Amazon has released a software update for two previous gen Kindle models that haven’t been updated in over a year, the 10th gen Paperwhite (also know as the Paperwhite 4) and the 10th gen Kindle, that breaks the ability to jailbreak them, and makes it harder to remove the DRM from Kindle ebooks.
If you own one of those older Kindles, you might want to put it in airplane mode right now if you ever want to be able to jailbreak it. The new software version that locks them down is 5.18.1.1.1.
It’s really quite remarkable how much effort Amazon’s software developers put into locking down Kindles and making it so Kindle ebooks cannot be read on anything but Kindle devices and Kindle apps.
It’s gotten to the point where they put more effort into that than they do improving the reading experience on Kindles. They used to add useful new features to Kindles all the time, but now it seems like most updates are focused on blocking jailbreaking and breaking DRM-removal methods.
Since the beginning of 2025 they’ve removed the ability to download and transfer ebooks over USB, they’ve started using a new DRM on ebooks downloaded to Kindles that currently can’t be broken, they’ve ended support for the first 5 generations of Kindles so they can no longer be used to download Kindle ebooks at all, and they’re discontinuing the Kindle for PC app in favor of a new Windows 11 version that’s sure to be more locked down than the old app (there are a lot more things I could add to this list, but you get the picture).
If they put half as much effort into improving the UI on Kindles and adding features to upgrade the reading experience Kindles could the undisputed best ereaders on the planet. But Amazon would rather control how people use Kindles and how people read ebooks than work on making them better.
Do what’s best for the customer until you do what’s best for the company. Dominant market position. Do I need to have Cory Doctorow come over and tell you what this is called?
There are currently drm removal tools for jailbroken Kindles and the new Microsoft Store Kindle app. The latter has seen 2 updates in as many days in response to app updates.
The release notes don’t mention any changes nor even acknowledge the year 2026.
Moves like this just scream it’s all about DRM. Buying from Amazon is quickly becoming a choice of last resort. As for wanting to buy KU titles I like and to support the author unless I can buy them directly from the author I’m not buying at all.
This is why I refuse to use the Send To Kindle service. I’m convinced Amazon would see the ebook as a pirate, even if I bought it elsewhere and just removed the DRM, or recognize the copyright on a OCR scanned ebook because the book was never published as an ebook and is only a OOP print book.
There are billions of pirated books sent like that. They just don’t care. I wouldn’t stress about that.
You’re keeping up Amazon’s abusive behaviour by still buying from them and using their services. You people who buy Kindle stuff are voting with your wallet. You’re all doing it because it’s cheaper and more convenient, and those things matter more to you than principles.
I’d like to know what will eventually stop the masses from buying and using Kindle stuff, if anything. What has to happen to turn people away from Kindles? People just compromise and keep using Kindle stuff, no matter what abusive DRM is weaponised against them.
Switch to alternatives and stop using Kindle services entirely. That’s the only way.
The thing is the average person doesn’t care about removing DRM from Kindle ebooks or jailbreaking, so they aren’t gaining anything by avoiding Amazon. All the alternatives have negatives as well. There is no perfect solution until publishers stop forcing DRM on everybody. The hate gets directed towards Amazon but they’re just doing their job by making DRM effective, unlike Adobe’s useless system where they’ve tricked companies into paying for something that doesn’t even work. It’s the publishers that are the real problem. Everyone should stop buying ebooks from publishers that insist on using DRM, regardless of the source.
100% agree Fractal. I haven’t bought from Amazon since they canned my Kindle Keyboard 3, and I refuse too. If it’s the only option between getting on Amazon or not getting the ebook, I’ll go without.
It’s overdue time to stop buying Kindle.
Well, they have minimal profits from ereaders. The profit comes mostly from ebooks sold. So I buy Kindles when heavily discounted (to make sure they have no profit) and I buy zero books from Amazon plus I heavily use their free cloud. So basically all I do is I cost them money and bring nothing back. I’m quite happy with that 😀
Well actually, even if you’ve never spent a penny on Kindle devices and/or services but still use them, you’re still making a lot of money for Amazon.
How? They sell all your data to third parties.
That also destroys your privacy from every angle. This is very sad, because either way, Amazon makes fools of their customers.
What about 10 gen. Oasis? Instead of 5.18.1.1.1 I see 5.18.2. Is it the same in terms of DRM?
I used to believe I would see companies deviating from ebook DRM at some point in the future but I was clearly wrong. 🙁 In my country (Poland) a vast majority of ebooks can be bought without DRM, just a watermark. But I guess that’s because Amazon isn’t selling Polish ebooks (yet).
They can change the DRM on some models without issuing a software updates. I think DRM removal still works on the Oasis, but I’m not positive, and it’s just a matter of time before they close it off too. DRM is set by publishers, not Amazon, but everyone would rather blame Amazon for it because that’s the popular thing to do.
Well, at the moment, the popular thing to do is just use a Kindle as it is and call it a day. Compared to most Kindle users, a very small and actually invisible amount of people are yelling at clouds about Amazon being evil. Including me.
Personally, I’m not concerned about the firmware on my Kindle e-reader when it comes to removing DRM. If I want to remove DRM from my books, I’ll buy them from sites where I can do so easily and then transfer them to my Kindle e-reader. I’ve always kept the DRM removal tools separate from the e-reader I use. It makes no difference to me whether I have a Kobo, PocketBook or Kindle. The DRM-free books I have on them are exactly the same. That’s not going to change in the future. Throwing a tantrum over something I can’t do anything about isn’t my style. The so-called solutions that are constantly being put forward (switching e-reader brands, not buying from Amazon) the truth is that, beyond providing personal relief, they offer nothing new (it’s something that’s always been possible) and, frankly, they don’t solve anything either (the DRM on Amazon books will still be removable or not, regardless of whether you have a Kindle e-reader or buy from other sites).
I like Kindle e-readers and I’m going to keep buying them precisely because I like them (I’ve never understood why people buy and use e-readers they don’t like). I don’t feel particularly aggrieved by Amazon’s decisions regarding DRM, nor do I believe they affect the majority of users who buy Kindle e-readers, who I don’t think have considered removing the DRM from the books they buy on Amazon.
The number of people who care about removing DRM is very small compared to the vast majority of readers. Amazon makes a product that most consider superior compared to alternatives including Kobo. I have several ereaders (Amazon, Kobo, AiPaper, Boox) and the screen on the Kindles I consider better across the board (color or B/W). I buy books from Amazon and Kobo primarily but there are a few Kindle only authors so I still buy those from Amazon.