Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Bibliobrarian

Is this also due to the change in download & transfer?

Nothing to do with download and transfer going away.

Amazon simply decided that K4A versions less that 9.0 were no longer supported. And so, anyone who can not update their Android version to 9.0 or higher is now unable to use the Kindle for Android app to download books.
 

Dear Customer,

We are reaching out to ask you to update the Kindle app on your Android device to the latest available version (Android OS v9.0+). As of May 26, 2025 Kindle for Android app versions released prior to March 2022 (v8.51 or earlier) no longer support Kindle content downloads. This update will ensure you get the most out of the Kindle experience and that the app operates as intended.
Please follow the steps below to get the latest version of the free Kindle app.

How to Update:
1. Open the Settings app on your device. Scroll down and tap System or About phone/tablet (this might vary depending on your device).
2. Tap Software update or System updates. Tap Check for updates. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.
3. Once you upgrade your device to Android OS v.9.0+, open the app store on your Android device.
Search for the Kindle app. Tap “Update” to install the latest version.

If you are unable to update your app, you can continue reading previously downloaded content, as well as continue to use Kindle for Web (https://read.amazon.co.uk/), a supported Kindle E-reader, or the free Kindle app on iOS, Mac or PC to download and read Kindle content.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindlesupport.

Thank you for being a Kindle customer.

Sincerely,
The Kindle Team
Amazon

Please note: This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is there a way to see the eBooks download from Amazon to a 2024 Kindle?

Connect your Kindle to your Windows computer and the same procedure as the USBMS Kindles. On a Mac, you will need to install the Send to Kindle app to get Amazon's utility for accessing your MTP content. Alternatively, I haven't tested this with calibre but I believe that calibre version 7.26 or higher can access MTP content without needing an external driver on a Mac.

[tomsem]

You can also use calibre Device view or OpenMTP (which also works with Android tablets) to see what is on 2024 Kindles (or any Scribe). You just cannot use more than one MTP client at the same time.

[JSWolf]

If I get access to the 2024 Kindle again, I'll have a look at it to see if I can see the eBooks downloaded from Amazon.

[Kuram]

Regarding method 3, on a paperwhite 1 (gen5) is there a trick to getting the right firmware version and then preventing it from updating automagically?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Kuram

Regarding method 3, on a paperwhite 1 (gen5) is there a trick to getting the right firmware version and then preventing it from updating automagically?

No. It works with any firmware.

[NBRuJaDo]

If I were to buy a new kindle, would method 3 work? Or should I go for an older second hand one? Thanks.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by NBRuJaDo

If I were to buy a new kindle, would method 3 work? Or should I go for an older second hand one? Thanks.

There have been reports that the newest software update has disabled method 3, but I don't know if it's true for all users. Anyway, it seems safer to get an older model no longer receiving updates, but not too old (devices over 10 years old might also be barred from downloading books in the not-too-distant future.)

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

There have been reports that the newest software update has disabled method 3, but I don't know if it's true for all users ...

Where have you seen reports of the newest software updates disabling method 3?

@texasnightowl confirmed method 3 works with 5.18.2: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...&postcount=886

[Sirtel]

Tbh, I don't remember in which thread, but someone recently complained that they could no longer access their books on their 2024 Kindle. I assumed there had been an update, but maybe I was wrong and there was some other reason.

Still, it seems more than likely that Amazon will do something about those Kindles still receiving updates. And maybe older models too, although that's somewhat less likely.

[darthyoda6]

I had one book that came out on June 1, 2025 that I couldn't copy from my Paperwhite Gen 10 running 15.8.1, using the #3 method, but I had another book that came out June 2, 2025 that did copy fine. I went to my original Kindle Touch Gen 7 that's been sitting around and downloaded the book, and that copy worked fine.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Tbh, I don't remember in which thread, but someone recently complained that they could no longer access their books on their 2024 Kindle. I assumed there had been an update, but maybe I was wrong and there was some other reason.

Not sure if it's the same one, but there was a post by a Mac person with a 2024 Kindle that was likely related to MTP, and could hopefully be resolved by updating their version of Calibre (MTP support added with version 7.25). There was also an issue about using the USB File Manager tool included in the Send to Kindle app for Mac to access the MTP drives in 2024 Kindles.

None of this was related to a software update.

Originally Posted by darthyoda6

I had one book that came out on June 1, 2025 that I couldn't copy from my Paperwhite Gen 10 running 15.8.1, using the #3 method, but I had another book that came out June 2, 2025 that did copy fine. I went to my original Kindle Touch Gen 7 that's been sitting around and downloaded the book, and that copy worked fine.

By "couldn't copy" do you mean you tried to import it into Calibre and it resulted in a KFX-ZIP file with DRM not removed?

If so, try deleting the book from your Kindle then re-downloading it. Sometimes books downloaded to your Kindle are missing a piece, especially if you're downloading multiple books at the same time. See Post #988

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Tbh, I don't remember in which thread, but someone recently complained that they could no longer access their books on their 2024 Kindle. I assumed there had been an update, but maybe I was wrong and there was some other reason.

Still, it seems more than likely that Amazon will do something about those Kindles still receiving updates. And maybe older models too, although that's somewhat less likely.

The last few messages I've seen about not being able to access books from a Kindle ereader using MTP have been from @JSWolf whom, at this time, does not own a 2024 Kindle. There are some complaints from MacOS users but those seem to due to MTP implementation issues and the inability of MacOS or Linux to have more than one simultaneous connection to an MTP device and nothing to do with the Kindle's firmware.

I think he needs to head back up the mountain and get his stone tablets updated.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The last few messages I've seen about not being able to access books from a Kindle ereader using MTP have been from @JSWolf whom, at this time, does not own a 2024 Kindle. There are some complaints from MacOS users but those seem to due to MTP implementation issues and the inability of MacOS or Linux to have more than one simultaneous connection to an MTP device and nothing to do with the Kindle's firmware.

I think he needs to head back up the mountain and get his stone tablets updated.

No, of course I didn't mean Jon. I'm well aware he doesn't have a 2024 Kindle.

It was probably one of those Mac users. I'm glad to have been wrong about the issue, but I'm not too optimistic as to what the future brings. Amazon will almost certainly do something about newer Kindles. Why go to the trouble of disabling the Android method, which I'm sure far fewer people used, and leave their eink devices alone?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It was probably one of those Mac users. I'm glad to have been wrong about the issue, but I'm not too optimistic as to what the future brings. Amazon will almost certainly do something about newer Kindles. Why go to the trouble of disabling the Android method, which I'm sure far fewer people used, and leave their eink devices alone?

What I tend to believe is that a future firmware update will remove the /Documents/Downloads/Items01 directory from the exposed directories much like the system directory has already been removed for MTP devices so calibre can no longer update cover thumbnails.