# Amazon to Eliminate “Download & Transfer via USB” Feature for Kindle Books
Amazon is poised to discontinue a longstanding functionality that allowed Kindle users to download e-books onto their computers and transfer them using USB. This alteration, effective **Wednesday, February 26, 2025**, will mainly impact users of older Kindle devices and those who like to keep and organize their e-books offline.
## What Is Changing?
The **”Download & Transfer via USB”** feature on Amazon’s website has been a valuable resource for Kindle users desiring to manually download their purchased e-books and transfer them to their devices. This option was especially helpful for:
– **Owners of older Kindle models** that do not have Wi-Fi capabilities.
– **Users who wish to back up their e-books** on a local device.
– **Individuals employing third-party software** like [Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/) to organize their e-book collections.
– **Readers looking to remove DRM (Digital Rights Management)** from their Kindle books for use on other e-readers.
After February 26, users will be unable to download Kindle books directly to their computers through Amazon’s site. Nonetheless, previously downloaded books can still be transferred via USB.
## Who Will Be Affected?
For the majority of Kindle users—those who purchase books from Amazon and download them via Wi-Fi—this change will have minimal impact. However, it will significantly influence:
– **Users of older Kindles** (like the original Kindle and Kindle DX) that depended on **Amazon Whispernet** (the now-defunct 3G service) for downloading books.
– **Individuals who utilize third-party e-reader applications** and wish to transfer their Kindle purchases to other devices.
– **Users who manually back up their Kindle books** to safeguard against potential removal of titles from the Kindle store by Amazon.
## Why Is Amazon Making This Change?
Amazon has not provided a comprehensive explanation for this decision, but potential justifications might include:
– **Motivating users to remain within the Kindle ecosystem**, where books are downloaded directly to devices via Wi-Fi.
– **Limiting the ability to remove DRM from Kindle books**, a practice some users engage in to read their purchases on non-Kindle devices.
– **Phasing out support for older Kindle models** that no longer fit within Amazon’s current technology and service offerings.
## How to Download Kindle Books Before the Deadline
If you want to download your Kindle books prior to the **February 26 deadline**, follow these instructions:
1. **Verify that you have an older Kindle or Fire tablet** associated with your Amazon account. If your account only contains newer Kindle models (such as the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Scribe), the download option may be absent.
2. **Navigate to Amazon’s “Manage Your Content and Devices” page** and select the books you wish to download.
3. **Choose “Download & Transfer via USB”** and select a compatible Kindle device.
4. **Save the file to your computer** and, if necessary, transfer it to your Kindle via USB.
For users with extensive e-book libraries, **Jason Snell at Sixcolors** has suggested utilizing the [Amazon Kindle eBook Bulk Downloader](https://github.com/treetrum/amazon-kindle-bulk-downloader), a command-line tool that streamlines the process of downloading multiple books simultaneously.
## Alternative Ways to Transfer Books to Kindle
Even after Amazon eliminates the USB download option, users can still send books to their Kindle devices using:
– **Amazon’s “Send to Kindle” service**, which permits users to email EPUB files to their Kindle.
– **Third-party programs like Calibre**, which can convert and send e-books to Kindle devices.
– **Direct downloads via Wi-Fi**, which will still be accessible for all Kindle models with wireless functionality.
## What About Older Kindle Devices?
Amazon has not revealed any trade-in opportunities for users of older Kindles impacted by this change. However, the company continues to offer a **minimal trade-in value (up to $5)** for specific older Kindle models. Users can visit Amazon’s [trade-in page](https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=ti_surl_tradein?ie=UTF8&node=9187220011) for additional information.
## Final Thoughts
Amazon’s move to eliminate the **”Download & Transfer via USB”** feature signifies another step towards a completely cloud-centric Kindle ecosystem. While most users are unlikely to notice any changes, those who depend on manual downloads should take swift action to preserve their books before the deadline.
For those who prefer to **own and manage their e-books**, this shift underscores the necessity of **backing up digital purchases** and exploring alternative e-reader platforms that provide greater flexibility.
