'Glad I switched to Kobo': Amazon angers Kindle owners by rolling out tougher DRM and reportedly closing a popular Libby loans loophole

Date:
Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:51:08 +0000

Description:
Kindles just got a little more restrictive, both in terms of what you can do with the books you buy and how long you can keep those you borrow.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Amazon has rolled out tougher DRM to the Kindle Oasis The same update has previously landed on most other Kindle models The company has also closed an airplane mode loophole for Libby loans If you like reading Kindle books on other devices or borrowing digital library books using Libby, Amazon has just made some changes that youre unlikely to be happy about.

First up, as reported by The eBook Reader , a software update has rolled out for the Kindle Oasis that adds a new hardened DRM (Digital Rights Management) to books on it, meaning that most DRM-removal tools will no longer work.
While we dont condone piracy, there are legitimate reasons to want to remove DRM, such as reading the book on a non-Amazon ereader that doesnt have access to the Kindle app. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

And this isnt the first or only Kindle to get this undesirable update now, the only supported model that doesnt have this new DRM is the Kindle Voyage , and its probably only a matter of time before that gets it too. The Amazon Kindle Oasis (Image credit: TechRadar) No more lengthy loans The other change that Kindle users are unhappy with is that you can seemingly no longer keep a Libby book beyond its due date by turning airplane mode on. This was a handy workaround that gave you more time with a borrowed book, but now Reddit users report being prompted to turn Wi-Fi on to access their loans. You may like
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As these are digital loans, this workaround wasnt really hurting anyone the books would still be made available to other users after the loan period expired anyway; youd just also still have a copy on your Kindle.

Unsurprisingly, the online reactions to these changes arent positive, with Reddit comments about the new DRM including the likes of glad I switched to Kobo, while of the Libby change, one commenter claimed it was my biggest nightmare. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

If youre affected by either of these issues, then there arent any easy solutions other than potentially switching to another brand. In the case of the DRM, Kobo books currently use a version thats easier to remove, but even on Kobo, the airplane mode loophole wont work. Today's best ereader deals
Kobo Libra Colour $259.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 12th Gen 2024 $159.99 View See all prices Kobo Clara BW $159.99 $139.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $279.99 View See all prices Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) $399.99 View See all prices Viwoods AiPaper $549 View See all prices Onyx Boox Palma 2 Pro $399.99 View See all prices Onyx Boox Go Color 7 Gen II $289.99 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ereaders/glad-i-switched-to-kobo-amazon-ange rs-kindle-owners-by-rolling-out-tougher-drm-and-reportedly-closing-a-popular-l ibby-loans-loophole


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