Abdelrahman
February 19, 2025, 12:01 PM
Effective Wednesday, February 26, Amazon will no longer allow users to download their purchased ebooks, compelling them to remain confined within Amazon’s ecosystem.
As reported by The Verge, this major corporation is eliminating a feature that enabled readers to manage their ebooks freely, including backing them up, converting them to different formats, or transferring them to other e-readers. There are many valid reasons for wanting to download ebooks, but the fundamental principle is clear: when you buy something, you should have control over it.
Amazon’s download process has always been somewhat complex, involving numerous steps. Transferring books to non-Kindle devices requires converting Amazon’s unique file format, which can be challenging. However, even this convoluted procedure is now seen as too generous by Amazon.
This decision isn’t particularly surprising given Amazon’s current trajectory and the leadership of a certain billionaire with questionable values. This move doesn’t just strip users of ownership; it also highlights Amazon’s troubled track record as a digital librarian. The company has previously been known to delete titles it mistakenly listed for sale or replace books with altered versions without notifying readers. Moreover, Amazon has been reluctant to sell ebooks and audiobooks to libraries, maintaining a monopolistic hold on numerous titles. This is especially prevalent with “Audible Exclusive” audiobooks, which cannot be borrowed or purchased through other services.
Tech companies dealing in books, music, and movies have often treated digital purchases as rental agreements. While this approach saves space on physical shelves and hard drives, it entraps consumers in a peculiar, almost feudal-like relationship. The best strategy is to seek alternatives—platforms like Bookshop.org and Libro.fm allow users to download their own DRM-free copies while supporting independent booksellers.
If you have already purchased ebooks from Amazon, you have one week to back them up before the ability to download them is removed. The procedure may seem tedious, particularly for larger libraries, but writer Craig Mod has shared a tool aimed at streamlining the process:
If you’re looking to back up your Kindle books before Amazon takes away the download option on the 26th, this script is quite effective in reducing the cumbersome process of downloading each book individually: gist.github.com/spf13/1fee1e…
For those interested in compelling, anti-Amazon literature, consider checking out Brian Merchant’s Blood In The Machine and Tim Wu’s The Curse of Bigness—both available as downloadable ebooks.
