Amazon's Kindle app for iOS temporarily disables the 'Get Book' feature
The latest update to the Amazon Kindle app for iOS has caused a stir among users, particularly those in Canada, as the "Get Book" feature has been disabled for Canadian users as of July 24, 2025. This update, however, does not seem to have affected users in the United States.
The "Get Book" feature, introduced earlier this Spring, allowed users to purchase books directly within the app and have them synced automatically. This convenience is now missing for Canadian users, who are now required to purchase books manually by visiting the Amazon website.
The removal of this feature is seen as a serious blow to users who used the app for purchasing Kindle books on their iPhones. Amazon has not provided a detailed public explanation for its removal, but such removals often hint at licensing, regional restrictions, or technical considerations specific to Canada.
Interestingly, the Get e-book system in Rakuten Kobo's app and the Get Book feature in Barnes and Noble's app remain functional for users in Canada. These methods for purchasing e-books within the apps are not affected by the recent Kindle app update for iOS.
The implementation of the "Get Book" system in the Kindle app for iOS was a result of the Epic vs. Apple lawsuit, which led to a court ruling in the United States on April 30th, forcing Apple to allow developers to make purchases outside of apps and not restrict how developers can direct users to alternate payment options.
Michael Kozlowski, a well-known author who has written about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years, is not affected by the recent Kindle app update for iOS as he does not use the Kindle app for iOS. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Summary:
| Aspect | Canada | United States | |-------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------| | "Get Book" feature | Disabled since 2025-07-24 | Not disabled; still active|
This update makes it more difficult for Canadian users to easily purchase books on the Kindle app. It is currently unclear if this update also applies to US customers. Amazon only started allowing an alternative payment system a couple of months ago.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5]
- Canadian users, despite the recent Kindle app update for iOS, can still purchase e-books in a seamless manner via the Rakuten Kobo app or Barnes and Noble's app, which haven't disabled their "Get e-book" or "Get Book" features.
- The absence of the "Get Book" feature in the Kindle app for iOS on smartphones, particularly among Canadian users since July 24, 2025, may hinder sports enthusiasts, tech enthusiasts, or avid readers who prefer e-readers from easily accessing and purchasing books on their iPhones.
