Have you ever tried downloading a Kindle book but couldn’t because it says the license limit was exceeded?
This comes up sometimes, and it happens because Kindle books can only be downloaded to a certain number of devices and apps at the same time.
With most ebooks you can only have six copies downloaded to various devices and apps.
If you try to download a book to a seventh device you’ll get a license limit exceeded warning.
Some books allow fewer than six simultaneous downloads—some only allow one or two—but most regular ebooks allow six.
All you have to do is delete the book from one of your other devices or apps and then sync to be able to download the book to another device.
Sometimes what happens is you may forget that you have the book downloaded to apps or devices that you no longer use. If that’s the case you can easily delete older devices and apps from the Your Devices section of the Manage Your Content and Devices page at Amazon. That’s a quick way to get your ebook licences back.
This all comes down to the fact that you don’t actually own the ebooks that you purchase. When you buy an ebook you’re really buying a license to view the ebook. Technically you’re not buying the book at all, as noted in Amazon’s Kindle Store terms: Kindle Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider.
ClamBarLover says
I just download to the Amazon Cloud. Never had a problem. I have a lot of books. I never have a problem.
Dena says
Could you explain to me how to download to the Amazon Cloud please?
BDR says
The bottom-line is that it is a ridiculously arbitrary and stupid limitation. If you buy the right to read the book then you ought to be allowed to read that book on whatever device you own.
The thing about ridiculous limitations is that they tend not to survive. This won’t be a thing at some point in the future.
More to the point, though, as you point out this is probably not (much) of a limitation for most folks and it isn’t a limitation at *all* in practice since it can be easily defeated by those who care to do so.
Henry Neil says
How? I have had a seriesof iphones and ipads and each hasheldmy books and now I can’t access them on my iiphone 6s
Gabriella Pleasant says
I downloaded kindle onto my tablet and tried to buy a new book. I checked My Devices and I only have 1, my kindle (which I don’t have access to) However, my tablet is registered as one of the libraries and I was told it was successfully downloaded. Now I can’t read it. I’ve purchased it 4 times and this happens every time,
George f*** you hello says
I guess I should just take my money and go back and just use the library
William Hilburn says
Stupid alright. What do you do when devices die? Right now I have no devices with ESV study Bible to read notes.new phone new tablet one dead tab 4 years old. Cancel the license. Why something like this solo difficult…..
Bill says
Yes… How do you download to the Amazon cloud?
Sam says
Many thanks, helped me to send books to my new device.
Sue says
I only have one device registered and have only ever downloaded one book and I am getting this notification now when trying to download a book???
Name (required) says
I AM TRYING TO READ Jeffrey Archers Prison Diaries. I have purchased it for 3.99 and have read the sample but cannot read the book can you help I have only got this devise and I am 81 years old please help me
Ginny says
Did you get an answer? I have 5 books I already read and can’t delete because it says I’m over the limit and I only have 2 devices
Jack says
Initially, I have a Kindle fire tablet on which I had purchased e-books from Amazon downloaded on my Kindle tablet. Now, my tablet is dead with only red screen showing. I, now, have only Kindle app on windows and iPhone. I can download all books on both devices and read them except on English Dictionary I purchased from Amazon. Now, problem is, every time I try download it on my iPhone, I’m unable to download it because a message pops up LICENCE LIMIT EXCEEDED YOU CANT DOWNLOAD IT!!!
Josh holbert says
I have exceeded the limit of devises so I can’t download the book I want to read, how do I delete this book from devices I no longer have?
Nathan says
You can go to the Manage Your Content and Devices page at Amazon and delete your old unused devices.
Violeta says
I have tried to do that like six times already, i now only have two devices registered, but the message still shows up! I don’t know what to do.
Nathan says
Contact Amazon support. They’ll know what to do.
Dan says
“All you have to do is delete the book from one of your other devices” I don’t see how to do this in the Library on these devices. Touch the icon, and book opens – How to delete?
Nathan says
Long pressing on the cover opens up some additional options.
Becca says
Hi everyone, I had this issue. I went to Amazon website to ‘manage devices’ as suggested. There was no devices!!! Even though I’ve had countless phones since I bought my ebook.
Then I just went to the Amazon app on my current iPhone – went to manage my devices and there they all were! I must have deleted 4 devices. Closed the kindle app on phone and iPad and it now works.
Hope this helps some of you – try website but also try app on a smartphone or tablet.