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Last chance to download your ebooks as Amazon removes crucial feature from older Kindles

Crackdown on piracy leaves honest users at a loss
Hassam Nasir
Last Updated on
Last chance to download your ebooks as Amazon removes crucial feature from older Kindles
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For those of you with an e-reader who haven't heard yet, Amazon is planning to remove a very useful tool called Download & Transfer via USB, which lets you download your ebook purchases to a computer. This means less flexibility for Kindle owners, as ebooks can no longer be saved on computers as backups or transferred without a Wi-Fi connection. According to reports, the tool is set to disappear tomorrow (February 26), meaning this is your last call to back up copies of your ebooks.

Amazon hasn't shared details on why they're making this move, but many assume it's most likely related to piracy. That's because the Download & Transfer via USB option is one of the more commonly used methods to remove Digital Rights Management (DRM) protections from ebooks and distribute them freely. The most recent generation of Kindles removed the option to download ebooks to a computer and locked them to the newer KFX format, making them much harder to crack. And now, anyone with an older Kindle model who previously had this option will also face the same restriction.

Have you downloaded your ebooks?

With just hours left before Amazon removes this feature, anyone who wants to download their ebooks as files on their computer for backup should hurry. If you’re unsure where your ebooks are located, follow these instructions:

  1. Go to the Account & Lists menu
  2. Select Manage Your Content and Devices and select Books from the available options
  3. Here, you’ll find all your purchased Amazon ebooks along with the Kindle devices they’re synced to
Source: Amazon

Once you’ve located your ebooks, press More actions next to the one you want to download, then select Download & transfer via USB. Unfortunately, there’s no bulk download option, so you’ll need to repeat these steps for each ebook. However, once they’re on your computer, you can easily transfer them to a Kindle via USB. On the bright side, once this change rolls out, you’ll still be able to transfer all your titles wirelessly to your e-reader and use the Kindle desktop apps for Windows and macOS as before.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.