2 Simple Ways to Open MOBI Files on iPhone or iPad

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View MOBI ebooks on any iOS device with these reading apps

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: June 15, 2026 Fact Checked

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Using the Kindle App

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Using MOBI Reader

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This wikiHow guide teaches you how to read MOBI-format ebooks using the Kindle app or MOBI Reader on an iPhone or iPad. While it’s no longer as simple as it used to be to import MOBI files into the Kindle app, you can still do so by transferring the files into the app from a computer. Use the MOBI Reader app to download and read MOBI books directly to your iPhone or iPad.

Easy Ways to Open MOBI Files in iOS

Although Kindle has mostly phased out the MOBI format, you can still open and read MOBI files in the Kindle app for iOS. To do so, you'll need to sideload the files to your iPhone or iPad using Finder or iTunes. Alternatively, install the MOBI Reader app and download your books directly into the app.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Kindle App

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1
Download the MOBI file to your computer. While you can still read MOBI files in Kindle, it’s no longer possible to send them directly to the Kindle app over email. The only way to do it is to sideload the files into Kindle using Finder (on a Mac) or iTunes (on Windows or Macs running older versions of macOS). To get started, you’ll need to save the MOBI file to your computer.
- Make sure your iPhone or iPad and computer are updated. If you’re using Windows, you’ll need the latest version of iTunes.
2
Plug your iPhone or iPad into your computer. Ideally, you should use the charging cable that came with your iPhone or iPad. Depending on what kind of USB ports your computer has, you might need a USB-C to USB adapter.
- You might see a prompt on either your iPhone/iPad or computer asking if you want to allow the connection. If so, select Trust or Allow.
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3
Select your iPhone or iPad. In Finder, it will be in the left sidebar under the Locations header. In iTunes, you’ll see it in the menu bar at the top of the window.^{[1]
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Click the Files tab. You’ll see it near the top of the right menu pane in Finder. If you’re using iTunes, click File Sharing in the left menu pane.^{[2]
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Select the Kindle app. In Finder, you’ll see it in the main window when the Files tab is selected. Click the > icon to expand it. In iTunes, click on Kindle in the Apps area of the window. You’ll see a list of shareable files associated with the Kindle app that are on your iPhone or iPad.
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Drag and drop your MOBI file into the Kindle area in Finder/iTunes. Find the MOBI file in the location where you saved it on your computer, then drag it into the Finder or iTunes window. Make sure you drop it in the list of Kindle files. You should see a progress bar as the file is copied over to your iPhone or iPad.
7
Eject your iPhone or iPad. Click the
Eject icon next to your iPhone or iPad. You should see this in the left menu bar in both Finder and iTunes. You can now unplug your iPhone or iPad from your computer.
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Locate and open the MOBI file in the Kindle app. Open the Kindle app on your iPhone or iPad and tap the Library tab. By default, you should see the newly sideloaded MOBI file at the top. Tap the MOBI file to open it and read it like any other ebook in your Kindle app!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the MOBI Reader App

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1
Install the MOBI Reader app. Open the App Store
. You'll usually find this app on the home screen. Tap Search at the bottom right corner of the screen and search for mobi reader. Tap Get on the MOBI reader app. It's the app with the blue icon that says “MOBI” above an open book.
- Depending on how your iPhone or iPad is configured, you may need to double-click the side button and use your Face ID, Touch ID, or Apple Account password to complete the installation process.
2
Open MOBI Reader. If you're still in the App Store, tap Open. Otherwise, tap the blue icon with “MOBI” and an open book on the home screen.
- You may be prompted to allow notifications from MOBI Reader. Tap Allow or Don’t Allow to continue.
- The first time you open the app, you may have to complete a brief tour of the main app features.
3
Navigate to the folder that contains the MOBI file. By default, you’ll be taken to the MOBI Reader app’s file manager. Tap one of the options (Photo Albums, Documents, Recently Opened, or Recently Downloaded) to navigate to the location where your file is stored. If you downloaded it from your web browser, it's likely in the Recently Downloaded folder.
- If the MOBI file is saved to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox, you can add those services in MOBI Reader. Tap Edit at the top-right corner of the screen, select your cloud service, then follow the on-screen instructions to access the file.
- If you can’t find your downloaded MOBI file through the MOBI Reader app:
  - Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap the file, then select the
    Share icon at the bottom right corner.
  - Scroll through the share options in the second row (where you see AirDrop, Messages, and Mail), then tap More.
  - Scroll down and tap MOBIReader. It should be under the Suggestions header. Your book will open in MOBI Reader.
- You can also tap the ☰ menu icon at the top left side of the screen to see other options for browsing or finding books. For example, tap Browser to open a specific website where you can download the MOBI files you want to read. Downloading books directly through MOBI Reader is the easiest way to add them to the app.
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Tap the MOBI file. This opens the file for reading in the MOBI Reader app.
- If the MOBI file is in the cloud, it may take a few minutes to download before opening.
- Once the file is open, you can swipe through the pages of the book to read. Tap chapter or section titles in the Table of Contents to jump directly to a specific chapter.
- Tap the middle of the page to open a menu of options for the book. From here, you can do things like add a bookmark, change the book to dark mode, open the table of contents, and more. Tap Close at the top left corner of the screen to exit the book.
1. And if the steps above have been helpful, be sure to download this article as a PDF so you can print, read, or reference it any time.