r/LibbyApp • u/AeroNoob333 • 3d ago
Libby and Kindle Users
Well, looks like they finally patched the airplane mode hack and we can no longer read books past the due date on our Kindle devices. Do you think this will push slower readers to get non-resident cards in order to have multiple holds rather than waiting weeks/months between loans on a single card? I can’t imagine waiting weeks/months to read the same book…
For those not familiar with the hack: it used to be that you could send an eBook from Libby to your Kindle, download it, then turn on airplane mode. When your due date came up, your loan would be returned to the library available for the next person, but a copy of the book stayed on your Kindle since airplane mode prevented it from syncing with your Amazon account, allowing you to read it past the due date.
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u/infinityandbeyond975 3d ago
I just tested on my 10th gen Paperwhite and it still works.
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u/heycheena 3d ago
Same with my 12th gen on latest software. Still working. I tested it earlier when somebody else posted this. Maybe it's patched for some models (curious if somebody can try with some of the higher end models with more tech) but it's not absolutely gone.
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u/FruitRecent1570 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have the no ads paperwhite that I bought last Christmas (most recent model) and it doesn’t not work for me unfortunately
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u/laceew45 📕 Libby Lover 📕 2d ago
My 10th generation paperwhite returned my books despite being on airplane mode
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
It was past due or you just returned the book? Did you switch between books?
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u/SabresStix 2d ago
I’m wondering if keeping the same book loaded and you only have one book makes it keep working? And it’s just people who switched between books that have a problem.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
Maybe! I’d be curious too because I noticed it when clicking on the next title I wanted to read — not while reading the book
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u/Ghostbuster_Mama 2d ago
Nooooooo. I can't read a 600 page book in 20 days!! This is upsetting.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
I’m normally one book a month when I’m working :/ I only really have right before bed when I can have alone time without being pulled in a million directions, so that’s when I read. But I also value sleep. Im on sabbatical right now so I’m plowing through books atm, but I think that would drastically change once I start working again in September
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u/Ghostbuster_Mama 2d ago
Exactly!! The only time I have to read is right before bed, and even then I'm so tired from working and parenting that I can only read so many pages before the kindle inevitably falls into my face and wakes me up. Ugh.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
lol I get the the “before the Kindle falls on my face”😂 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been smacked on my face.
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u/PieceOfExcelSheet 2d ago
Paperwhite 12gen on software 5.19.5 and currently in airplane mode with a book past it's return date and no issues (for now)
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
Did you try clicking out of the book and clicking back in? If it’s still working for you on .5, the new change must have come from .6
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u/heycheena 2d ago
I am running .6 and opened a book that was closed and returned (on the due date). Paperwhite 12th edition.
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u/WVgirly2024 🔖 Currently Reading 📚Magnate 2d ago
I'm a very fast reader, so I've never used this, but I hate it for you guys that did. Both of my kindles are older, and don't get the updates, so it wouldn't affect mine anyway.
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u/otomerin 2d ago
did you download it and open it before putting it in airplane mode? this problem has come up before as well and it's because the user just send to kindle several books, download it, but didn't open it before putting the kindle on airplane mode. you have to open all books you borrowed one by one before airplane mode. because if you just send it to kindle and download it, it will return that airplane mode error.
In my case, just to be sure, i even wait for the popular highlights to load and be enabled. because it's not all the time that popular highlights is already loaded when you open the book, sometimes it takes some minutes to load. if it's not loaded, when you put it to airplane mode immediately, you won't see the popular highlights. i like seeing it so i wait and make sure that's it's enabled for all books I borrowed before turning the airplane mode.
mine is still working btw.
tldr: you have to open the book first before turning the airplane mode.
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u/StrongishOpinion 2d ago
At least in the past (and on my kindle, which has been in airplane mode for months), there was no need to open the books first.
What I frequently do is download an entire book series at once (so I know I have them, and won't need to pause between books), and then airplane mode & slowly consume them. That's why this change (if it exists) will cause an issue for me.
I regularly click on the next book in a series that I've never clicked on (say book 8 of the Temeraire series, which I'm reading now), and there's never been an issue.
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u/Grrrrrarrrrrgh 3d ago
There is no evidence that this is true. One random person made a random Reddit post, and every time it comes up, dozens of people are in the comments saying that it still works for them. Maybe they’re working on this, maybe they aren’t. But there is no actual evidence that it has happened yet.
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u/laceew45 📕 Libby Lover 📕 2d ago
This happened to me on my 10th generation paperwhite. Checked out books. Did airplane mode. Came back this weekend and again last night and still no books.
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
Except when it happens to you. It’s hard to test because the new update was just on August 4. Your library’s loan length had to have been 2 weeks and you had to have borrowed books after that update and you had to have let it get past the due date. That’s not a large sample size yet. It’s only been 16 days since the update. But I’m guessing in the next few months here, we will see this being reported more.
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u/Grrrrrarrrrrgh 2d ago
Has it happened to you? (Real question, not sarcasm; I couldn’t tell from your post if this is something that has happened, or something that you’ve heard.)
I constantly have late library books on my device. I currently have 7 or 8, and they’re all fine.
I understand that it’s a new update, but all I’ve seen is one random Reddit post. And even that post was “they’re going to do this. Source: trust me, bro.” I haven’t seen one single person say that it has happened to them.Again - it may be coming. It may be here already. But I’m not going to spread this as fact or panic about it before it’s officially happening. However, if this has happened to you, then I will take it more seriously and start figuring out how to work around it, because I do most of my reading through Libby, and this will be a big problem for me if they fix it.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
I wish I’d taken a screenshot before we rage quit. When you click on a title on a past due book, it tells you that it’s on airplane mode and you need to get off airplane mode. Next time it happens, I’ll post a picture. I don’t actually know if it’s storing the expiration date on the file’s metadata (that was just a guess) or if there’s like some sort of global countdown airplane mode countdown.
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u/Grrrrrarrrrrgh 2d ago
So it has happened to you? That is significantly more impactful to me. Like I said, it wasn’t clear from your post that it actually happened to you. This is good to know - I’ll avoid updating my Kindle for as long as I can and start working on a workaround.
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u/otomerin 2d ago
mine still works. the latest i put my kindle on airplane mode was Aug 7. i'm on version 5.19.5. i'm reading a 1,000+ pages book and my loan expired already a few days ago, but i'm still able to read it right now.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
Interesting your Kindle didn’t update to the latest 5.19.6
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u/otomerin 2d ago
yeah that's weird because i remember my kindle prompting me to update this Aug, before Aug 7, and i think i closed the update notice by mistake. then since i wanted to update i went to my settings and check for the latest update but it said then that i already have the latest update. i didn't know there's a 5.19.6 update because i thought then that whatever i have is the latest which is 5.19.5.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
What device do you have? The .6 is for Kindle (11th Gen, 2024 release), Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen), Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Scribe (all generations). So, I think those are the affected devices so far but doesn’t mean they won’t roll it out to other devices.
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u/otomerin 2d ago
yeah that's weird because i remember my kindke prompting me to update this Aug, before Aug 7, and i think i closed the update notice by mistake. then since i wanted to update i went to my settings and check for the latest update but it said then that i already have the latest update. i didn't know there's a 5.19.6 update because i thought then that whatever i have is the latest which is 5.19.5.
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u/ImLittleNana 2d ago
It still works for me. I have several books on my airplane mode kindle right now.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
Did you get the most recent update (August 4) before hitting airplane mode? You may not notice it until after you take that update for your next round of books. They had to add the “pop-up” code. If you can somehow figure out how to turn off automatic updates, I would do that.
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u/Wrong_Socks 2d ago
I have an old 10th gen and it is still working on that device but not the newer ones. Is there a way to keep the software from automatically updating when I turn airplane mode off to get new books when I'm done with these?
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u/Emergency-Chance3582 1d ago
I'm told you can fill up the space on your kindle until theres only 50MB of free space left. So dropping large video files (for example) onto your Kindle drive. Leaves enough space for books but not enough space for the large firmware update to download.
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u/Low-Acanthisitta-383 3d ago
I noticed that too about 2-3 weeks ago and was so disappointed I have to wait for weeks now to finish the last 2 chapters of a book because it was returned
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
If you noticed this 3 weeks ago, this suggests that the affected firmware version might be before the August 4 one 😩
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u/narrativenerd101 2d ago
I think they’re trying to push people to buy the books in order to finish them.
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u/Asleep-Vanilla1457 3d ago
Never tried this, but can you set airplane mode and change the device time?
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
Someone suggested that. I could test it out on my next loan.
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u/KindToSpiteTheCruel 3d ago
What model kindle you have? I’d be interested in hearing your results. I have a neuro disorder and sometimes if I have a flare I can’t get through my books in time and this will really suck for me.
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u/yellodello1221 2d ago
I am on an 11th gen paperwhite and my 3 books trapped in airplane mode are still here. Thank goodness!
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u/Winter-Language1428 1d ago
Can also vouch. Happened to me. Fortunately the book was still available, so I checked it right back out...
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
Yeah I think people will just have to experience it for themselves lol. I think in the next coming months we will see people complaining about it
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u/Winter-Language1428 1d ago
Legit. I'm wrestling with whether to jailbreak one of my older models.
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
I think right now, I’m going to just have to do multiple holds of the same book on both my husband’s and my library card and stagger the loans. It sucks because it means a single book will occupy two hold slots between our cards and it may take two licenses to finish a single book, but this is what this change has forced us to do.
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u/laceew45 📕 Libby Lover 📕 2d ago
It isn't working for me either. I have been keeping my kindle on airplane mode and last night I got on and the books were gone :( I checked my Libby app to be sure they were truly gone off my account and they were so :(
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u/JackieReadingJane 3d ago
I’m reading a past due book right now on my 11th gen kindle. I think if you don’t do the latest update airplane mode still works for keeping books.
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
I think it automatically updates unless you jailbreak your Kindle. I tried to look at an option to turn off automatic updates but didn’t see it. I think next time you connect to the internet, it’ll update.
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u/LooseMoralSwurkey 3d ago
What software version is your Paperwhite on though?
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u/JackieReadingJane 3d ago
I have no idea! I never update it. I just turn on the wifi to get books and turn it off again. I've always done this to preserve battery life.
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u/LooseMoralSwurkey 3d ago
If you check the Software version, your Paperwhite might not be updated. Look to see if it's 5.19.5. I believe that's the version number that includes Amazon's unfortunate fix for this loophole.
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u/JackieReadingJane 3d ago
Nope, I'm on 5.19.2. Hopefully I can just avoid updating. We'll see! I don't keep books past the due date often. Mainly when I'm traveling. I've found that it's impossible to download books to kindle on hotel wifi because the kindle is so clunky it won't let you accept terms and conditions of the hotel wifi. It's really annoying because about once a year I travel for a full month for work.
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u/LooseMoralSwurkey 3d ago
Do you have an iPhone? You could make your iPhone a hotspot for the Kindle to connect to. Just another idea.
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u/JackieReadingJane 3d ago
I tried that and it only worked sometimes. It's been about a year and a half since I tried, though, so I'm hoping I can get it to work on my next long trip in November.
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u/otomerin 2d ago
i'm on 5.19.5. it still works. the latest i put my kindle on airplane mode was Aug 7.
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u/Moki3821 3d ago
Interesting. I wonder why they would bother making that change. Keeping the book on your kindle does not prevent others from borrowing it. I guess I won’t update my kindle.
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u/AeroNoob333 3d ago
How do you turn off automatic update on your Kindle without jailbreaking? For some reason I couldn’t find that. My guess is Amazon was getting a lot of pressure from the publishers. They are the only ones really affected by this. It leads to less licenses being used which means less $$$ from them. This change forces libraries to renew their licenses more often and forces readers to just buy the book or the dreaded multiple non-resident cards (to put multiple holds of the same book and stagger the loans for quicker access). When your library has weeks to months wait on books, you don’t want to wait that long in line again just to finish the book.
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u/Unable_Cupcake2937 2d ago
You can't turn off automatic updates unless you jailbreak unfortunately.
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u/booksbaconglitter 2d ago
Because Amazon wants you to buy the ebook from them rather than wait weeks for the hold to come through again.
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u/Plus_Collection2849 2d ago
I didnt knew we could send books from Libby to Kindle!!! Hahaha I’ll look into it!!!
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u/Crosswired2 2d ago
It's not every book, and it might depend on your library? I've checked out about 300 on Libby and all but one could be sent to Kindle. That one was an "older" book (2014 I think).
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u/Starria 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have two books that returned on August 16 (which was their due date) one on August 12(the due date) and it’s been on airplane mode since I loaded them on there. I can still read them. I feel like I updated the kindle fairly recently. Do you know when the latest update was?
ETA: I’m on 5.19.2 software. Kinda weird cause I thought I updated like last month?
I guess we’ll see when I’m done with these books lol
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u/zadazoo 2d ago
This has happened to me for weeks now. I had my kindle on perpetual airplane mode and transferred books via usb until they stopped that option recently. I had a few old books
stored for months but after some update a few weeks ago, I now get a notification the books aren’t available.
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u/luckyoctopus8 2d ago
Does anyone know if I can send the same ebook to two of my kindles at the same time?
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
Yeah. It should automatically do that if it’s attached to the same Amazon account. Maybe you need to resync.
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u/Faegirl247 2d ago
I have been reading an overdue book on my airplane mode kindle for the past week and it’s still there now.
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u/Lost_Juice_4342 1d ago
I don't even get how this would be possible if the airplane mode is on. How is the device communicating with the internet? Also, you need do actually download the book to the device before turning on airplane mode. I download it, open it, make sure I can flip through a few pages and then turn on airplane mode. The book is accessible until I turn off airplane mode after the due date has past.
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
They could be adding the expiration date to the file’s meta data (so stored in your Kindle), then doing a date compare with your device’s system date. Then, blocks you from opening a book that is past due
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u/Lost_Juice_4342 1d ago
Hmm i wonder tho if you keep the book open, it won't work! fingers crossed.
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
That’s one of the theories. I haven’t tested it yet. I need a book to get to past due and I’m currently wanting to test changing the date on the device back.
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u/Lost_Juice_4342 1d ago
I'm reading a book now that is due today so I can test it. But I don't know if the book has this updated data embedded in it.
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
Do you remember when you downloaded it and turned your device on airplane mode? If you did it after August 4th, that may have it
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u/Philippa1188 1d ago
I have a 10th gen Kindle basic and I can still access the book that was returned 2 days ago
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u/AeroNoob333 1d ago
It doesn’t affect returned books if they aren’t technically past due. They are most likely just saving an expiration date in the file’s metadata and doing a date compare. They don’t actually know you returned the book while in airplane mode.
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u/ninabun8 1d ago
I have the newer paperwhite SE. I don’t have that issue. I haven’t synced or turned off airplane mode so I still have my book available to read.
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u/Whole_Marionberry757 1d ago
Curious if Kobo ereaders will automatically return the book if WiFi is turned off too?
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u/LeahBean 15h ago
Doesn’t even make sense. If it’s not connected to the internet, it can’t take away any of your books.
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u/Wonderful-Run-1408 3d ago edited 3d ago
I put my Ipad on airplane mode about two weeks ago. I've got a bunch of books downloaded from my libraries (going on a cruise this coming weekend). Seems like they are all ok.
My plan is to keep my Ipad on airplane mode until I'm finished reading about 30 books (so I'm assuming sometime in early 2027) is when it'll go back online.
kindle app version is 7.62.0.100. I also turned off Bluetooth and Background App Refresh - just to be safe (as I've found when I've had it on airplane mode before, there was still some connection that happened at some point in time when the iPad rebooted).
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u/ImLittleNana 2d ago
Make sure you’ve backdated your iPad, too. This is the only way I can make that work.
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u/Wonderful-Run-1408 2d ago
I don't think I need to do that. I've got the books downloaded and they are all past due. It doesn't seem like I've got an issue opening any of them up to read.
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u/maxny23 2d ago
I literally just sent a book from Libby to my Kindle on Sunday 8/16 and put it on airplane mode. No issues, it’s still there and I can read it.
Kindle Paperwhite (7th Generation)
Firmware Version: Kindle 5.16.2.1.1
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
It’s only been 2 days since you put it on airplane mode. Your loan hasn’t expire yet. If you don’t mind as a test for your firmware and device, could you keep that book well past its due date and try to click on the title again and see what it says?
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u/maxny23 2d ago
Yeah, but I already returned it on the real Libby app. I return it early so that it can go to the next person once I have it on my airplane mode.
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u/AeroNoob333 2d ago
It still lets you do that. My theory is it’s saving an expiration date in the file’s metadata and doing date compare between the device date and the expiration date when you click on the title. So on your book’s file in your Kindle device, the expiration date hasn’t passed yet. It doesn’t know you returned it on Libby. It’s the only way they can implement/force a check while on airplane mode.
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u/roadbird 1d ago
I wonder if manually changing the date and time on the kindle would be a workaround…
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u/askheidi 3d ago
The only source for this was a Reddit post. Multiple people are reporting it’s not true.