If you publish your e-books through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), there’s a major change coming to how readers can access your books. Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon is updating its digital rights policy — and it affects every author who chooses whether or not to apply Amazon DRM.
Here’s the key update: if you publish a DRM-free Kindle book, readers will soon be able to download your e-book in EPUB or PDF format directly from their Amazon account. That’s a first — and a real shift from how Amazon Digital Rights Management has worked until now.
Let’s break down what this means for your books — and how to decide what’s best for your readers (and your peace of mind).
What Is Amazon DRM?
Amazon DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a tool that limits how your Kindle book can be copied or shared. When you choose to apply DRM at publishing time, your book can only be read on Kindle devices or apps. Readers can’t download it, transfer it, or read it in other e-book apps.
Until now, that was the default setup. But with the 2026 update, Amazon Digital Rights Management is giving authors more flexibility. If you don’t apply DRM, your buyers can now download and read your e-book outside the Kindle system — on apps that support EPUB or PDF.
Why Go DRM-Free?
Skipping Amazon DRM opens the door to a better reader experience. Here’s why:
- More freedom for your audience. Your readers can use the e-book file wherever they like — not just in the Kindle app.
- Improved accessibility. EPUB and PDF formats are often easier to use with screen readers and other accessibility tools.
- Reader trust. When readers buy your book, they get full access to the content — no restrictions, no fine print.
If your priority is reach, ease of use, and reader satisfaction, the DRM-free option might be the way to go.
Why You Might Stick With DRM
Still, Amazon Digital Rights Management exists for a reason. Some authors may prefer to keep their books within the Kindle ecosystem. You might want to use DRM if:
- You’re concerned about piracy. DRM isn’t bulletproof, but it can discourage casual file-sharing.
- You want to control the reading experience. Some features work best within the Kindle platform, and DRM helps preserve that.
If you’d rather limit where and how your book is read, applying Amazon DRM still gives you that level of control.
What This Update Really Means
Amazon isn’t forcing anything here. They’re giving you more choice. You decide whether or not to use DRM when you publish your book — and that choice now comes with clearer consequences.
If you go DRM-free, readers will be able to download your book in formats that work beyond Amazon. If you keep DRM, nothing changes: your book stays readable only on Kindle apps and devices.
So the real question is: what do you want your reader’s experience to be?
If your priority is control, Amazon DRM still gives you that. If you care more about giving readers full access to the content they’ve paid for, DRM-free just got a whole lot more attractive.
Either way, the power’s in your hands. And that’s a good thing.
