How to back up my Kindle content?
February 2, 2025 11:28 PM Subscribe
I lived in Asia for ten years, in places where I had tiny temporary apartments and no other option for eBooks besides Amazon. I'm a bookaholic, so I amassed many eBooks. This is starting to seem like a bad idea and I would like to back them up somewhere safe so I can continue to use them even if Amazon pulls the license. Can you talk me through this in the simplest possible way? (possibly relevant details below.)
I use a MacBook Air, which won't do to store all of them. I have a fair amount of free Google cloud storage after freeing up some images, but I guess this is not a long term option.
I would ideally like both a cloud and physical backup. I am able to follow instructions and tech adjacent, but I am not a computer hobbyist.
I use a MacBook Air, which won't do to store all of them. I have a fair amount of free Google cloud storage after freeing up some images, but I guess this is not a long term option.
I would ideally like both a cloud and physical backup. I am able to follow instructions and tech adjacent, but I am not a computer hobbyist.
Calibre. I recently switched to sync.com on privacy and cost for cloud. Rip the DRM and export them in 2-3 formats with at least one being epub and html for longevity. With Calibre set up it’s basically drop and click and then let it work in the background.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 4:39 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 4:39 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
Seconding the method at pompomtom’s link.
And congratulating you on recognizing the necessity of the task.
posted by Lemkin at 6:00 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
And congratulating you on recognizing the necessity of the task.
posted by Lemkin at 6:00 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
Any eBook Converter is good for stripping DRM if Calibre can't.
posted by mirepoix at 9:20 AM on February 3
posted by mirepoix at 9:20 AM on February 3
pompomtom's got it. Here are some other guides to that process (1, 2).
Calibre will store de-drmed files and/or convert them into various formats for you. You can then either use it to upload those files to some device or account, or just manually copy the files from the calibre library directory and put them wherever you like.
I would ideally like both a cloud and physical backup
Note: for both cases, you'll want to de-DRM the books. Even if you have an amazon ebook file saved somewhere, if it's DRMed you generally won't be able to open it if Amazon revokes access (or goes out of business, or their servers fail, or other occurrences unfortunately less likely than them doing something obnoxious).
Also note that most of the instructions you'll find online are about backing up your books if you have a kindle older than the latest generation. The most recent generation (from late 2024) apparently disables both direct USB transfer of files from an eink kindle to your computer (though I think there's a way to manage it) and the option to download books locally from your kindle account. It's possible that's also the case if you're using the most recent version of the kindle desktop software, in which case see here or here for Windows instructions.
(For anyone thinking about buying a new Kindle who was planning to sideload books from sources other than Amazon or to back up the Amazon books you bought - looks like you might need to reconsider.)
This might all look like a pain to set up, but it's usually not that hard (though see above for Amazon making things harder) and once you're set up it's very quick and smooth.
posted by trig at 9:26 AM on February 3 [3 favorites]
Calibre will store de-drmed files and/or convert them into various formats for you. You can then either use it to upload those files to some device or account, or just manually copy the files from the calibre library directory and put them wherever you like.
I would ideally like both a cloud and physical backup
Note: for both cases, you'll want to de-DRM the books. Even if you have an amazon ebook file saved somewhere, if it's DRMed you generally won't be able to open it if Amazon revokes access (or goes out of business, or their servers fail, or other occurrences unfortunately less likely than them doing something obnoxious).
Also note that most of the instructions you'll find online are about backing up your books if you have a kindle older than the latest generation. The most recent generation (from late 2024) apparently disables both direct USB transfer of files from an eink kindle to your computer (though I think there's a way to manage it) and the option to download books locally from your kindle account. It's possible that's also the case if you're using the most recent version of the kindle desktop software, in which case see here or here for Windows instructions.
(For anyone thinking about buying a new Kindle who was planning to sideload books from sources other than Amazon or to back up the Amazon books you bought - looks like you might need to reconsider.)
This might all look like a pain to set up, but it's usually not that hard (though see above for Amazon making things harder) and once you're set up it's very quick and smooth.
posted by trig at 9:26 AM on February 3 [3 favorites]
see above for Amazon making things harder
IIRC, at least once previously, they changed their proprietary AZW format in a way that defeated the DRM-strippers in use at the time.
If they do so again, the new scheme will almost inevitably be cracked eventually. But never forget that Amazon’s relationship to you is fundamentally antagonistic.
posted by Lemkin at 10:04 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
IIRC, at least once previously, they changed their proprietary AZW format in a way that defeated the DRM-strippers in use at the time.
If they do so again, the new scheme will almost inevitably be cracked eventually. But never forget that Amazon’s relationship to you is fundamentally antagonistic.
posted by Lemkin at 10:04 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
Here's an app that apparently automates it.
https://github.com/rivaborn/Kindle-For-PC-Downloader/tree/master
posted by kschang at 11:21 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
https://github.com/rivaborn/Kindle-For-PC-Downloader/tree/master
posted by kschang at 11:21 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
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Here’s one guide.
posted by pompomtom at 2:25 AM on February 3 [4 favorites]