How to Read Nook Books on Your Kindle Fire

Access books you didn't buy from Amazon

The Kindle Fire is a dedicated Amazon e-book reader that runs on Android. The Fire uses its own .mobi format as well as Adobe PDFs, but it doesn't automatically read books in the EPUB format used by Nook, Kobo, and Google Books.

If you have an e-book library with books purchased from the Nook, Kobo, or Google Books apps, and you'd like to access them on your Kindle Fire, you're in luck. There are several workarounds that will allow you to read EPUB-format books on your Kindle Fire.

These methods should work for any version of Amazon's Kindle Fire. This article focuses on accessing Nook books, but these approaches will work for any EPUB format books. You can also use Amazon's Send to Kindle app to send an EPUB file to your device, but it won't be a "true" EPUB; Amazon will convert it to a format that runs on the Kindle.

Method 1: Third-Party Book Readers on Amazon's Appstore

While Amazon's Appstore doesn't offer apps from competing bookstores such as Nook or Kobo, it does offer third-party reading apps. One of the most popular is the Aldiko Book Reader. This app has a free version and a $2.99 premium version that supports EPUB and PDF formats as well as Adobe DRM-encrypted e-books.

While you do have to take the extra step of loading your non-Amazon books onto your Kindle, an Amazon-approved third-party book reader is an easy solution.

Check out the other third-party e-book readers in Amazon's Appstore and find one that works for you.

Method 2: Sideloading Apps

Because the Fire runs on a modified version of Android, there is a way to run the Nook app and keep your purchased books in sync. While you can't download the Nook app from the Amazon Appstore, you can install it by sideloading the app. 

When you successfully sideload the Nook app, your Nook books won't show up in the Kindle Fire carousel. You will, however, be able to see all your Nook books in the reader app as well as make in-app purchases to buy new books.

While sideloading works for installing just about any free app you can't find in the Amazon Appstore, use caution and download apps only from trusted sources to avoid malware, virus infections, and other problems.

Allow Installation of Third-Party Applications

By default, the Amazon Kindle Fire is set to install apps only from the Amazon Appstore. Before you can sideload an app, you must enable the option to install other applications on your device.

  1. Tap the Settings gear at the top of the screen.

  2. Tap More.

  3. Select Device.

  4. Change the setting next to Allow Installation of Applications from Unknown Sources to the ON position.

  5. You can now sideload apps from sources other than Amazon.

Install GetJar and Download Nook

After you enable the addition of apps from non-Amazon sources, go to an independent app store, such as GetJar, which lists only free Android apps, and then download the Nook app.

The first step is installing the GetJar app. 

  1. Go to m.getjar.com on your Kindle Fire.

  2. Download the GetJar app.

  3. After it downloads, tap on alerts at the top of the screen to install the app.

  4. GetJar is now installed on your Kindle Fire and will work just like any other app store.

  5. Open Getjar and download and install the Nook app.

    Screenshot of installing the GetJar app on a Kindle Fire
  6. You can now access your Nook books on your Kindle Fire.

Method 3: Transfer the Nook App From Another Device

While this method is a little more complicated, there are ways to transfer the Nook app you already have on another device onto your Kindle Fire.

Email the app to yourself as an attachment using an account you check on your Kindle. Alternatively, download the app directly if you have the URL, use a cloud storage app such as Dropbox to transfer the app, or transfer the file to your Fire by connecting it to your computer with a USB cable.

If you decide to transfer the Nook app via Dropbox, you'll first have to download the Dropbox app from the Amazon Appstore. Or, if you've enabled apps from unknown sources, download Dropbox from www.dropbox.com/android on the Kindle's web browser by tapping on the Download App button.

After you install Dropbox, use your computer to put the Nook APK file in a folder in Dropbox and then tap on the file on your Fire to download it. 

Read Nook Books on Your Kindle

After you install the Nook app, it's just like any other app on your Kindle. Register the Nook app using your Barnes & Noble account.

You won't see your Nook books on your Kindle's bookshelf, but you will see them in the Nook app. This means you can still take advantage of your Nook's common library and bargain shop for books through any bookstore with an Android tablet app.

Screenshot of Nook app on the Fire.
 

When you install the Nook app, you'll see the same permissions screen you see on every other Android app. After you agree to the permissions, tap the Install button, and your app finishes its installation.

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