Amazon is discontinuing the "Download & transfer via USB" feature for Kindle books, impacting users who prefer managing their ebook libraries locally or removing DRM. This change primarily affects older Kindles and those seeking greater control over their purchased content, while typical users may not notice a difference.

Amazon Kills Kindle USB Download Option: What It Means For You

Amazon is phasing out the "Download & transfer via USB" option for Kindle books, a feature that allowed users to download their purchased ebooks to a computer for transfer via USB. This change, set to take effect this week, has implications for those who value local ebook management and DRM-free reading.

The "Download & transfer via USB" option on Amazon's site is going away this Wednesday, February 26.

Why This Matters

This feature was initially intended to support older Kindles without Wi-Fi, but it also became a convenient way for users to:

• Back up their ebook libraries: Reducing the risk of Amazon removing books from their store or altering the content.
• Manage ebooks with tools like Calibre: Providing greater control over their digital libraries.
• Read Kindle books on other e-readers: By removing DRM from the downloaded files.

Who Will Be Affected?

• Users of older Kindles: Those relying on USB transfer due to lack of Wi-Fi.
• DRM-removal advocates: The downloaded files are in the older AZW3 format, making DRM removal easier compared to the newer KFX format.
• Ebook hoarders: Those who like to keep local backups of everything they buy

Most Kindle users who seamlessly download books over Wi-Fi to modern devices likely won't notice any change.

How to Prepare

If you want to download your Kindle purchases before the deadline:

1. Ensure you have an older Kindle or Fire device associated with your Amazon account. The newest devices may not offer the download option.

2. Download your books individually from Amazon's website.

3. Consider using the Amazon Kindle eBook Bulk Downloader command-line tool to automate the process for large libraries, as highlighted by Jason Snell at Sixcolors.

   • Note: This tool doesn't bypass DRM; it only automates the downloading process.

Amazon's Response

When asked about users with older Kindles who legitimately rely on USB downloads, Amazon provided a generic statement:

"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."

A History of Discontinued Features

This isn't the first time Amazon has retired features for older Kindles. In the early 2020s, they discontinued "Amazon Whispernet" cellular connectivity and offered discounts on new devices to affected users. This time, the incentive is much smaller, with trade-in values of "up to $5" for old devices.

Alternatives

Even after the change, you'll still be able to:

• Load books onto your Kindles via USB if you've downloaded them beforehand.
• Use third-party software to manage and transfer ebooks.
• Utilize the Send to Kindle service to load EPUB files and other books onto your device.