Amazon recently made headlines with its popularKindle ereader line, but this time for all the wrong reasons. Seemingly out of nowhere, the companyhas opted to removethe useful ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option across its entire digital book ecosystem.
For those not in the know, this aforementioned option allows you to plug your Kindle into a computer through USB, and then physically transfer backups of your ebook library onto ahard driveor other storage medium.
One of Kindle’s most useful features was just discontinued for no real reason
Kindle users on Reddit are reporting receiving a warning message from Amazon about a feature going away soon.
With the option officially sunset as of June 30, 2025, the only (officially sanctioned) way to transfer your Kindle ebook library going forward is wirelessly via Wi-Fi, using the ‘Deliver or Remove from Device’ functionality.
Amazon’s decision to remove this previously available functionhas been met with criticismfrom both bookworms and consumer rights activists the world over. Many are even outright second-guessing their decision to spend their hard-earned cash within the Kindle ecosystem going forward.
With all this in mind, a very important and necessary question is being raised now more than ever: do you actually own the books you purchase on your Kindle ereader through Amazon’s marketplace?
Amazon Kindle
Amazon’s first-party Kindle app for downloading and reading all your favorite ebooks across your mobile devices.
Do you actually own the books you buy on your Kindle?
Ownership in the digital age is a touchy subject
The long and short of it is that when you purchase and download a book from theKindle Store, you aren’t directly buying ownership of the digital book file in question. Rather, you’re purchasing a license that allows you access to the written work – a license which can technically be revoked at any moment in time.
If a book is ever delisted from the Kindle ecosystem, either due to copyright disputes or otherwise, then you’re put in a tricky situation. The version of the book that you’ve paid for and downloaded onto your device is still accessible, but if you were to delete the file, it wouldn’t be available for redownloading through Amazon’s servers.
In other words, your ebook file is proprietary and only readable on official Kindle ereader hardware.
There’s also the question ofdigital rights management, or DRM for short. When you download an ebook through the Kindle Store, the digital file itself is embedded with a special bit of software that keeps the file locked into the Amazon ecosystem.
In other words, your ebook file is proprietary and only readable on official Kindle ereader hardware, which is a sore point for many. DRM is usually justified by companies as a way to combat piracy, but it’s clear that ecosystem lock-in is a major unspoken incentive as well.
I found the easiest way to download Kindle books before Amazon’s ban kicks in
Amazon is removing the option to download your Kindle books onto your computer soon. Here’s how to quickly backup your Kindle book library.
What does this all mean?
DRM is the name of the game these days
As mentioned, the existing realities of the current Kindle ecosystem is one of DRM-laced book files, ecosystem lock-in, and the newfound inability to back up your books via USB.
This raises important questions when it comes to media file ownership in the digital age, and whether there’s enough clarity in the consumer space overall. Many are unaware of the differences between owning a digital file and purchasing a license to access a given piece of media.
This raises important questions when it comes to media file ownership in the digital age.
Concerns over media preservation also come into play, with Amazon and other tech giants able to remove access to books seemingly on a whim. Presently, the one saving grace for book lovers is open file formats likeEPUB (of which Kindle devices support), and access to literary works from sites like theInternet Archive,Project Gutenberg, and more.
If you’re interested in doing so, you can wirelessly upload DRM-free EPUB book files onto your Kindle device, by heading over to Amazon’s officialSend to Kindle web portal. It’s an imperfect solution, but for the time being, it’s the best way to retain some semblance of control over your digital library ownership, as well as to safeguard your future ability to switch between hardware ecosystems.
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