What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Yes—but the change is best described as a loss of an official download route and more fragile third-party compatibility, not a universal ban on DRM removal. Amazon ended Download & Transfer via USB for new Kindle content on February 26, 2025. Separately, changing Kindle formats and encryption have made some unofficial backup and conversion workflows less reliable. DRM-protected books remain tied to Kindle apps and devices; eligible DRM-free purchases are a different case and can be downloaded as EPUB or PDF through Amazon.
What changed—and when
Three developments are often collapsed into one headline, but they are different:
- February 26, 2025: Download & Transfer via USB ended for new Kindle content. Amazon forum guidance says readers can continue to read books already downloaded to a device, but can no longer use the former account feature to download new Kindle books to a computer and transfer them by USB. This was more than a sideloading inconvenience: the route also served people who wanted local copies, moved books to another compatible device, or depended on older hardware. Amazon forum guidance on USB downloads.
- January 20, 2026: Amazon began offering EPUB and PDF downloads for eligible DRM-free purchases. This is an official portability option, but it applies to qualifying books bought by verified purchasers—not every Kindle title and not borrowed books. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing DRM guidance.
- May 20, 2026: Amazon forum guidance says certain older devices were affected. Kindle and Fire devices released in 2012 or earlier lost access to new purchases, borrowing, and downloads, according to Amazon forum information. That does not mean every such device stopped opening books already stored on it. Amazon forum guidance on older Kindles.
The first change is a clearly stated platform-policy shift. The difficulty with unofficial conversion is a separate, evolving technical issue: Amazon’s delivery formats and encryption change, and community tools do not work uniformly across every book, app, device, or software version.
Why Kindle-to-EPUB conversion is less predictable
Kindle books may be delivered in newer formats such as KFX or KFX-ZIP rather than older AZW-family files. The file a reader receives can depend on the title and the Kindle app or device used. KFX may involve a more complex package of content and resources, and processing it can depend on additional format support as well as on decryption compatibility.
#1 Best Overall
- The lightest and most compact Kindle - Now with a brighter front light at max setting, higher contrast ratio, and faster page turns for an enhanced reading experience.
- Effortless reading in any light - Read comfortably with a 6“ glare-free display, adjustable front light—now 25% brighter at max setting—and dark mode.
- Escape into your books - Tune out messages, emails, and social media with a distraction-free reading experience.
- Read for a while - Get up to 6 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
- Take your library with you – 16 GB storage holds thousands of books.
The open-source DeDRM project documentation warns that Amazon changes KFX DRM frequently. Its releases and issue history document ongoing compatibility problems involving KFX, KFX-ZIP, Kindle for PC/Mac, and combinations of Calibre and plugins. In practice, a book can download successfully and import into Calibre yet remain protected or fail conversion. Calibre itself does not natively remove Kindle DRM; DeDRM is a separate plugin, and KFX Input is a separate format plugin. Their compatibility depends on versions and the source files. See the project’s FAQ and release history.
That evidence supports saying removal and conversion have become more version-sensitive—not that they are now impossible for every book. A method that works for one purchase may fail for another, and an Amazon app or encryption update can change what works. A frozen “working recipe” is therefore not a dependable preservation plan. Old app installers can also bring security and support risks, while laws and retailer terms differ by jurisdiction and situation.
Rank #2
- The lightest and most compact Kindle - Now with a brighter front light at max setting, higher contrast ratio, and faster page turns for an enhanced reading experience.
- Effortless reading in any light - Read comfortably with a 6“ glare-free display, adjustable front light—now 25% brighter at max setting—and dark mode.
- Escape into your books - Tune out messages, emails, and social media with a distraction-free reading experience.
- Read for a while - Get up to 6 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
- Take your library with you - 16 GB storage holds thousands of books.
DRM-free is not the same as DRM-removed
A DRM-free book is supplied without copy protection. For eligible Kindle titles, Amazon says verified purchasers can download EPUB or PDF files through Manage Your Content and Devices. This is the straightforward official route when available: it produces a portable file without asking the reader to remove DRM.
A DRM-protected book is still restricted to Kindle apps and devices under Amazon’s stated policy. Being able to read it in a Kindle app does not mean Amazon has provided an ordinary EPUB or PDF file. Kindle Unlimited and other borrowed books do not qualify for the EPUB/PDF purchase download, even if the title itself is offered without DRM. Eligibility can vary by title and account; check the download option in the account rather than assuming a listing or reading experience guarantees a file. Amazon explains the distinction and publisher DRM settings here.
Rank #3
- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
Who is most affected?
- Owners of older Kindles that relied on direct USB delivery, especially if the device contains books that may be difficult to reacquire.
- Readers changing ecosystems who want to move a library to Kobo, PocketBook, or another ereader. A device’s EPUB support does not make a DRM-protected Kindle purchase readable on it.
- People who need independent backups for archival, research, accessibility, or poor-connectivity reasons. Amazon cloud access and a local, transferable file are not the same thing.
- Readers of illustrated, manga, comics, textbook, or Print Replica titles. Fixed-layout content may not convert cleanly to reflowable EPUB even where format processing is possible.
- Users outside Amazon’s mainstream app-and-device path, including those who depend on Linux or want to manage files across platforms. Files, app versions, and available tools differ across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
The change matters less to readers who are content to use supported Kindle apps and hardware and rely on their Amazon account for delivery and synchronization.
What to do with books you already have
- Check the access type. Is the item a purchase, a Kindle Unlimited or other loan, or a personal document? A borrowed book is not a permanent library copy.
- Look for the official EPUB/PDF option. In Manage Your Content and Devices, check whether Amazon offers a download for that purchased title. If it does not, do not assume the title is eligible just because you can read it or believe it is DRM-free.
- Protect access on older devices. If a registered Kindle contains books you value, do not casually deregister or factory-reset it. Amazon says previously downloaded books may remain readable, but a reset or loss of local files can leave an older device unable to restore access. Review Amazon’s factory-reset guidance before resetting.
- Keep originals intact. Preserve any files you already lawfully have and do not overwrite the only copy during organization or conversion attempts. A device that displays a book is not itself an independent backup.
- For future purchases, check the file policy before buying. Confirm that the retailer or publisher offers an actual EPUB/PDF download, whether it is DRM-free or protected with a system such as Adobe DRM, and whether your intended devices can open it. Policies differ by title; no retailer should be assumed to offer every book without DRM.
Amazon’s Send to Kindle and synchronization tools remain useful for personal documents and for delivery within the Kindle ecosystem. They are not a way to turn a DRM-protected commercial Kindle purchase into an ordinary portable ebook. Amazon’s file-transfer guidance and Kindle sync guidance describe supported delivery options.
Rank #4
- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
What not to assume
- “Amazon made all DRM removal impossible.” Too broad. The confirmed USB change removed an official route; third-party compatibility remains variable rather than universally impossible.
- “Every Kindle book can now be downloaded as EPUB.” No. Amazon’s official EPUB/PDF option is for eligible DRM-free purchases by verified purchasers, not protected titles or borrowed access.
- “I bought it, so I have an unrestricted file.” A purchase does not necessarily include a portable, unprotected file; check the title’s terms and download options.
- “A converter that worked last year will keep working.” Format, encryption, app, device, and plugin changes can break a workflow.
- “DRM-free and DRM-removed mean the same thing.” They do not. One is a publisher’s distribution choice; the other means protection was removed from a protected file.
Rules on bypassing DRM vary by country and circumstances, including the purpose of use. Buying a book does not automatically establish a legal right to circumvent its protection. Do not treat unofficial tools as guaranteed safe, lawful, or supported, and do not share files you are not entitled to distribute.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Upgrade your reading experience – The Signature Edition features an auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and 32 GB storage.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Adapts to your surroundings – The auto-adjusting front light lets you read in the brightest sunlight or late into the night.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
