It's advisable to Grab Your Kindle E-Books Immediately, as Time May Run Out Soon
Revamped Article:
Get ready, Kindle enthusiasts! Amazon is phasing out the "Download & Transfer via USB" option for its e-book users, effective from Wednesday, Feb. 26. If you've amassed a substantial library and desire to relocate your reading material elsewhere, seize this opportunity as it might be your last.
Amazon notified users of this change in a subtle notice on their library management page. From Feb. 26, users will be left with the option of downloading Kindle books solely via WiFi. The now-eliminated USB download feature was a popular workaround that allowed users to save their proprietary Kindle format e-books outside Amazon's confined ecosystem. The AZW3 format, used with this feature, often had several DRM-busting methods at one's disposal, compared to the more modern KFX format. Furthermore, USB downloads served as backup solutions for Kindle books in case of device or account malfunctions.
The shift comes at a time when non-Amazon e-book brands, such as Bookshop.org, are emerging. However, Amazon continues to leverage its market dominance to secure exclusive deals, especially in the realm of audiobooks and e-books. Therefore, it's advisable to download your existing library before it's too late. To transfer your Kindle library to your computer, navigate to Amazon's Accounts & Lists. Scroll down to Content Library, then click on Books. Next, select the "More actions" option for the book you wish to download, and then select Download & transfer via USB.
Kindle's DRM-removal hack was a preferred method among the community to share e-books like sharing paperback books. Kindle offers a sharing feature, but it restricts it to household members only.
Kindle devices remain popular for their e-reading prowess, despite their hefty price tags. Devices like the Colorsoft Kindle, priced at $280, and the recent Kindle Paperwhite, costing $160, offer excellent reading experiences. However, other budget-friendly options like the $150 Onyx Boox Go 6 may still require Kindle to access many of your books, especially if they're locked to Amazon's restricted platform.
Amazon terms of service clarify that owning Kindle content grants you a "license" to the e-book, not the e-book itself. You can only view the content through Kindle software on supported devices. Despite this limitation, open-source apps like Calibre can read most e-book formats, making it possible to access your Kindle library without Amazon's authorization.
Consider checking out Libby, a library app that can help you download and read e-books from your local libraries. Don't forget Project Gutenberg if you're on the hunt for classic titles in EPUB format. For DRM-free literature, e-Books.com is worth exploring.
Source 1: Downloading Kindle E-books Before February 26, 2025Source 2: Manual Download Featuring Tampermonkey ScriptSource 3: Alternative Options for DRM-Free E-book ReadingSource 4: E-reader DevicesSource 5: Software and ToolsSource 6: DeDRM ToolsSource 7: FormatsSource 8: Purchasing DRM-Free E-books
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Downloading your Kindle library before Feb. 26, 2025, is an essential task for those interested in preserving their reading material outside Amazon's closed ecosystem. The aforementioned guide outlines both manual and automated methods to help you accomplish this goal.
To manually download your Kindle e-books:
- Visit the Manage Your Content and Devices page on Amazon.
- Select the e-book you want to download.
- Click on More Actions next to the book title.
- Choose Download & Transfer via USB to save your book to your computer.
For users with a large library, manual downloads may be time-consuming. In such cases, the Tampermonkey Chrome extension can be used to automate the process using a script, allowing you to download multiple books efficiently. Simply navigate to your Kindle library on Amazon, and the script will download your books automatically.
If you're looking for alternatives to reap the benefits of DRM-free e-books, consider exploring e-reader devices, software and apps, formats, and purchasing platforms that specialize in DRM-free e-books.
- With the upcoming phase-out of the "Download & Transfer via USB" option by Amazon, users who want to preserve their Kindle library outside Amazon's ecosystem should consider transferring their files before February 26.
- The elimination of the USB download feature is significant for Kindle users, as it allowed for the saving of AZW3 format e-books, which often had several DRM-busting methods, and served as a backup solution for Kindle books.
- Technologically savvy Kindle users have relied on the USB download feature to eliminate digital rights management (DRM) from their Kindle books, allowing for sharing among the community like sharing physical books.
- As Amazon continues to phase out features like the USB download option, exploring alternative solutions for transferring and reading DRM-free e-books, such as Calibre software or Libby app, becomes increasingly important for future tech-oriented reading preferences.
