I’m quitting Kindle, and Amazon’s new DRM update proves why you should too

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The Kindle Oasis was released in 2019, and it’s been a while since Amazon added a meaningful update to the system. So, when I learned that Amazon was rolling out a new system software update this past week, I was quite excited. That’s until I learned that the update closes a long-standing loophole for library books borrowed via Libby that lets you hold onto a book longer than you’d otherwise be allowed. Additionally, it further tightens DRM to ensure buyers can’t offload books from the Kindle.

While the first feature doesn’t affect me much, the latter, as someone who likes preserving digital media, makes the update an instant no-go for me. On paper, these changes protect publishers’ rights and intellectual property. For the end user, though, they are just another reminder that you never truly own your digital library or even the hardware you technically bought.

Look, I can understand Amazon wanting to safeguard publishers’ contracts, but the company has spent years ignoring basic software features that readers have been begging for while actively stripping away the few workarounds that made the ecosystem bearable. However, this latest move is the final straw for me. I am done trying to stay ahead of Amazon’s shenanigans, and I’m convinced I’m never buying another Kindle. Here’s why.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. For years, Kindle users have relied on a clever workaround to manage their reading for borrowed library books. By downloading a book through Libby and immediately putting the device into airplane mode, readers could hold onto their digital loans past the official due date.

Libby loans tend to range from 7 to 21 days. That might sound like a reasonable duration for the average book, but if you read large tomes like “The Wheel of Time,” you know it’s not nearly enough. You might be a slow reader, or you might just be busy with work and life, but the trick bought you extra time to read.

The thing is, on Libby’s end, the book was still returned to the library system on time for the next person in line, but the local file remained readable on the disconnected device. Amazon has now closed this gap entirely by implementing an on-device digital timer. When your loan expires, the book locks up regardless of whether you are connected to the internet.

I understand why Amazon and publishers wanted to shut this down. Digital library licenses are expensive and complicated, and authors deserve proper compensation for their work.