Amazon's Killing An Old Kindle Hack, And The Clock Is Ticking

Getting new books for your Kindle is just about the easiest thing in the world. With millions of titles available for purchase through Amazon, Kindle Unlimited offering a convenient subscription option, and the ability to borrow books from participating libraries, it's no wonder that some users are always looking for ways to do things their own way. For those who prefer to sideload e-books onto their Kindles, Amazon has long provided an unofficial workaround: using third-party tools to strip digital rights management (DRM) and remove limitations on sharing and reading these files.

However, this hack relies on users having access to the e-book downloads themselves. In February, Amazon deprecated its "Download & transfer via USB" functionality, which was a primary source for retrieving these downloads. But, as it turns out, there was another way to get around this restriction, using older versions of the Kindle Android app that still supported a similar download mode.

Unfortunately, even this loophole is about to close its doors. According to a notice shared by MobileRead forum user trishau via Android Police, Amazon has informed users that old Android builds will no longer support Kindle downloads. The notice doesn't explicitly state whether this decision was made with the intention of eliminating the workaround or simply as part of some routine housekeeping, but it's clear that the clock is ticking for those who have been using outdated versions of the app to access these e-books.

But don't worry just yet – Amazon has given users a few weeks' notice before pulling the plug on this loophole. This means that even if you've been running an old version of the app for years, you still have some time left to update and continue using this hack. It's worth noting, however, that those who haven't updated in years might not be too concerned about losing this functionality – after all, it wouldn't have been surprising to see Amazon end support for users who haven't made any effort to keep their software up-to-date.

As the deadline approaches, it's essential for Kindle sideloaders to take action and update their apps. The future of this hack is uncertain, but one thing is clear: those who rely on it will need to adapt quickly to continue enjoying their e-books in the way they want to. Will you be updating your app before it's too late?