Connect Kindle and import in one click
Quick start, practical workflows, and product guidance for getting the most out of KMate.
- Connect your Kindle with a USB cable that supports data transfer. A charge-only cable will not work.
- Wait until the Kindle shows the connected state, then click Connect Kindle in the toolbar or press Cmd/Ctrl + K.
- On Windows, KMate usually detects the device automatically and starts importing.
- On macOS, older Kindle models may ask for a one-time folder authorization. Choose the Kindle root folder once and KMate can reuse it later.
For newer Paperwhite, Colorsoft, and Scribe models, KMate can recognize the device directly without extra MTP tools or manual setup.
Kindle compatibility at a glance
KMate supports highlights and notes across all Kindle generations. Vocabulary import depends on what Kindle exposes on each device generation.
Classic Kindle models
All pre-2024 Kindle models support both highlights/notes import and Vocabulary Builder import.
Newer Kindle models
Newer devices released after 2024 currently support highlights and notes import, but Kindle has not opened direct vocabulary access on those models.
If you use multiple Kindle devices, vocabulary often syncs between them. You can still import the full vocabulary set from a classic Kindle model.
Sort and group large libraries
KMate automatically organizes imported content by book and author, then lets you reshape large collections without manual cleanup.
- Use the sort menu above the navigation tree to order books by recently imported, title, or recent reading activity.
- Use grouping to cluster books by language, calendar year, read status, learning state, and other library views.
- KMate remembers your sorting and grouping choices, so the library stays consistent between sessions.
Filter recent items, color marks, and duplicates
Filtering is the fastest way to focus on new material or clean noisy highlight data from Kindle.
- Open the filter menu in highlight or vocabulary views to jump to recently imported items or specific color marks and levels.
- Use Duplicate Filter Mode to inspect repeated highlights either in the current list or across all highlights.
- KMate preselects likely duplicates so you can remove clutter quickly while keeping the items you want.
Customize export formats and file output
Copy and export layouts are configurable, so you can shape output for notes apps, archives, or spaced repetition tools.
- Open the options panel and configure the fields used for copy and export in both highlights and vocabulary tabs.
- For Anki export, choose front or back fields as needed. To export all custom fields together, you can keep only one side selected.
- Use Export to File from any navigation node, list view, or search result to generate PDF, Markdown, and other output formats.
Edit notes, usage, and definitions inline
KMate supports fast inline editing so your reading data can become study material without a separate editor.
- Double-click any highlight, note, vocabulary usage, or definition inside the reading area to enter edit mode.
- Editing supports Markdown syntax and keyboard shortcuts, which makes cleanup and enrichment much faster.
Add dictionaries and online translation sources
Vocabulary review becomes more useful when each word carries context, local dictionaries, and online or AI definitions.
- KMate imports vocabulary together with usage context automatically.
- You can add local dictionaries in Mobi, PRC, Mdict, StarDict, or custom text formats.
- You can also attach online translators and AI definitions, then review or export those results in database mode or reading mode.
- Because Mobi dictionaries vary in structure and encryption, some Mobi files may not be supported.
Read and study in reading mode
Reading mode is designed for immersive review, not just browsing. It turns your highlights and vocabulary into a study-friendly surface.
- Open reading mode from the navigation context menu or the View menu, or use Cmd/Ctrl + R.
- Switch between card and list layouts, keep book covers visible, and combine sorting with filters to narrow the current review set.
- Jump across activity using the reading heatmap calendar.
- Customize eye-comfort themes, fonts, and card styles to match your reading preferences.
- From the More menu in the toolbar, export the current cards to PDF or print them in the active theme.
Shortcut reference
Use this reference to compare macOS and Windows shortcuts across import, search, views, highlight and vocabulary actions, and reading mode.
Platform rule
Most Cmd/Ctrl shortcuts automatically map to Command on macOS and Ctrl on Windows.
Dictionary shortcut rule
Dictionary shortcuts intentionally use Control on macOS. On Windows they use Ctrl + Alt to avoid conflicts with color-mark shortcuts on Ctrl + 0-9.
Main window shortcuts
| Category | macOS | Windows | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File | Cmd + K | Ctrl + K | Auto-import the connected Kindle | Main window |
| File | Cmd + O | Ctrl + O | Import Kindle or Kindle App files | Main window |
| File | Shift + Cmd + K | Shift + Ctrl + K | Sync Amazon Kindle Notebook | Main window |
| File | Shift + Cmd + O | Shift + Ctrl + O | Import vocabulary files | Main window |
| Edit | Cmd + C | Ctrl + C | Copy the current selection | Works in list, tree, and detail panes |
| Edit | Shift + Cmd + C | Shift + Ctrl + C | Copy using a custom format | Main window |
| Edit | Shift + Cmd + M | Shift + Ctrl + M | Copy as Markdown | Main window |
| Edit | Cmd + A | Ctrl + A | Select all | List or detail pane |
| Edit | Shift + Cmd + A | Shift + Ctrl + A | Invert selection | List pane |
| Edit | Delete / Backspace | Delete / Backspace | Delete current selection | Except when typing in text inputs |
| Edit | Cmd + T | Ctrl + T | Add tags | List pane |
| Edit | Cmd + , | Ctrl + , | Open settings | Main window |
Search and navigation
| Category | macOS | Windows | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search | Cmd + F | Ctrl + F | Focus the node search box | Tree search |
| Search | Shift + Cmd + F | Shift + Ctrl + F | Focus the content search box | Content search |
| Search | Cmd + Enter | Ctrl + Enter | Search only in the current list | Focus must be in the content search box |
| Search | Enter | Enter | Jump to the next search result | Focus must be in the content search box |
| Navigation | Cmd + [ | Alt + Left or Ctrl + [ | Back | Works in the main window and reading mode |
| Navigation | Cmd + ] | Alt + Right or Ctrl + ] | Forward | Works in the main window and reading mode |
| Navigation | Space | Space | Read the next item | Regular main-window view |
| Navigation | Shift + Cmd + G | Shift + Ctrl + G | Locate the current node | Main window |
| Navigation | Cmd + ↑ | Ctrl + ↑ | Jump to the first item in the list | Regular database view |
| Navigation | Cmd + ↓ | Ctrl + ↓ | Jump to the last item in the list | Regular database view |
Views and interface
| Category | macOS | Windows | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View | Cmd + R | Ctrl + R | Toggle reading mode | Enter from main window, exit from reading mode |
| View | Shift + Cmd + 1 | Shift + Ctrl + 1 | Switch to the highlights view | Main window |
| View | Shift + Cmd + 2 | Shift + Ctrl + 2 | Switch to the vocabulary view | Main window |
| View | Ctrl + Cmd + F | F11 | Toggle full screen | Main window |
| View | Cmd + / | Ctrl + / | Show or hide the status bar | Main window |
| View | Option + Cmd + E | Alt + Ctrl + E | Toggle tree expansion and collapse | Main window |
| View | Option + Cmd + I | Alt + Ctrl + I | Show or hide list numbering | Main window |
| View | Option + Cmd + L | Alt + Ctrl + L | Show or hide list color backgrounds | Main window |
Highlights and vocabulary actions
| Category | macOS | Windows | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights | Cmd + D | Ctrl + D | Remove duplicate highlights in all data | Highlights view only |
| Highlights | Shift + Cmd + D | Shift + Ctrl + D | Remove duplicate highlights in the current list | Highlights view only |
| Highlights / Vocabulary | Cmd + - | Ctrl + - | Mark as unread or learning | Unread in highlights; learning in vocabulary |
| Highlights / Vocabulary | Cmd + + | Ctrl + + | Mark as read or mastered | Read in highlights; mastered in vocabulary |
| Vocabulary | Cmd + D | Ctrl + D | Fetch definitions for the current page | Vocabulary view only |
| Vocabulary | Shift + Cmd + D | Shift + Ctrl + D | Fetch definitions for the selection | Vocabulary view only |
| Vocabulary | Cmd + E | Ctrl + E | Clear definitions on the current page | Vocabulary view only |
| Vocabulary | Shift + Cmd + E | Shift + Ctrl + E | Clear definitions for the selection | Vocabulary view only |
| Color marks | Cmd + 0-9 | Ctrl + 0-9 | Assign or clear a color mark on the current selection | Works for highlights, vocabulary, and reading mode |
| Dictionary | Control + P | Ctrl + Alt + P | Open dictionary management | Windows uses Alt to avoid conflicts with color marks |
| Dictionary | Control + 0 | Ctrl + Alt + 0 | Clear definitions | Windows uses Alt to avoid conflicts with color marks |
| Dictionary | Control + 1-9 | Ctrl + Alt + 1-9 | Use dictionary 1 to 9 to fetch definitions | Uses enabled dictionaries only |
Reading mode shortcuts
| Category | macOS | Windows | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading navigation | ↑ / ↓ / ← / → | ↑ / ↓ / ← / → | Move between cards | List mode mainly uses ↑ / ↓; card mode supports four directions |
| Reading navigation | Cmd + ↑ | Ctrl + ↑ | Jump to the first card | Supported in notes and vocabulary reading mode |
| Reading navigation | Cmd + ↓ | Ctrl + ↓ | Jump to the last card | Supported in notes and vocabulary reading mode |
| Reading action | Cmd + C | Ctrl + C | Copy the hovered or keyboard-selected card | Reading mode |
| Reading action | Space | Space | Collapse or expand the current note card, or open the current vocabulary card panel | Behavior differs between notes and vocabulary modes |
| Reading action | Enter | Enter | Edit the current note | Notes reading mode only |
| Reading action | Cmd + N | Ctrl + N | Create a new note for the current highlight | Notes reading mode only |
| Reading action | Cmd + 0-9 | Ctrl + 0-9 | Assign or clear a color on the hovered or selected card | 0 clears the color mark |
| Reading navigation | Cmd + [ | Alt + Left or Ctrl + [ | Back | Reading mode history navigation |
| Reading navigation | Cmd + ] | Alt + Right or Ctrl + ] | Forward | Reading mode history navigation |
Need quick answers?
Why can’t KMate connect to my Kindle?
First confirm the cable supports data transfer. On newer Kindle models, also make sure no other MTP utility is holding the device connection.
Can I use KMate without a physical Kindle device?
Yes. KMate can also import from Amazon Kindle Cloud and from notes exported by the Kindle app.
Does KMate upload my notes or vocabulary?
No. KMate stores and processes your reading data locally, aside from optional online dictionary or cloud-related actions you trigger yourself.