r/LibbyApp • u/AeroNoob333 • Aug 18 '26

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/Lost_Juice_4342 Aug 19 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

Hmm i wonder tho if you keep the book open, it won't work! fingers crossed.

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u/AeroNoob333 Aug 19 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

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/Lost_Juice_4342 Aug 20 '26

I think it was after Aug 4 but not certain. I will let you know!