You can connect Kindle to Libby through your Amazon account settings, then borrow ebooks directly to your device
Libby is a free app run by OverDrive that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library card. When you connect it to your Kindle, borrowed books appear on your Kindle device or app without extra steps. The connection happens in your Amazon account, not in Libby itself — you authorize Libby as a trusted app, and then any ebook you borrow in Libby sends to your Kindle automatically.
The process takes about five minutes and works on Kindle devices, Kindle apps on phones and tablets, and Kindle reading apps on computers. You need a library card number and PIN to use Libby, and your Amazon account must be active. Once connected, you can borrow up to 50 ebooks at a time across all your Libby libraries.
Key Takeaways
- You connect Libby to Kindle through your Amazon account settings, not through the Libby app itself.
- Borrowed ebooks appear on all your Kindle devices and apps once you authorize the connection.
- You need both a library card and an Amazon account, and Libby must be set as a trusted app in your Amazon security settings.
- Books you borrow in Libby send to your Kindle automatically, but you can also choose to read them in the Libby app instead.
Step-by-step: connecting Libby to your Kindle
Start by opening the Libby app on your phone or tablet, or go to libbydevices.com on a computer. Sign in with your library card number and PIN. Once you are logged in, look for a menu or settings option — on the phone app, this is usually three horizontal lines in the top left corner. On the website, it is often in the top right.
Find the option that says "Connected Apps" or "Manage Devices" and select it. You should see a button to connect to Amazon or Kindle. Tap or click it, and you will be taken to Amazon's login page. Sign in with your Amazon account email and password. Amazon will ask you to confirm that you want to let Libby send books to your Kindle — read the permission screen and confirm. Once you see a success message, the connection is complete.
Go back to Libby and borrow any ebook you want. Within a few seconds to a few minutes, it will appear in your Kindle library under "Books" or "My Library." You can then open it on any Kindle device or app where you are signed into that Amazon account.
What to do if the connection does not work
If a borrowed book does not appear on your Kindle after 15 minutes, first check that you are signed into the same Amazon account on your Kindle device that you used to authorize Libby. Go to Settings on your Kindle, find "Account," and confirm the email address matches the one you used during setup.
If the email addresses match, try signing out of your Kindle and signing back in. On Kindle devices, go to Settings, then Account, then Deregister. Wait a few seconds, then go back to Account and sign in again with your Amazon email and password. On Kindle apps, sign out completely (usually in Settings or Account), close the app, and sign back in.
If you still do not see the book, check that your Libby account is actually connected. Go back to Libby's settings, find "Connected Apps," and look for Amazon or Kindle listed there. If it is not listed, repeat the connection steps above. If it is listed but books still are not appearing, try disconnecting and reconnecting: find the option to remove or disconnect Amazon, confirm the removal, wait 30 seconds, and then connect again.
Reading borrowed books in Libby instead of Kindle
You do not have to send every borrowed book to Kindle. When you borrow a book in Libby, you can choose to read it in the Libby app on your phone, tablet, or computer instead. This is useful if you want to read on a device where you are not signed into Amazon, or if you prefer Libby's reading features.
To read in Libby rather than Kindle, borrow the book normally but do not send it to your Kindle. Open the Libby app, find the borrowed book in your library, and tap or click "Read" or "Open." The book opens in the Libby app. You can highlight, take notes, and adjust text size within Libby just as you would on Kindle. When your loan period ends (usually 14 or 21 days), the book automatically returns and disappears from both Libby and your Kindle.
Managing your Libby library across devices
Once Libby is connected to Kindle, any book you borrow appears on all your Kindle devices and apps automatically. If you have a Kindle e-reader, a Kindle app on your phone, and a Kindle app on your computer, the same borrowed book shows up in all three places. You can start reading on one device and pick up where you left off on another.
If you want to remove a borrowed book from your Kindle before the loan ends, you can return it early. On your Kindle device or app, find the book, press and hold it (or right-click on a computer), and select "Return" or "Remove from Library." The book stays borrowed in Libby and you can re-download it to Kindle anytime during the loan period. Returning a book early frees up space on your device but does not affect your Libby account.
Troubleshooting common connection issues
If you see an error message saying "This content is not supported on this device," the book may be in a format that your Kindle cannot read. Some Libby ebooks are only available in the Libby app and cannot be sent to Kindle. Check the book's details page in Libby — it usually says whether the title can be sent to Kindle or only read in the app.
If you get an error during the connection process itself, make sure your Amazon account is in good standing and that you have not disabled third-party app access in your Amazon security settings. Go to amazon.com, sign in, and look for "Login & Security" or "Account Settings." Check that you have not blocked apps from accessing your account. If you have, you may need to re-enable third-party access before Libby can connect.
If Libby says your library card is invalid when you try to sign in, double-check your card number and PIN. Library card numbers sometimes include letters or special characters — make sure you are typing them exactly as they appear on your card. If you are still having trouble, contact your library directly. They can confirm your card number and reset your PIN if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Libby on Kindle without connecting through Amazon?
No. Libby is an app, not a built-in Kindle feature, so you cannot download it directly to most Kindle e-readers. You can read Libby books in the Libby app on your phone or tablet, or you can connect Libby to your Amazon account and send books to your Kindle that way. The connection method is the only way to get Libby books onto a Kindle device itself.
What happens to my borrowed books if I disconnect Libby from Amazon?
Any books you have already sent to your Kindle stay on your device until the loan period ends, even if you disconnect Libby from Amazon. However, you will not be able to send new books to Kindle until you reconnect. Books will still be available in the Libby app on your phone or tablet.
Can I connect Libby to multiple Amazon accounts?
You can connect one Libby account to one Amazon account at a time. If you want to send books to a different Kindle account, you will need to disconnect from the first Amazon account and connect to the second one. This does not affect your Libby library — your borrowed books stay the same.
Do I need a paid Amazon Prime membership to use Libby with Kindle?
No. Libby works with any Amazon account, whether or not you have Prime. You only need an active Amazon account and a valid library card to connect Libby to your Kindle.
How many books can I borrow at once through Libby?
You can borrow up to 50 ebooks at a time across all your Libby libraries combined. If you reach the limit, you must return a book before you can borrow another one. Most libraries also have a hold queue for popular titles, so you may not be able to borrow a book immediately if many people are waiting for it.