Amazon Kindle is ending the ability to download books via USB starting February 26, 2025. This change will affect those who have relied on downloading and transferring books to their computers for offline storage. Users who purchase books directly from the Kindle Store and download them to their Kindle devices via Wi-Fi or cellular networks won’t be impacted, nor will those using the Kindle app on iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows.
This shift raises concerns about digital ownership since purchased books are merely licensed, not owned, and can be altered or removed by Amazon. To ensure you maintain access to your books, it’s crucial to download them to your computer before the deadline. While this change is inconvenient, Kindle devices and apps will still provide access to your library, and you can continue reading your books on mobile devices.
In short, download your Kindle books now to keep them on your computer, but don’t worry – you can still enjoy Kindle books on other devices like your Kindle reader or mobile apps. Life changes, but Kindle continues to provide a convenient reading experience.
How Kindle Books Work: Devices, Apps, and Computers
Amazon’s Kindle platform revolutionized how we access and read books, offering millions of eBooks via its Kindle Store. Kindle books can be read on dedicated Kindle devices, smartphones, tablets, and computers, using the Kindle app. Once you purchase a book from the Kindle Store, it gets stored in your account and is available across all supported devices linked to your Amazon account.
For those who prefer offline reading, you could previously download books to a computer via USB. This feature allowed Kindle owners to store eBooks in a personal library, offering them more control over their purchased content. Additionally, the Kindle app on various platforms (iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows) allows you to access and read your books, keeping your library synced across devices.
However, major changes are coming to the Kindle experience that will affect those who prefer to back up their purchased books.
Upcoming Kindle Changes: What You Need to Know
Starting February 26, 2025, Amazon will end the ability to download Kindle books to your computer via USB. The “Download & Transfer via USB” option will no longer be available. This will mainly affect Kindle owners who prefer to back up and store their purchased books on their personal devices. If you’re accustomed to transferring books to older Kindle devices via USB, this change will disrupt that process.
The update will not impact Kindle readers who buy books from the Kindle Store and download them directly to their Kindle device via Wi-Fi or cellular networks. It also does not affect users of the Kindle app on iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows. However, those who enjoy keeping personal copies of their digital content or who transfer books from other sources via USB will be locked out of this functionality.
This change raises significant concerns about digital ownership. Unlike physical books, digital content has always been licensed, not owned. This means Amazon can remove or alter your library at any time. Recent incidents, like the removal of Roald Dahl’s “classic” words or the infamous 1984 incident, have highlighted the risks of not having direct control over digital content.
What You Need to Do Before February 2025
To ensure that you maintain control over your Kindle library, you must act before February 26, 2025. If you want to keep copies of your Kindle books stored on your computer, download them now. This process needs to be done individually for each title, so it is essential to prioritize your most important books, especially if you have a large collection.
Once the deadline passes, your ability to download Kindle books to your computer will be gone. This change may seem inconvenient, but there are still ways to access your content. You can continue reading books via your Kindle device, Kindle app, or through Wi-Fi-enabled Kindle devices. Although the loss of this USB download feature is frustrating, Amazon will still provide other methods for accessing your library.
Takeaway: Kindle’s Convenience and What’s Next
Despite the inconvenience, Kindle remains an excellent platform for reading on the go. With the ability to download content to mobile devices, including the Kindle app, Amazon continues to offer an accessible and portable way to enjoy books anywhere. Although the upcoming change reduces some control over purchased books, it doesn’t eliminate the convenience that Kindle provides.
To preserve your digital library, make sure you download your books now, before the feature is gone. This action may feel like a hassle, but as we move into a more cloud-based world, such changes are increasingly common. Life changes, but reading will remain convenient and accessible with Kindle. Whether you use your Kindle device, the Kindle app on your smartphone, or tablet, the world of eBooks is still open to you. Keep reading, keep learning, and adapting to these changes.
For more details on how to download Kindle books before the change, click here.