So far, Amazon has restricted Kindle eBooks to its Kindle devices and apps, with no official way for users to read titles purchased from the Kindle Store on third-party e-readers or through other apps. However, that’s set to change soon.
In a recent announcement, Amazon revealed that users will soon be able to download and read eBooks on e-readers from other brands and via third-party apps. The company noted that it will allow downloads in EPUB and PDF formats starting January 20, 2026, but only if the author opts in.
Authors publishing books through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) will have to choose not to apply Digital Rights Management (DRM) to enable downloads. For existing titles, authors will have to change the DRM status through the KDP author portal to make them available for download. The change isn’t retroactive, and Amazon says it won’t apply to existing DRM-free titles until the author takes action.
A support page with additional details about this change reveals that these DRM-free books will be available for download in the Manage Your Content and Devices page on Amazon. It further states that only verified purchasers will be able to access the EPUB and PDF files, and downloads won’t be available for those who borrow books from the Kindle Store through Kindle Unlimited or other services, even if the books are DRM-free.
For readers, this change means their Kindle purchases won’t be locked to Amazon’s ecosystem. By enabling downloads, Amazon is essentially giving readers a more convenient way to build a library that’s available on multiple devices and apps. For authors, the move offers a clearer choice between added reach or stricter content protection. Once this change goes live, it could mark the start of a more open and flexible Kindle ecosystem that benefits both authors and readers.
