A new Kindle app is coming
A new and improved Kindle app for Windows 11 will be available in the Microsoft Store later this month.
This app will no longer be available after June 30, 2026.
This is the pop up message I received in English when the Kindle for PC app updated itself to 2.9.1 (71006).
Amazon has officially announced that the classic Kindle for PC (Win32 version) will be retired on June 30, 2026. While a new version is coming to the Microsoft Store, this change has significant implications for power users, researchers, and those who maintain personal digital archives.
The Core Changes of Kindle for PC App
End of Old Kindle for PC Support:
After June 30, the current standalone Kindle for PC app will no longer be supported and will likely lose the ability to download new content.
The New Kindle for PC will launch:
Amazon is launching a new Kindle App specifically for Windows 11, available exclusively through the Microsoft Store.
System Requirements for new Kindle for PC:
Users still on Windows 10 may find themselves locked out of the new desktop experience, as the new app is optimized for the Windows 11 architecture.
Why This Matters for Your Kindle Library
For the average reader, this is a simple app update. However, for the technical community and those concerned with Digital Rights Management (DRM), this is a major shift.
Closing the "Legacy" Loophole:
The current Kindle for PC v2.9.x (including version 2.8.X) remains built on the 32-bit (Win32) architecture.
Even if you are running a 64-bit Windows operating system, this software still relies on a legacy 32-bit framework. This is one of the primary reasons why Amazon plans to fully retire it on June 30, 2026—it can no longer keep pace with the security and performance standards of modern 64-bit systems, specifically Windows 11.
Because it utilizes this older 32-bit architecture, there are certain "technical gaps" in how the app handles modern encryption, such as the newer KFX format. These gaps serve as the very foundation that allows many current backup tools and Calibre plugins to function.
Tougher Kindle DRM :
In contrast, Amazon’s upcoming "New Version" will be a 64-bit Microsoft Store app designed exclusively for Windows 11. This new architecture is expected to integrate much stronger hardware-level encryption (such as TPM 2.0--Trusted Platform Module). This means that existing backup methods and format conversion workflows will likely become completely obsolete after June 2026.
Kindle Format changes
Expect a continued shift toward the KFX format, which is significantly harder to convert than older KF8 or Mobi formats. While this change hasn’t been officially confirmed, many users on Reddit and MobileRead believe this is the likely trend.
Immediate Actions to Take--Backup Your Kindle Library to drm-free epub files
If you value having a local, DRM-free backup of your library, you must act before the June 30 deadline.
Step 1: Download Your Kindle Library Now:
Use your current Kindle for PC setup to download all your purchased kindle titles immediately.
Step 2: Remove drm from Kindle books:
It is not neccessary to download kindle books to your local storage. The most important things you should do is removing drm from kindle books before they change the drm scheme. For now, Epubor Ultimate is compatible with the Kindle for PC (Old and latest Kindle for PC), kindle eink device and kindle for Mac. The detailed guide on removing kindle drm on pc, eink device and mac is here.
Extended Knowledge: Kindle App Updated to Close Every Loophole
Amazon didn’t just flip a single switch—they spent the entirety of 2025 systematically dismantling every remaining DRM loophole.
February 2025 — USB downloads removed
Amazon eliminated the “Download & Transfer via USB” option from the Manage Your Content and Devices page. Without the ability to download a local file directly, the traditional DeDRM entry point vanished overnight, leaving Calibre users with no file to import.
April 2025 — Legacy Kindle for PC blocked
Many users relied on older versions of Kindle for PC (notably v2.4.0 and earlier) because newer releases introduced stronger encryption. In April, Amazon ceased delivering new purchases to these legacy versions. Any book bought after April 22, 2025, simply will not download to these older clients.
September 2025 — Firmware 5.18.5 hardened device security
Newer Kindle hardware—including the 11th and 12th generation Paperwhite, Colorsoft, and Scribe—adopted a hardened encryption system. Currently, no publicly available open-source tools can bypass this updated security despite ongoing analysis.
March 2026 — Older devices brought into the fold
Amazon extended these new DRM protections to older Kindles running Firmware 5.16.2.1.1. Devices that were once the reliable standard for DRM removal are rapidly losing compatibility as Amazon synchronizes security across its entire fleet.
The bottom line
While standard plugins struggle, Epubor Ultimate continues to support the latest versions of Kindle for PC and Mac, as well as various e-ink devices. With more than 10 years of experience in the Kindle DeDRM field, we are always the first one to support the latest kindle update.
Conclusion
The “golden age” of easy Kindle backups is coming to an end. While Amazon presents this as a “new and improved” experience, it also reflects a broader move to tighten control over its ecosystem. Make sure your library is backed up before Kindle for PC is forcefully updated.
Iris Yan Marketing Architect at Epubor since 2017, drives the brand’s product design, advertising, and all-channel strategy.
This is awful news. I would gladly buy else where, however many of the books I want aren't available at Kobo or Google. The library is near useless because they don't have the books I want either. I really hate Amazon for doing this. I like having physical copies of my books and reading my books on my own device. I do not want to be trapped into reading only with the Kindle App. I hate it's layout. I'm constantly changing pages because there are so few words on each page. My book reader allows me to change the layout to how I want. I can't do that on Kindle.
What is this really going to mean for Epubor? Will it be the end or will you continue to work on ways around to de-DRM books using the new Kindle?
We will try our best to help you backup your purchased kindle books for personal use.
wird es Antworten auf die vielen die bereits gestellt wurden gebeten?
and what does this mean for windows 10 pcs?
Everything is working perfectly for now, and I will continue to regularly purchase new Kindle e-books from Amazon. However, on or around 15 June, 15 days before the current Kindle 2.9 expires, I will temporarily stop buying Kindle-format books and will only buy EPUB-format books (i.e. from somewhere other than Amazon) until Epubor Ultimate is updated to efficiently decrypt and convert the new Kindle books.
I have faith in Epubor and am not really worried about the future. I'm pretty sure that the new version of Epubor Ultimate won't be ready for several weeks or months, it seems obvious to me. The technicians and developers will need time to analyse the new Kindle ebook format and develop new code. They will probably have to work extremely hard and pull quite a few all-nighters to get it done, as this massive challenge has suddenly landed in their lap. Please, everyone, let's be patient. They have done a remarkable job for fifteen years and will not let us down. We need to let them get on with their work in peace so they can stay fully focused. I suggest their communications team publishes a short update message on the website (not only on the social networks as I don't use them like many other people who as me have personaly faced criminal facts on these channels or for any other reason) every fortnight or so to let us know they’re making progress and reassure us. Thank you so much to all Epubor teams!
Albert