What Formats Are Compatible With Amazon Kindle White Paperwhite?

I've been using my Kindle Paperwhite for years, and one of the best things about it is how versatile it is with file formats. The native format is, of course, AZW and AZW3, which are Amazon's proprietary formats. But it also supports MOBI, though Amazon is slowly phasing this out in favor of EPUB. Speaking of EPUB, the Paperwhite finally added support for it in 2022, which was a game-changer for me since I have a ton of EPUB books from other sources. PDFs are compatible too, but the reading experience isn't as smooth unless you use the zoom feature or convert them.

Other supported formats include TXT for plain text files, and HTML if you're into web-based content. I’ve even loaded some DOCX files, but the formatting can be hit or miss. If you have comics or manga, the Kindle supports JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP for images, though it’s not the best for color content since the screen is grayscale. For audiobooks, it’s limited to Audible’s AA or AAX formats. One tip: if you have a format that isn’t directly supported, like RTF or DOC, you can use Amazon’s Send to Kindle service or Calibre to convert it first.

As someone who loves sideloading books onto my Kindle Paperwhite, I can confirm it handles a bunch of formats. The big ones are AZW, AZW3, and MOBI—MOBI is older but still works fine. EPUB support was a huge win because so many free books come in that format. PDFs work, but they’re clunky unless you convert them. Plain TXT files are no problem, and HTML is handy if you save articles to read later.

For graphic-heavy content, like manga, the Kindle supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP, though the lack of color is a bummer. Audible formats AA and AAX are the only audio options. If you’ve got something weird like DOCX or RTF, just convert it with Calibre or email it to your Kindle using Amazon’s service. The Paperwhite isn’t perfect for every format, but it covers most bases.

Kindle Paperwhite’s format support is decent. It reads AZW, AZW3, MOBI, and now EPUB. PDFs are usable but not ideal. TXT and HTML work fine for basic text. Image formats like JPEG or PNG are supported, but the grayscale screen limits their appeal. For audiobooks, stick to Audible’s AA or AAX. If your file isn’t compatible, tools like Calibre can convert it quickly.

My Kindle Paperwhite has been a lifesaver for reading, and I love how many formats it supports. AZW and AZW3 are the go-to, but EPUB is great now too. MOBI still works, though it’s being phased out. PDFs are okay, but I usually convert them for a better experience. TXT and HTML are straightforward, and image files like PNG or JPEG work if you don’t mind black-and-white. Audible’s formats are the only audio option. For unsupported files, conversion tools like Calibre or Amazon’s email service make it easy.

The Kindle Paperwhite handles AZW, AZW3, MOBI, and EPUB for books. PDFs are supported but not the best. Plain text (TXT) and HTML work fine. Image formats like JPEG or PNG are usable, though grayscale. Audible’s AA and AAX are the only audiobook options. For other formats, conversion is your friend.