Kindle has its own @kindle.com address, which you will find in your Amazon account under Devices. Email the EPUB to that address as an attachment and it lands on your Kindle in a minute or two. Modern Kindles accept EPUB now, so the file is ready as it is.
- Send to Kindle from your computer or phone. Amazon’s Send to Kindle page and app let you drag the file in or share it straight to your library.
- The BookFunnel app. If the hop feels like a lot, read in the free BookFunnel app instead. Your whole ARC shelf lives there, it syncs your place across devices, and authors can see you opened it.
Reading on a Kobo, Nook, or other e-reader
Kobo and Nook read EPUB natively, which makes them the simplest of all. Plug the e-reader into your computer with its cable, drag the EPUB into the device’s Documents folder, eject, and it appears on your home screen. Kobo readers can also use the BookFunnel app on a phone and send to the Kobo from there. If a step ever looks different, BookFunnel’s own on-screen instructions match your exact device.
Reading on your phone or tablet
If you mostly read on a phone or tablet, you do not need a Kindle at all. The free BookFunnel app is the smoothest option, because it keeps every ARC in one place and remembers where you stopped. You can also read in the Kindle app, the Kobo app, or Apple Books, whichever you already use. The book is yours to read wherever you are comfortable.
A couple of things that trip people up
- The download link limits devices. BookFunnel links allow a set number of downloads, so grab the file to one main device rather than testing it on five. If you get locked out, the author or campaign can reset it for you.
- The file is watermarked. Many ARCs carry an invisible watermark tied to you. That is normal, and it simply asks you not to share the file, which keeps the whole ARC system running.
- You want it on Kindle and phone. Reading in the BookFunnel app on both is the least fiddly way to have it everywhere at once.
Once the book is on your device, the reading is the easy part. When you finish, our guide to writing an ARC review without the panic takes it from there, and if you are brand new, the complete guide for ARC readers walks the whole journey.
Not on a team yet? Every open signup in the Reading Room delivers your copy straight through BookFunnel, so it lands on whatever device you read on. Join an ARC team and get your first early copy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I read a BookFunnel ARC on my Kindle?
Yes. Download the EPUB from your BookFunnel link, then use Amazon’s free Send to Kindle, by email or through the app, to move it across. Modern Kindles accept EPUB directly, so there is no need to convert the file. You can also just read it in the free BookFunnel app.
Do I have to convert an EPUB for my Kindle?
No longer. Amazon’s Kindles and apps now accept EPUB files through Send to Kindle, so you can email or upload the file as it is. Only very old Kindle models need anything extra.
What is the easiest way to read ARCs across devices?
The free BookFunnel app. It stores every ARC in one shelf, syncs your reading position between your phone, tablet, and computer, and shows the author you opened the book. If you prefer your Kindle, Send to Kindle is the simplest hop.