E-reader owners can use services like OverDrive’s Libby to rent library books that are delivered to their device of choice. Usually, when you check out a book, you have a specified loan term and must “return” the book when the due date arrives, just like a real library book. But for a long time, users have taken advantage of a unique workaround by putting their devices in airplane mode. Keeping their devices offline after viewing a book will effectively bypass the loan period, so the book remains available and users can read at their own pace. When airplane mode is turned off again, the books are automatically returned. This is a way to rent books for longer than the deadline. However, after one of the more recent Kindle software updates, this change no longer works.
Many users are now reporting that their Kindle will no longer allow such a thing (via Good e-Reader). When trying to read books offline after their due date, devices now prompt them to reconnect to Wi-Fi first. Device users reported to be affected include the Colorsoft Signature Edition and Kindle Paperwhite 11th and 12th generation. These devices appear to be running software versions 5.19.2 to 5.19.5. Older Kindle models have also been reported. You may want to check which Kindle model you need to see if you are concerned.
There is currently no workaround if you experience this issue. This is a shame, because slower readers used it to take their time with books without having to rush through them. It should be noted that checked out books will always return to the library or owner on time, even offline. This workaround simply allowed users to read books they had already downloaded for a while.
The airplane mode trick wasn’t a problem and didn’t hurt anyone.
Kittyfly/Shutterstock
After checking out a book and being offline, taking your time to read has little or no effect on the borrowing process. Some users even immediately returned their books from another portal. This would keep downloaded copies available on their Kindle to read at any time. Yes, it was a feat, but it didn’t stop someone else from checking out the same book. The security would still be “returned” on the maturity date if it was not returned earlier. When books were returned before the deadline, they became available again in the library’s inventory. Meanwhile, when the offline user connected to Wi-Fi, the book expired; they didn’t keep it forever. No one was really harmed by this process, and since the books are digital, the library didn’t miss anything.
Neither OverDrive nor Amazon have released official statements on the matter. Most guesswork about software updates eliminating the problem remains just that. The situation highlights the downsides of owning a Kindle, namely that you’re locked into Amazon’s ecosystem and using its devices as the company sees fit. This is also a good time to determine whether you actually own the books on your Kindle or not. The answer is no, you own a license to the book, not the book itself. Obviously library books are different (you never “own” them), but the books you buy can end up being restricted in the same way.
If this concerns you, some users have suggested you try changing the date and time on your Kindle back to a point before expiration. However, there is no confirmation that this works anywhere, although some users have discussed the idea on Reddit.
