Can You Annotate On a Kindle: Figuring Out the Details

I have found that reading on digital devices can feel a bit passive, especially while using e-readers like Kindle. In conventional reading, I am used to making personal notes to help with understanding and later use. However, that made me wonder, “Can you annotate on a Kindle?” Whether it's for school work or just for fun, understanding the Kindle’s annotation features has made a difference in how I engage with my books.

That is the reason I put together this guide to show you exactly how I markup content on my Kindle and how I take it a step further using PDF readers. If you need flexibility while working with PDFs, consider getting UPDF to elevate your digital reading experience. Simply click the button below to try. Continue reading, and I’ll guide you through all you require to maximize your Kindle experience.

Part 1. Can You Annotate On A Kindle?

When understanding the concept of annotate Kindle, not all models support these features to the same extent. Some older ones, such as the basic Kindle and Kindle Touch, only support text highlighting and bookmarking without touchscreen stylus input. Even Kindle Fire tablets do not offer integrated e-ink annotation features.

In contrast, Kindle Paperwhite (2021/2024) and Kindle Colorsoft support highlighting in native formats (AZW or MOBI) with sync annotations. However, the standout annotation-ready one is the Kindle Scribe, the first to allow handwriting and margin expansion.

Pricing of Kindle Scribe

• Base Model: $339.99
• Premium Pen Bundle: $419.99

Storage Capacity

• Base: 16 GB
• Mid: 32 GB
• High: 64 GB

Key Features

1. Large 10.2”, 300 ppi Paperwhite display with adjustable warm front light.
2. Premium stylus with built-in eraser and shortcut button; included with all storage tiers.
3. With Active Canvas, you can annotate directly in eBooks and PDFs with text auto-reflow for margin notes.
4. Built-in notebook app, stylus to text conversion, and generative AI tools to summarize or refine notes.
5. The battery life lasts for weeks when reading and writing, and it charges via USB-C.
6. Adjustable warm light and auto-adjusting front light for comfortable reading.
7. Notes and documents sync across devices and can be accessed through the Kindle app.

Part 2. How To Annotate On Kindle

The Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s first e-reader designed for handwriting and PDF markup. When I am working with PDFs, the Kindle Scribe PDF annotation feature gives me a much more interactive and flexible way to engage with my documents. From important files to marking them up with a stylus, you can do everything by following the stepwise process I’ll walk you through next:

Step 1. Use “Send to Kindle” from its app or via email, and Amazon will automatically convert the PDF into KFX format, which is required for annotation. Next, tap on the PDF to open it when it appears in your “Library” after it's synced.

Step 2. Press the “Upward arrow” icon from the left side to expand the “Writing” toolbar. Choose the “Pen” tool and write with the included stylus or draw anything inside the box.

Step 3. To highlight the text, pick the “Highlighting” tool from the annotation toolbar and choose the thickness from the pop-up menu. After you select the preferred thickness, drag your stylus over the text and highlight it as you like.

Step 4. If you want to delete the writing box, press the “Trash can” icon and choose the “Delete” option from the “Delete Your Canvas” pop-up screen.

Step 5. Following up, choose the “Notes” tool from the toolbar and tap on the place where you want the note to appear. Add “Handwritten Note” or “Text Note” as you like and press the three dots in the box to choose the “Delete” option in case you want to remove it.

Step 6. Apart from making notes on a specific place, if you want to create a note in the book, click the “Book” icon, and it will create a side margin. Then write beside the line where you want to add a note, and click the “Tick” icon to complete this process.

Step 7. Select the “Aa” tab and go to the “Layout” tab, where you can find options to modify the display of content on your screen. Under the “Layout” menu, you can change:

• Orientation (portrait or landscape)
• Margins (narrow to wide)
• Alignment (left to justified)
• Spacing (line spacing options)

Part 3. Better PDF Annotation on UPDF

When my reading goes beyond simple underlining, like when I need to add shapes or collaborate with others, I’ve found that a more advanced PDF editor becomes essential. I was interested in whether it was possible to learn how to annotate on Kindle and soon learned that the tools provided were not sufficient.

This is when I resorted to UPDF, which comes with the complete set of annotation tools and is compatible with all my systems, such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

1. Text Markup Tools: I use UPDF to highlight or strike through key points, and I like being able to color-code everything to stay organized.

• Sticky Notes: Whenever I need to leave quick thoughts or reminders, I just drop in a sticky note or text box that keeps my comments neat.

• Shapes and Drawing: For more visual tasks, I add boxes or freehand sketches, and I can customize the size or opacity to fit.

• Stamps and Stickers: UPDF lets me insert stamps or fun stickers to mark status or emphasize points.

• Comments Export and Management: What really helps is being able to view and export all my comments in one place, which makes reviewing or sharing very easy.

Elevate Your Reading with UPDF: Read, Chat & Mindmap PDFs

While Kindle is great for basic reading, UPDF enhances the experience with interactive tools that take your engagement further:

1. Read PDF: It offers a comfortable reading mode with optimized layouts and full-screen viewing designed to reduce eye strain and enhance focus. This is ideal for long reading sessions beyond Kindle and is available on all 4 devices, making it easy to pick up your wherever you left.   
2. Chat with PDF: Instead of manually skimming through pages, UPDF AI lets you ask questions, request summaries, and translations using natural language. It is powered by GPT 4.1 and DeepSeek R1, which ensure fast and context-aware responses for deeper understanding.

• Generate Mind Map: UPDF AI can transform your PDF into a visual mind map, providing an organized overview of key ideas and their relationships. This feature enhances comprehension and is available in both online AI and desktop versions.   

If you want to know more about UPDF AI, you can watch the video below.

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In conclusion, having examined the features to annotate Kindle and delved into the process, I’ve understood how significantly digital reading can be enhanced with appropriate tools. Although Kindle Scribe handles the fundamentals of highlighting and handwriting effectively, I frequently desire greater flexibility, particularly when dealing with PDFs. This is why UPDF stands out as the top PDF editor that genuinely enhances my workflow. Don't hesitate to click the button below to download it.