Amazon Is Shutting Down Kindle Download & Transfer Via USB – Cord Cutters News

ByLuke Boumaonin Amazon Kindle users are no strangers to the divide that splits many tech communities: those who stick to the company’s streamlined ecosystem and those who prefer to chart their own course. Much like Android fans who bypass Google Play to source apps elsewhere, some Kindle owners opt to sideload books via USB rather than buying directly from Amazon’s store. But a looming change set for February 26, 2025, is poised to disrupt this off-the-grid crowd, as Amazon phases out a long-standing feature that allowed users to download purchased books for USB transfer—a move that’s sparking both frustration and understanding.The shift began with last fall’s launch of the twelfth-generation Kindle hardware, which introduced tighter controls on content storage and transfer. Newer models were forced to operate as MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) devices over USB, and Amazon quietly deprecated the “Download & transfer via USB” option for officially purchased books, restricting those transfers to wireless delivery only. Until now, older Kindle models retained access to this tool, letting users download AZW3 files to their computers for manual transfer. That lifeline ends this week, with Amazon confirming the feature’s complete shutdown across all devices on February 26.This comes as Amazon also announced plans to shuts down its Android App store later this year. For some, this is a minor inconvenience; for others, it’s a blow to flexibility. As Android Police notes, the USB download option was a known workaround in Amazon’s digital rights management (DRM) system. While wirelessly delivered Kindle files are locked to a specific device, the AZW3 files downloadable for USB transfer could be stripped of DRM using hacking tools. This duality made it a double-edged sword: a handy backup for lawful owners, but also a piracy loophole that let users share books without compensating authors. Amazon’s decision to close this gap reflects growing pressure to protect intellectual property in an era of rampant digital sharing.“We’re aligning our systems to ensure a consistent, secure experience,” an Amazon spokesperson said, downplaying the change’s scope. “This doesn’t affect your ability to sideload files onto your Kindle over USB—just the option to download AZW3 files of purchases directly from us.” Users can still load personal ePubs or other compatible files manually, and wireless delivery remains unaffected. Yet for those who relied on the USB method to archive their libraries offline, the clock is ticking—any AZW3 downloads must be grabbed from Amazon accounts before the deadline.Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can find Luke on X HERE.Disclaimer: To address the growing use of ad blockers we now use affiliate links to sites like http://Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Affiliate links help sites like Cord Cutters News, stay open. Affiliate links cost you nothing but help me support my family. We do not allow paid reviews on this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Please select all the ways you would like to hear from :You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp’s privacy practices here.Cord Cutters News makes money through affiliate partner links: If you click on a link, we may earn a commission. Our writers and editors create all reviews, news, and other content to inform readers, with no influence from our business team. Learn more about how we make money. We take pains to ensure our site is accurate and up to date, but some information might be different than what you find by visiting a vendor website.© 2024 Cord Cutters News. All rights reserved.

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