Microsoft has announced it will discontinue the Send to Kindle feature built directly into Microsoft Word. The change takes effect starting February 9, 2026, across all platforms: Word for the web, Windows (Win32 desktop), and Mac. After this date, the feature will no longer receive support from Microsoft, and the option will be fully removed from the Export menu by around March 9, 2026.
This integration, launched in April 2023 (with some early announcements in March 2023), was a collaboration between Microsoft and Amazon. It let Microsoft 365 subscribers send .doc or .docx files straight from Word to their Kindle library in minutes. Documents could appear in two ways:
- As fixed-layout files that preserve original page layouts, margins, and formatting (like a printed page).
- As reflowable Kindle books, allowing adjustable font sizes, layouts, and more.
The feature was especially popular with Kindle Scribe users, who could annotate documents with handwritten notes and sticky notes directly on the large E-ink screen.
Microsoft has not given an official reason for the retirement, but many sources suggest low user adoption played a big role. The feature was niche, required a Microsoft 365 subscription, and may not have seen enough traffic to justify ongoing maintenance. Documents already sent to Kindle before the cutoff date will remain unaffected in users’ libraries.
The good news: You can still send Word documents to your Kindle. Microsoft recommends using Amazon’s official tools instead:
- Upload files directly via the Send to Kindle website at amazon.com/sendtokindle.
- Use the Send to Kindle desktop app (available for Windows and Mac) or mobile apps.
- Email documents to your Kindle’s unique @kindle.com address (if set up).
These methods support .doc and .docx files, though you may need to convert or adjust formatting manually in some cases.
This short-lived feature (less than three years) highlights how third-party integrations in productivity apps can come and go based on usage data. For most people, the change adds just one extra step—export or save the file, then upload via Amazon’s site or app. If you relied on the in-app button for quick transfers (especially for proofreading or annotating on Scribe), now is the time to switch workflows.
As of January 9, 2026, the feature still works for now, but the clock is ticking. Check Microsoft’s updated support page for the latest details. If you’re a heavy Kindle + Word user, this might push more people toward dedicated PDF annotation tools or other e-readers with better native document support. Stay tuned for any last-minute changes from Microsoft or Amazon.
