Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon will remove a feature that has been a handy option for many Kindle users: the ability to download purchased books to a computer and then manually transfer them to a Kindle over USB. While this might not be a feature everyone uses, it’s about to disappear—and here’s why it matters.

Why Does This Matter to Kindle Users?

If you’re like many Kindle users, you might not have even known about this feature since Wi-Fi is the more common method to send books to your Kindle. However, there are a few important benefits to downloading books to your computer, and this change might leave some users feeling uneasy.

Offline Access: The ability to download books and store them on your computer is a backup option for Kindle users who might not always have access to Wi-Fi. Imagine you’re traveling, or if your Kindle is having trouble connecting to the internet. With this feature, you’d still be able to access and transfer books manually.
Backup for Deleted Books: Over the years, Amazon has removed books from its online store and sometimes even deleted them from users’ Kindles remotely. For instance, in 2009, Amazon deleted George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four from user devices. More recently, books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have been updated with altered language. If you have a copy stored on your computer, you can keep your original file even if Amazon removes the title or changes it.
Converting to Other Formats: Another useful feature of downloading books to your computer is the ability to convert them to other formats like EPUB, which can be used on non-Kindle e-readers, such as a Kobo. This gives users more flexibility in how they read their digital books.

What Is Changing?

From February 26, 2025, Amazon will remove the “Download & Transfer via USB” option from its website. Instead, users will only be able to send books to Wi-Fi-enabled Kindle devices. A pop-up notice now appears when you select the option to download your books, notifying you about the upcoming change.

Here’s the important part of the message:

“Starting February 26, 2025, the ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option will no longer be available. You can still send Kindle books to your Wi-Fi enabled devices by selecting the ‘Deliver or Remove from Device’ option.”

This change eliminates the ability to download books to your computer directly from Amazon’s website, which some users might rely on for backups or transferring books to other devices.

The Technical Side of Things

Currently, books downloaded from Amazon are stored in the AZW3 format, which is easier to convert to other formats like EPUB. But, for modern Kindle devices, Amazon now uses a more complex format called KFX, which includes DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection that’s much harder to bypass. The AZW3 format, which was used on older Kindle models, allowed users to access their books via USB and transfer them manually.

This change isn’t entirely surprising. It’s a continuation of Amazon’s focus on Wi-Fi-connected devices, where transferring content over Wi-Fi is simpler and more automated for users. But, for some, it means saying goodbye to manual transfers—a feature that many Kindle owners have relied on over the years.

What Will Still Work After the Change?

While the Download & Transfer via USB feature is going away, users can still transfer files manually to their Kindles via USB. For example, you can still use apps like Calibre (a third-party software) or other document transfer methods to load content onto your Kindle.

However, if you want to download purchased books from Amazon to your computer after February 26, that option will no longer be available. You’ll still be able to download books on your Kindle device through Wi-Fi or access them using the Kindle app on other platforms like your phone, tablet, or computer.

Looking Ahead

The decision to remove this feature has sparked some concern from Kindle users, particularly those who have enjoyed the peace of mind knowing they have offline copies of their digital library. While it might seem like a minor change, it’s another reminder of how digital content is often not as permanent as physical books—and how services like Amazon have the ability to control the access and ownership of the books we buy.

In conclusion, while this feature disappearing might not directly affect all Kindle users, it’s certainly worth noting for anyone who relies on it for backing up their purchases or managing their digital library across different devices. If you’re one of those users, it may be time to find alternative methods of backup or start transferring your books before the change takes place.