UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2025, 6:30 p.m. EDT The initial iteration of this article provided instructions for downloading Kindle books prior to Amazon’s withdrawal of that capability. It has been revised since users can no longer obtain Kindle files externally from the Kindle app.

Regarding e-readers, Kindles hold the top spot in popularity. They are quick, elegantly designed gadgets that house an entire library within your pocket. However, as of Feb. 26, 2025, Amazon has eliminated the option to download Kindle books to computers. You may still transfer books to your digital library, but solely on devices that support WiFi. So what’s the pressing issue?

Kindle books are formatted in Amazon’s unique e-book style, .AZW3 files, which can solely be accessed on Kindle devices or via the Kindle app. This poses a problem if you wish to enjoy your books on an alternative e-reader, as these files are encrypted with digital rights management to hinder conversion.

If you were interested in reading a book acquired from the Kindle Store on another device, you would have to obtain the book, decrypt the file, and convert it to a different format using a free application like Calibre. Nevertheless, since Amazon has ceased allowing the downloading of books through USB, this option is now off the table — ostensibly as an added protection to ensure you continue reading on its devices.

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