Amazon’s Latest Move: Removing Kindle Download Feature to Lock You In?
Amazon has quietly announced a major change to Kindle support—they are removing the ability to download Kindle books for backup. For anyone who has spent years building a Kindle library, this should be a huge red flag.
What Does This Mean for You?
Up until now, Kindle users could download their purchased books, ensuring access even if the books were removed from Amazon’s store or if they wanted to use a different eReader. But with this update, Amazon is effectively saying, “Your books aren’t really yours—only accessible as long as we allow it.”
This move doesn’t just limit user control over personal purchases—it also ensures that readers stay locked into Amazon’s ecosystem. Want to switch to another eReader in the future? Too bad. Kindle books are already DRM-protected, making it difficult to transfer them to another device. By removing downloads entirely, Amazon is taking full control of the books you thought you owned.
Why Is Amazon Doing This?
The decision makes sense from a business perspective but not from a consumer-friendly one. Here’s why:
- Locking in future purchases – If your books are trapped in Amazon’s system, you’re far less likely to switch to another platform like Kobo or Nook.
- Preventing competition – By eliminating local backups, Amazon ensures that you can’t take your purchases elsewhere, forcing you to stay within their ecosystem.
- Subscription push – Amazon may be trying to steer users toward Kindle Unlimited, where you rent books instead of owning them.
This pattern isn’t new—tech companies love to shift from ownership to subscription-based models, limiting user freedom while maximizing profit.
What Can You Do About It?
With the download feature disappearing, backing up your Kindle books NOW is critical if you want to retain access. That’s why Fairy Tale Books is hosting three emergency FREE workshops to help you secure your purchases before it’s too late:
📅 Saturday Morning at 10:00 AM
We’ll walk you through the steps to safeguard your Kindle library so you aren’t at the mercy of Amazon’s business decisions.
Don’t wait—protect your collection while you still can!
📍 Fairy Tale Books, Jourdanton, TX
📞 830-770-0049