Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/| | [[File:Fyi-amazon-is-removing-download-transfer-option-on-feb-26th-v0-s7wd6fm1rqie1.webp|alt=Amazon notice about removing download capability|thumb|Amazon notice about removing download capability.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 Feb 2025 |title=FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comments/1inr9uy/fyi_amazon_is_removing_download_transfer_option/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/l6K1B |archive-date=17 Feb 2025 |publisher=Reddit |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref>]] | ||
On 26 February 2025, [[Amazon]] removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This means [[Amazon Kindle]] users are no longer able to download their purchased e-books from Amazon's website to their computers using the "download and transfer via USB" feature. A message describing this change appeared on the page for the download feature a few weeks before the feature was removed.<ref name="theverge">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb| | On 26 February 2025, [[Amazon]] removed the "download and transfer via USB" feature from their website. This means [[Amazon Kindle]] users are no longer able to download their purchased e-books from Amazon's website to their computers using the "download and transfer via USB" feature. A message describing this change appeared on the page for the download feature a few weeks before the feature was removed.<ref name="theverge">{{Cite web |author=Andrew Liszewski |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb |archive-url=https://archive.ph/QNFuC |archive-date=14 Feb 2025 |publisher=The Verge |language=en |format=article}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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Customers will still be able to download e-books to their Kindles, but will either have to use the Kindle store on the device or the "Deliver or Remove from Device" option on the Amazon website.<ref name="theverge" /> Both of these options require the e-reader to have an internet connection. | Customers will still be able to download e-books to their Kindles, but will either have to use the Kindle store on the device or the "Deliver or Remove from Device" option on the Amazon website.<ref name="theverge" /> Both of these options require the e-reader to have an internet connection. | ||
This isn't the first time Amazon has made changes affecting customers' access to their purchased e-books. For instance, Amazon previously removed books customers had purchased since the company that uploaded them didn't have the rights to the content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/amazon-is-not-to-be-trusted-anymore-with-their-kindle-e-reader| | This isn't the first time Amazon has made changes affecting customers' access to their purchased e-books. For instance, Amazon previously removed books customers had purchased since the company that uploaded them didn't have the rights to the content.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Michael Kozlowski |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon is not to be trusted anymore with their Kindle e-reader |url=https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/amazon-is-not-to-be-trusted-anymore-with-their-kindle-e-reader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/srsIB |archive-date=15 Feb 2025 |publisher=Good e-Reader |language=en |format=article}}</ref> | ||
==Customer response== | ==Customer response== | ||
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==Technical USB restrictions== | ==Technical USB restrictions== | ||
In 2023, Amazon changed how their Kindle devices interact with computers from a raw view of a file system using UMS ([[wikipedia:USB_mass_storage_device_class|USB Mass Storage]]) to a filtered view using the MTP ({{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4352640| | In 2023, Amazon changed how their Kindle devices interact with computers from a raw view of a file system using UMS ([[wikipedia:USB_mass_storage_device_class|USB Mass Storage]]) to a filtered view using the MTP ({{Wplink|Media Transfer Protocol}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2023 |title=Kindle Scribe no longer connects as USB drive |url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4352640 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/hkXML |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |publisher=MobileRead Forums |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref> | ||
MTP requires support on the operating system. Amazon had to provide macOS software to communicate with Kindles,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364580| | MTP requires support on the operating system. Amazon had to provide macOS software to communicate with Kindles,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Amazon releases MTP USB File Manager for macOS |url=https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364580 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/OQBWA |archive-date=3 Jan 2026 |publisher=MobileRead Forums |language=en |format=forum thread}}</ref> and even Windows users had some issues. This change made download and transfer more complex for newer devices. | ||
This change means that all files transferred to the device will have to pass through a software filter running on the device before being accepted. Currently, this filtering is ineffective as demonstrated by WinterBreak which uses the exposed HTML cache. Future software revisions can and will add restrictions, especially to "improve security." | This change means that all files transferred to the device will have to pass through a software filter running on the device before being accepted. Currently, this filtering is ineffective as demonstrated by WinterBreak which uses the exposed HTML cache. Future software revisions can and will add restrictions, especially to "improve security." | ||