One of the questions I get over and over is “How do I get Libby on my Kindle?”

The main thing to understand is that Kindle ereaders don’t support apps, so don’t add the Libby app to your Kindle.

But you CAN send Kindle ebooks from Libby to your Kindle (which answers the other question I constantly get about Kindles: “Is it worth buying a Kindle if you don’t want to buy books?” As long as your library has a good Libby catalog, yes!).

It’s not difficult to get Libby books on your Kindle, and I’ll share step-by-step instructions below, but first I want to note that it’s a slightly different method for sending a Libby book to an adult profile and a children’s profile.

I often hear that you can’t add a library book to a child’s profile, but that’s simply not true. It’s not quite the same as sending it to an adult profile.

So, with that out of the way, here’s how to get Libby books on your Kindle and then a second set of instructions below for adding a Libby book to your child’s profile.

How to get Libby’s books on Kindle

First, you’ll need to make sure your Kindle is registered with Amazon.

You can check if your Kindle is already registered by going to Amazon and in your account selecting “Contents and Devices” and under the Devices tab, check if your Kindle shows up. It should also say “default device” next to it.

If you’re not registered, here’s how to do it!

1. On your Kindle, select the Menu icon and press “Settings.”
2. Choose “My Account” (newer Kindles) or Registration (older Kindles).
3. Enter your Amazon username and password.

You are now registered!

It’s time to start getting library books on your Kindle!

Open the Libby website or app on your computer or phone (I talked in detail about why I love Libby in this post, if you’re new)

Log in to your library system and find a book you want to read that is available on Kindle (I find that MOST e-books in the bookstores I’ve used are available as Kindle, but you can also filter Kindle titles by clicking “More Options” when typing in the search bar and choosing “Kindle” under the “Availability” tab).

Once you’ve chosen a book, click “Borrow” and then choose “Read with Kindle.”

When you click “Read with Kindle,” it will take you to Amazon (you may have to log in with your Amazon username and password) and say “Get Library Book.” Make sure the button below shows your correct Kindle and press “Get Library Book.”

As soon as your Kindle connects to Wi-Fi, the book will appear in your Kindle library! Ta-da! (It may take a few minutes.)

AND here are the directions for adding a Libby book to a children’s Kindle!!

How to Add a Libby Book to a Kids Kindle

First, log in to Libby and choose the ebook you want to check out for your child.

Once you’ve selected a book, click “Borrow,” and when this window appears after completing your checkout at the library, click “Read Now with Kindle.”

It will connect you to Amazon (you’ll need to log in if you’re not currently logged in) and then choose “Get Library Book.”

If you’re sending it to an adult Kindle, that’s it. But now you have to actually add it to your child’s PROFILE, not just send it to a device (this is what trips everyone up!)

Once you complete checkout on the Amazon side, scroll down and choose “Manage Your Content and Devices.” (You can also Google “Manage Amazon Content and Devices” and it will show up or search in the Amazon app and it will appear.)

A complete list of all your digital books will appear, and it’s usually sorted by what you checked out most recently, so your new library book should be first. Under that book choose “See more.”

When this window opens, scroll down and click “Manage Family Library.”

It will show all your profiles, including your children’s profiles (if you need guidance on creating a children’s profile, this post is for you). Click the box next to your child’s profile and select “Make Changes.” Ta-da! The library book is added to the Kindle.

The next time they sync it, it will appear in the “Added for you” section of your Kindle’s home screen. Note that you may need to scroll down to see this section – many people miss it because it isn’t front and center on their child’s Kindle home screen!

Have more questions about adding Libby books to a Kindle? I’m happy to help you!

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