Connecting Kindle Paperwhite by USB

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Level 1

7 points

Connecting Kindle Paperwhite by USB

Hi! I have a Kindle Paperwhite that I am trying to connect to the USB port of my MacBook Pro. The Kindle is supposed to immediately go into "USB Mode," when it is connected, and mount as a new disk volume on my desktop. It did this just fine when I brought it into my office and connected it to my PC at work. But it isn't working on the MacBook. Other USB peripherals (e.g., a USB key and a USB hard drive) are mounting just fine, however. So it isn't a problem with the USB port or cable.

Amazon technical support has been no help, and does not seem to be aware of this as an issue. Has anyone on this forum encountered a similar problem? Bettter yet, can anyone on this forum offer a solution (besides "get an iPad" -- I already have one. But I really enjoy reading books on my Kindle).

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 14, 2013 8:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Argelius

Level 2

248 points

Aug 10, 2014 12:54 PM in response to Sam10019

I had the same problem. I was using just a random USB cable and found my Mac wouldn't recognize the kindle. When I dug out the USB cable that shipped with the Kindle, everything worked fine. So, evidently, not all micro-USB cables are the same...

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Answer 2

Oct 21, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Sam10019

I had the same problem. I was using a different USB cable and it didn't work and the Kindle froze every time I connected it. I recovered the original Kindle USB cable and with that one, it works seamlessly!

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Answer 3

Mar 17, 2016 1:24 PM in response to Argelius

Thanks so much. Kindle was charging with the generic cable but iMac couldn't see it.

When I used the supplied Kindle cable all worked.

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Answer 4

Aug 21, 2014 6:30 AM in response to Greenflier01

Thanks for the tip. I found that I have 2 cables that appear identical, but are not. Changing the cable worked!!!

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Answer 5

Nov 5, 2013 8:00 PM in response to Sam10019

I had the same problem. I just discovered that if I restart the kindle while it is plugged in it will then show up in the finder.

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Answer 6

Dec 14, 2017 7:27 AM in response to Greenflier01

Thank you very much. I have plugged the original cable, and I can see my kindle mounts on my desktop!

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Answer 7

Jul 14, 2013 11:34 PM in response to Sam10019

Im not exactly sure how the Kindle works, as I have never owned one.

You might try downloading the Kindle app from the Mac App Store. There may be some sort of tool within the app that helps you load books and files onto your Kindle.

Just a suggestion.

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Answer 8

Jul 14, 2013 11:52 PM in response to Sam10019

I just got my Paperwhite - my 2nd generation Kindle took a 'dunk' in the bathtub!

When I plug the Kindle PW into my Mac, it shows up on my Desktop as a USB volume named "Kindle"... if yours isn't doing the same, I would suspect a problem with the USB port (have you tried more than one?).

Sorry I can't be of much help - mine just 'works' (and I've had it less than a week)... there IS a Kindle forum (http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle) so you may want to post your problem there.

Good luck,

Clinton

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Answer 9

Aug 2, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Sam10019

I was in the same situation. Baffled, and then I read somewhere else that they had just used a different (maybe the original) cable to connect and it worked ! Some cables are just for mobile phones and don't work.

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Answer 10

ainohau

Level 1

0 points

Nov 6, 2013 3:29 AM in response to Sam10019

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS TOO

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Answer 11

LxmCwy

Level 1

0 points

Apr 15, 2014 10:03 AM in response to tstorey08

I had the same problem, but yes, your way works!!! Thx~ 😁

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