Amazon Kindle eBooks Now Partially DRM-Free for Readers

Key Takeaways

1. Starting January 20, 2026, publishers can sell Kindle eBooks without copy protection (DRM).
2. DRM-free eBooks can be downloaded as PDF or ePub files, allowing use on non-Kindle devices.
3. Users can find the “Download EPUB/PDF” option in the “Digital Content” section if a DRM-free version is available.
4. Publishers must manually convert older titles to DRM-free format, while new releases can use Amazon’s automatic conversion service.
5. Some publishers now offer DRM-free downloads, but there is currently no way to check if a book is DRM-free before purchase.

In December, Amazon notified publishers they would have the ability to sell Kindle eBooks without copy protection starting on January 20, 2026. This development means that certain eBooks can now be downloaded not just to Kindle e-readers and devices with the Kindle app, but also as DRM-free PDF or ePub files.

How to Download eBooks

To download an eBook, simply choose it from the “Digital Content” section of your Amazon account. If a DRM-free version is available, you will see the “Download EPUB/PDF” option listed under “More Actions”. This feature enables the reading of books on eReaders that do not have the Kindle app installed. The option to sell books without DRM also allows for sharing with friends, leading Amazon to give publishers the choice of whether to offer their books with or without DRM.

Conversion Process for Older Books

For titles published prior to December 9, 2025, publishers must convert them to the DRM-free format manually. For new releases, Amazon provides an optional automatic conversion service. According to Good E-Reader, many large publishers have yet to provide their titles without copy protection in the Kindle Store. However, we found that some publishers, including Drachenmond, Hidden Gnome Publishing, and Fabylon, now permit DRM-free downloads from Amazon. Despite this, there seems to be no way to determine if a book is DRM-free before making a purchase.

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