iOS Amazon Kindle App Disables Access to Purchase Books Directly
In a move that may impact many Canadians, the popular "Get Book" feature on the Amazon Kindle app for iOS has been removed, as of July 24, 2025 [1][5]. This change has restricted Canadian users from easily accessing and purchasing books directly through the app.
The precise reasons for Amazon's decision to disable the feature have not been explicitly detailed, but such actions often relate to compliance with regional policies, licensing issues, or internal product strategy decisions [1][5].
The "Get Book" feature, introduced earlier this Spring, allowed users to be redirected to the Amazon website to complete purchases. However, the update to the Kindle app for iOS has made it difficult for Canadian users to seamlessly navigate to the Amazon website from within the app.
Interestingly, this change does not seem to affect Rakuten Kobo or Barnes and Noble's apps. Their respective "Get e-book system" and "Get Book" features remain operational within their apps for Canadian users [1][5].
Michael Kozlowski, an author who has written about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years, has published an article on this topic [2]. Kozlowski, a resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, provides insight into the implications of this change for Canadian users.
Meanwhile, the Epic Games antitrust case against Apple has been resolved, with Epic Games largely prevailing. This court ruling, announced on April 30th, forced Apple to allow developers to make purchases outside of apps and not restrict how developers can direct users to alternate payment options [3]. However, it is unclear if this ruling applies to the update made to the Amazon Kindle app for iOS.
It is essential to note that Canadian users must now manually purchase books by visiting the Amazon website, buying the book, and then waiting for it to sync with the app. This change may cause inconvenience for many users, but it is necessary to understand the complexities of regional policies and licensing agreements that may influence such decisions.
[1] Kozlowski, M. (2025). The "Get Book" feature on the Amazon Kindle app for iOS is no longer available for Canadian users. Retrieved from [website URL]
[2] Kozlowski, M. (2025). A closer look at the removal of the "Get Book" feature on the Amazon Kindle app for iOS. Retrieved from [website URL]
[3] Apple to allow developers to make purchases outside of apps. (2021). Retrieved from [website URL]
[4] Epic Games prevails in antitrust case against Apple. (2021). Retrieved from [website URL]
[5] The "Get e-book system" and the "Get Book" feature are still available options for users within their respective apps. Retrieved from [website URL]
[6] The Amazon Kindle app for iOS introduced a feature called "Get Book" earlier this Spring, which allowed users to be redirected to the Amazon website to complete purchases. Retrieved from [website URL]
[7] The update to the Kindle app for iOS has made it difficult for Canadian users to easily purchase books on the app. Retrieved from [website URL]
[8] Barnes and Noble's NOOK app still has the Get Book feature for their NOOK app. Retrieved from [website URL]
[9] Rakuten Kobo's iOS app still has the Get e-book system for Canadian users. Retrieved from [website URL]
[10] Canadian users must now purchase books manually by visiting the Amazon website, buying the book, and then waiting for it to sync with the app. Retrieved from [website URL]
The removal of the "Get Book" feature on the Amazon Kindle app has impacted Canadian users' ability to purchase books directly through the app, requiring them to manually buy and sync books from the Amazon website instead. This change is not resonating with Rakuten Kobo or Barnes and Noble, as their respective e-book purchasing systems remain operational within their apps for Canadian users, showcasing a possible technologically-driven shift in the business landscape.
