Amazon Removes Kindle Book Download & Backup Feature

For years, Kindle users have relied on the ability to download their purchased books directly from Amazon’s website and transfer them manually to their e-readers via USB. But starting February 26, 2025, that option will be gone. Amazon has announced it will disable the “Download & Transfer via USB” feature, effectively ending one of the last ways users could back up their Kindle books or convert them for use on non-Kindle devices.

Why Does This Matter?

At first glance, this change might not seem like a big deal. After all, most Kindle users simply download their books over Wi-Fi, and Amazon makes it easy to sync content across devices using its cloud services. However, the ability to download and store books offline provided a crucial safety net for users who wanted greater control over their digital libraries.

Here’s why many Kindle owners are concerned about losing this feature:

1. No More Offline Backups – If you wanted to keep a local copy of your Kindle purchases for safekeeping, this feature was the easiest way to do it. While Amazon stores books in the cloud, users have no guarantee that content will always remain available.

2. Digital Ownership Concerns – This change reinforces the uncomfortable reality that Kindle books are not truly owned in the traditional sense. Amazon has previously removed books from user libraries when licensing agreements changed, as was the case with George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm in 2009. More recently, Roald Dahl’s books were modified and replaced with updated versions featuring censored language.

3. Losing Access in a Wi-Fi-Only World – Not everyone has consistent Wi-Fi access. Some Kindle users prefer to sideload books due to unreliable internet connections or for convenience when traveling.

4. More Difficulty Converting Kindle Books – Many Kindle users have taken advantage of this feature to convert Amazon-purchased books into EPUB format for use on alternative e-readers like Kobo. This process was already becoming difficult due to Amazon’s shift from the older AZW3 file format to the newer KFX format, which is much harder to remove DRM from.

Amazon’s Statement on the Change

Amazon confirmed the upcoming removal of the feature in a statement provided to The Verge. “Customers can continue reading books previously downloaded on their Kindle device, and access new content through the Kindle app, Kindle for web, as well as directly through Kindle devices with Wi-Fi capability,” said Amazon spokesperson Jackie Burke.

While this might sound like a minor adjustment to how users get their books, it significantly reduces consumer flexibility and reinforces Amazon’s control over the Kindle ecosystem. The removal of this feature means that Kindle books will now be even more locked into Amazon’s ecosystem, making it harder for users to access them outside of approved Kindle devices and apps.

The Bigger Picture: Digital Rights and Ownership

This move by Amazon is just the latest example of a broader shift in digital media—where users often don’t truly “own” the content they purchase. Instead, they are granted access to content under licensing agreements that can change at any time.

This is not just a Kindle issue. It extends to streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Apple Music, where content can disappear without notice. When it comes to digital books, the ability to back up content is crucial because it ensures continued access regardless of platform changes, licensing disputes, or company decisions.

For years, advocates of digital ownership have warned about the risks of relying on cloud-based services to store purchased content. The ability to download and backup books gave Kindle users a small measure of control, but that option will soon be gone.

What Are the Alternatives?

With this change coming, Kindle users have a few remaining options:

1. Download and Back Up Now – If you want to preserve your Kindle purchases in a more flexible format, download and back them up before February 26, 2025. However, due to Amazon’s DRM protections, you may need additional tools to access the files outside of Kindle devices.

2. Use Calibre and Other Third-Party Tools – While Amazon is removing the direct download option, third-party tools like Calibre can still manage and convert Kindle books, provided they can be accessed in a compatible format.

3. Consider Alternative E-Readers – If you’re frustrated with Amazon’s increasing restrictions, switching to an e-reader from Kobo, PocketBook, or another brand that supports open formats like EPUB might be worth considering.

The Future of Kindle and Digital Books

Amazon’s decision to kill the download feature underscores its broader strategy of keeping Kindle users tightly within its ecosystem. With over-the-air downloads and cloud-based storage, Amazon ensures that its platform remains the central hub for e-books.

However, this move may also push users toward alternative e-book platforms that provide greater flexibility and digital ownership rights. As the digital content industry continues to evolve, consumers must remain aware of how companies control access to the media they “purchase.”

For now, Kindle users still have a year to take advantage of the “Download & Transfer via USB” feature. But after February 26, 2025, that option will be gone leaving users with fewer choices and even less control over their digital libraries.