Kindle’s latest update might break the Libby hack millions of readers depend on

Kindle owners who use Libby to borrow library books are reporting a strange change. Books that were downloaded and opened before putting a Kindle into airplane mode are now, in some cases, refusing to open once the library loan expires.

Libby’s “airplane mode hack” allows you to keep borrowed library books on your Kindle past their official due date. By placing your Kindle in airplane mode before your loan expires, your device loses the internet connection required to register the book’s return, letting you finish reading offline at your own pace.

But one Reddit user has said they can no longer read library books past their due dates without the Kindle reconnecting to Amazon. And right now, nobody seems to know for certain whether Amazon has deliberately changed how this works.​

Why Kindle users are worried about the future of Libby

The old workaround was simple.

​With this hack, you could borrow a book through Libby, send it to your Kindle, and download it. Once the book was safely on the device, you could turn on airplane mode. You could then return the book through Amazon while keeping the downloaded copy on your Kindle. While it ws an exploit, it was harmless to everyone, bar the Amazon shareholders. The library got its book back, another user could borrow it, while you finished reading.

Results seem mixed depending on device and firmware version. Most confirmed problems have surfaced on newer models such as the Kindle Paperwhite (11th and 12th generations) and the Colorsoft SE, especially on firmware versions 5.19.5 and above. Users on older firmware, such as 5.19.2, appear to be less affected and may still be able to use the old workaround, at least in the Reddit thread.

Brand

Amazon

Storage

16GB, 32GB, or 64GB

Battery

12 weeks

Display type

10.2-inch

There has been no public confirmation from Amazon or OverDrive that an update has patched this popular exploit. Several people in the discussion suggested that Amazon may have started including the loan’s expiration date in the downloaded book or in its license information.

One Reddit user suggested that an expiration date could be embedded in the downloaded file and wondered whether changing the Kindle’s local date could get around it. However, no one has confirmed that theory yet, and no one has shown that changing the Kindle’s date actually fixes the problem. I’ve tried my own Kindle Scribe from 2024, but this still works for me.

It’s also worth noting that changing your device’s date can cause other unexpected problems, such as syncing issues, app errors, or calendar confusion, so it’s not a risk-free experiment.

Right now, there isn’t a confirmed fix. However, if you’re experiencing the issue, check your Kindle’s firmware version, as it seems more common on newer firmware (such as 5.19.5 and above) and devices. Upgrading or even downgrading the firmware (if possible) may make a difference for some users.

Amazon hasn’t confirmed it has killed the workaround, and there isn’t a public announcement saying Kindle users must now reconnect before reading an expired Libby loan. But there are enough reports to suggest that something has changed for at least some users. For the latest updates as well as official statements, readers can check Amazon’s official Kindle support pages, the Amazon Newsroom, and OverDrive or Libby’s help center.