# What is sideloading?

Source: https://epublab.com/glossary/sideloading/ (updated 2026-11-03)

Sideloading means putting an e-book on a reader yourself, by USB cable, email or an app, instead of buying it in the device's store. Converted EPUBs always reach a reader this way.

## Why it matters when you convert a PDF to EPUB

How you sideload depends on the device: a Kobo or PocketBook takes the EPUB by USB, while a Kindle takes it through Amazon's Send to Kindle, which converts it for the device. Sideloaded books work offline like store books but do not sync reading positions across devices on every platform.