How to Download Kindle Books on iPhone/iPad for Reading [2025 Guide]

Downloading Kindle books to iPhone and iPad is the essential step for reading your Kindle books on these iOS devices. Whether you want to read offline on a long flight or simply enjoy a better viewing experience on an iPad's Retina display, knowing the right way to download your Kindle books on iPad/iPhone matters.

In this guide, I will teach you how to download Kindle books on iPhone and iPad in two easy methods:

1. Official Sync Method: Download purchased Kindle books directly in the Kindle app for iPhone and iPad.
2. Local Export Method: Download Kindle books on your iPhone or iPad to local storage.

Now, keep reading to choose the method that suits you best and learn the specific steps.

Method 1: Download Kindle Books on iPhone/iPad within Kindle APP 

This is the most straightforward official way to download Kindle books on your iPad on iPhone. With this method, you can link your Amazon account automatically and sync all of your purchased titles with a single tap, then download Kindle books to your iPhone or iPad. Once downloaded, those books can be read offline in the Kindle app on iPhone and iPad, so you can keep reading anytime even without an internet connection.

Because you are reading inside the Kindle app, you can also enjoy Kindle's native layout and built-in features such as X-Ray. This approach is especially ideal for users who also own a Kindle e-reader, since Amazon's sync feature helps you continue from where you left off. For example, if you stop on a certain page on your Kindle device, you can open the same book on your iPhone and pick up right there. 

Step 1: Install the Kindle App on iPhone/iPad

First, open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, search for "Kindle", find the official Kindle app (usually the first one, with the most downloads), then tap Get to install it. After it finishes installing, you will see the Kindle icon on your Home Screen.

Step 2: Sign in to Your Kindle Account in the App

Open Kindle. It will prompt you to sign in to your Kindle account. Just enter your account and password.

Step 3: Download Kindle Books to iPad or iPhone

After signing in, tap the Cloud tab at the bottom of the screen. After a few seconds, you will see all the books stored in your Kindle Cloud Library. Find the book you want, then tap the book cover. You will see a circular progress indicator spinning on the cover, which means Kindle is downloading the data from the cloud to your iPhone/iPad locally.

Step 4: Start Reading Kindle Books on iOS devices

You can find the downloaded Kindle books in the Device section. No matter whether you are connected to the internet or not, you can read these books in the Kindle app, even in Airplane Mode.

Note: You can only download the books you purchased. However, Kindle currently does not support purchasing books directly in the iPad and iPhone app. You can only purchase on a Kindle device or on the web. If you want to buy Kindle books on your phone, just go to the Kindle official website in your mobile browser to make the purchase.

Method 2: Download Kindle Books on iPhone/iPad (to Local Storage) 

This is my top recommendation for readers who want full ownership of their books. If you prefer reading beyond the Kindle app, you can download Kindle books to your iPhone/iPad local storage as permanent files. To do this, we use a powerful tool called BookFab Kindle Converter.

BookFab Kindle Converter is a desktop software designed to download and convert ebooks. It helps you turn protected Kindle books into true local files, such as EPUB or PDF. Once converted on your computer, you can download these Kindle books to your iPad or iPhone. This allows you to not only import them into Apple Books to build your own iOS library but also bring them into note-taking apps like GoodNotes or Notability for high-freedom highlighting and study. This method gives you total freedom; no more app restrictions, just your books on your terms.

Step 1: Download BookFab and Kindle Books on Your Computer

First, download and install BookFab Kindle Converter on your computer. 

Additionally, ensure you have Kindle for PC installed on your computer. Then, download the books you need to your local computer using Kindle for PC app. This allows BookFab Kindle Converter to successfully recognize and decrypt the files.

Step 2: Import Kindle Books and Select the Output Format

Launch BookFab Kindle Converter and click on Kindle Converter in the sidebar to enter the conversion module. 

Click the Refresh icon on the main interface, and BookFab will automatically load the eBooks downloaded from Kindle for PC. Check the boxes for the books you wish to convert, click Convert & Decrypt, and select your preferred output format (EPUB or PDF) to start the process.

Tips:

• If you primarily read Kindle books on an iPhone, the EPUB format is recommended as it perfectly adapts to mobile screens and allows you to adjust font sizes.
• If you plan to read on an iPad, EPUB works great, but if you want to use GoodNotes for handwriting and annotations, PDF is the better choice as it preserves the original page layout.

Step 3: Download Kindle Books to iPhone or iPad

Once the conversion is complete, you can find the DRM-free books in the Decrypted eBooks interface.

Open the output folder to locate the downloaded files, then transfer these Kindle books to your iPhone or iPad via iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or other file-sharing methods. 

This step allows you to transfer your BookFab-downloaded Kindle books to your iPad and iPhone, which is essentially the same as downloading Kindle books directly to your iPhone or iPad. You have now successfully downloaded Kindle books to iOS local storage without any protection, and you are free to read them in any reading app you prefer.

Comparison: Which Downloading Method Suits You Best?

Although both methods let you download Kindle books on iPhone or iPad, their use cases are very different. To help you choose the most suitable option, I compare them side by side below.

Conclusion

Knowing how to download Kindle books on iPhone or iPad depends on your need for reading freedom. If you prioritize convenience and simply want to read during your commute using snippets of time, then downloading with the Kindle App is the quickest choice. If you want to break free from platform restrictions, save your downloaded Kindle books as permanent assets, or perform deep annotations with an Apple Pencil on your iPad, then downloading Kindle books with BookFab Kindle Converter is worth a try.