Choose the type of computer on which you plan to use calibre, below: Windows. Learn how to work with calibre on a mobile phone/tablet.
The KoboTouchExtended plug-in customization has an option to choose which formats Calibre will send to your device. You already have that plug-in because you used to be able to send kepubs. Check the kepub format in that list and uncheck the epub format.
When talking about Calibre DRM Removal 2020, we will know that we should add DeDRM tools to Calibre because they are must-have if we want to remove DRM from eBooks with Calibre.
New Release: support Kobo App, kepub format. EPub Converter is powerful tools to convert DRM or noDRM ePub to PDF, Kindle, Word, Text and Html format file, it support both Adobe Digital Editions DRM ebook, it also support ebook purchased from Google Play, Sony eBook Store, Kobo ebook store and ebook download in Adobe digital editions, it support ePub and PDF format file, it is the most easy-to. Technically Calibre doesn’t remove the top space. Kobo’s formatted ebooks, kepub, have the top title bar, but regular ePubs use a different rendering engine so they don’t have that. Unless your running 2.5.1, which has the top bar for sideloaded ePubs as well, but then they removed that on 2.6.1 because a bunch of people complained about it. From 2017 to now, Amazon use KFX format for most of their e-books. Calibre can’t not open KFX file directly, even it is DRM free. The KFX Input plugin will collects all the individual files that make up a KFX book and make it into a zip file with the extension kfx-zip. Then you can easily import the zipped Amazon KFX file to Calibre.
In this post, I’ll focus on DeDRM with Calibre for Kindle/Kobo/ACSM eBooks part by part — and 10+ exclusive and effective solutions if you meet errors.
Disclaimer:
1. DeDRM from eBooks is acceptable only when you want to backup or share your own files. DON’T resell those drm free eBooks and respect every author please.
2. This post introduces exactly how to dedrm eBooks from Kindle, Kobo and Adobe Digital Editions (such as Google Play books) files. Apple books and Nook ePubs are not supported now.
3. DeDRM tools only work on our own purchased eBooks, eTextbooks and rented eBooks are not supported.
4. Here what I introduced are all tested on my personal Windows laptop and Mac computer. Calibre supports Linux, if you meet any problems when running calibre drm plugins on Linux, please contact Alf team to ask for help as I didn’t test Calibre DRM Removal for eBooks on Linux.
Part 1. Preparing (What You Need)
Calibre 5 and DeDRM plugin v7.1.0 (Or dedrm v6.8.1 for calibre 4)
Kindle/Kobo/Adobe eBooks downloaded via official desktop app.
1. Simply download the new Calibre and DeDRM tools v7.1.0 please. If you are using the older calibre 4.x you should be using the older DRM i.e. 6.8.1.
2. The DeDRM_tools (calibre drm removal plugins 2021) contains two plugins: DeDRM and Obok. The DeDRM plugin handles books that are downloaded from Kindle, Adobe Digital Editions, and some historical formats. The Obok plugin handles books that are downloaded from Kobo desktop app.
Part 2. How to Add DeDRM tools to Calibre?
This is how you add a plugin to the Calibre program.
(Add: You can also download the latest dedrm tools and calibre 5.)
Step1. Download Calibre version 4.x or earlier.
Step2. Download DeDRM_tools_6.8.1.zip and unzip it.
Step3. Add downloaded plugin zip file to Calibre.
Run calibre, select “Preferences” > “Plugin” > “Load plugin from file”, then choose the “DeDRM_plugin.zip” or “Obok_plugin.zip” from the unzipped DeDRM_tools_6.8.1 archive, click on the “Open” button. Ignore the “Are you sure?” warning dialog(Yes”), then A “Success” dialog will appear, saying that the plug-in has been installed. Click on “OK” and then “Apply”.
Step4. Restart Cablire.
Part 3. DRM removal plugin failed to install Issues
Have followed the above steps but the calibre dedrm plugin is not working?
SyntaxeError: invalid syntax
Epub Calibre
As of calibre 5, calibre has moved from Python 2 to Python 3, because Python 2 has been end-of-lifed.
To resolve this bug, you just need to update your Calibre to the latest version, and then add the DeDRM plugin v7.1.0 to calibre. If you’ve added the older version of drm plugins, delete it from calibre first and then re-import.
Unhandled exception: does not contain a top-level init.py file
You see this error may be because you added the whole archive file into calibre. Unzip the DeDRM_tools_6.8.1 archive, and look in the DeDRM_tools_6.8.1 folder for the zip file(named DeDRM_Plugin.zip and Obok_plugin.zip) to load into calibre.
Another reason is the downloaded drm plugin file is not the latest version. If so, you should remove the older version plugin first, and then download the latest one and import them again to calibre.
Part 4. How to unlock DRM from Kindle KFX eBooks with Calibre plugin?
Since Amazon started using new KFX format to Kindle eBooks, calibre plugin no longer works for unlocking DRM from KFX format. The DeDRM plugin here works with non-KFX Amazon books only, and the solutions introduced here are walkaround solutions, not the direct (quick) one.
Note:
1. The plugin doesn’t work on books downloaded from Kindle Fire(HD) tablets, Kindle for Android/IOS applications.
2. The tools do not work with the Windows 8 AppStore Kindle app.
3. To convert KFX to ePub/PDF with Calibre, the KFX Input Plugin (version 1.36.0 at the time of writing) must be installed too.
4. If you have a Kindle e-ink device, don’t directly download and import books to calibre as it doesn’t work on these files. But you can download and transfer via USB to your device, then the downloaded file will be .azw3 format. Import azw3 to Calibre and configure the DeDRM plugin by inputting KSN, then you can also remove drm.
Walkaround 1. (For Windows) Install an outdated Kindle (such as version 1.24)
If you have downloaded the latest Kindle for PC, deregister the Kindle PC app first, and then uninstall it from your windows computer.
Install, launch, and register this Kindle installation with your own amazon account.
Don’t forget to uncheck the auto-update from Kindle’s settings. Otherwise, when you launch it next time, it will update to the latest version automatically, which does not work with DeDRM.
If asked if you want to update to the newest version, always select “Skip this version” please.
Now you can select books from your Kindle library and download them to your local Windows.
Important:
You can find(and even change) the kindle for pc books location by clicking on “Tools” > “Options” > “Content” > “Change Folder”.
Import Kindle books to Calibre library, and the DRM will be removed.
As the above image shows, the drm removed KFX books will be turned to KFX(non-DRM). After you installed the kfx input plugin to calibre, you can continue to convert kfx eBooks to other formats.
Walkaround 2. (For Mac) Avoid KFX downloads by renaming renderer-test on Kindle for Mac
Important:
For mac computer users, we can also use an older version kindle for mac(such as v1.23) to get around the new kfx format. But in fact, considering that the older version kindle app can’t run on catalina and big sur, while more users have updated (or will update soon) their mac system to the newest one, so here I write down this solution in detail for Mac users, save your time to understand and test.
The key to avoiding KFX downloading from K4Mac 1.25+ is to block KFX with chmod -x, then download books using right-click on mouse and selecting “Download”.
Install the latest version of Kindle for Mac or update to the latest one, v1.30.
If there are kindle books already in the “Downloaded” tab, remove them first(Remove from device).
Then, run Terminal app, copy and paste following command in terminal, if needed input password to execute command.
If you don’t have a password, then run this command.
After patching the Kindle app, run the Kindle app and select one book, right-click and “Download”.
The downloaded books are saved under “My Kindle Content” folder. By clicking Kindle > Preferences > Content > Change Folder, you can find and modify the location.
Now you can import the downloaded kindle books from “My Kindle Content” folder to Calibre, then as what you see, the drm is removed automatically and calibre turns these books to AZW3 format.
Note:
Right-click to download is key important. If you double click to download the book, you will get the new kfx or kcr format. After the downloading is completed, DON’T double click to open it, otherwise it will cause the Kindle app crashes unexpectedly. The downloaded old format is incompatible with the newest kindle app. After all, amazon prefers us to download and use the new KFX format.
Kindle KFX DeDRM Failed and Solutions
01. The Kindle DRM has been removed, but all the pictures are gone
Most likely, this is an AZW6 format book that the tools don’t support. But as the azw6 is only downloaded directly via Kindle e-Ink device, so the solution is downloading your book by “Download & Transfer via USB”.
02. The Kindle book (AZW4) conversions takes a long time
The AZW4 is a Print Replica Kindle ebook. This is a PDF in a Kindle wrapper. After you adding it to Calibre, the azw4 DRM will be removed successfully. Now all you should do is using the KindleUnpack plugin.
03. AZW/KCR/KFX-ZIP in Calibre
Slimdrivers free portable. In fact, if Calibre shows the book in “AZW”, “KCR”, “KFX-ZIP” format after you add one book to the calibre library, it’s likely that Calibre failed to remove its DRM.
See, after I click on “Convert books” and select “epub” to convert, calibre shows the above error message.
Fluid film. Definition of fluid (Entry 2 of 2): a substance (such as a liquid or gas) tending to flow or conform to the outline of its container Other Words from fluid Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fluid Other Words from fluid. A substance which can flow because its particles are not fixed in position. Liquids and gases are fluids.
To avoid this, I would say please follow all the details step by step as what I write at the above.
You can also click on the “Jobs: 0” label in the lower right corner of the calibre window to activate the Jobs dialog.
Select the failed conversion job from the list (the most recent will be first) and click the “Show job details” button. Copy the log to the clipboard and then paste it to Github or Mobileread for help.
DRM plugin driving me mad? If you think Calibre and the plugin are complex, here you can choose a good alternative, iSummersoft Kindle Converter.
When started, it will detect your computer system and show you the official guide on how to download your kindle books in the correct way. And then, after you downloaded books well, it will auto-detect your books and show them at the left side. All you need to do is just to add them from the left to the right area, choose output format (from ePub, pdf, mobi, azw3, txt, docx options) and convert.
Part 5. How to disable DRM from Adobe Digital Editions (ACSM)?
The installed DeDRM plugin also works on Adobe ACSM files, such as the downloaded books from Google Play.
You will find that the downloaded file is in acsm format. ACSM is associated with Adobe Digital Editions. It means we must use the ADE to open this type of files.
The first time running ADE, you should authorize an Adobe ID, and then open your acsm with it. When the acsm is opened via ADE, the acsm is turned to ePub or PDF (depends on ebooks vendors), but with DRM. And they are stored under “My Digital Editions” folder.
Now you can import them from the digital editions folder to Calibre. Then, the Adobe DRM is removed by the dedrm plugin in Calibre.
Note:
Not all the acsm files that you downloaded from an online eBook store will be supported by the dedrm plugin, though you can open them via ADE.
You may meet problems when authorizing an Adobe ID or opening acsm file via ADE.
Please ensure that you are using the same email address as your ebookstore account’s, this is important. Another reason is you used an incorrect Adobe ID, if so you should switch your adobe account to login.
What is an ACSM file? Why should we use ADE to open this type of file? Is it possible to convert and print adobe to normal PDF?
Part 6. How to Use Calibre kepub plugin?
The Obok_plugin.zip you added to Calibre is used for removing DRM from Kobobooks. By default, Calibre will show this plugin at the top menu bar.
Firstly, you should use Kobo for PC/Mac to help download your books.
And Kobo for Mac books are saved in this location:
Launch Calibre and click on the “Obok” plugin. If you don’t see it, click on the three dots icon at the top menu bar.
Then from the popup window you will find that it automatically detects all of your downloaded Kobo EPUB books.
The red lock icon means that book is drm protected, and the green lock icon means that book is drm free. To crack those drm protected books, you can click “All with DRM” and then touch “OK”. Wait for the job to complete.
Now the drm limitation is removed from your Kobo books, and they are in EPUB format (the original is kepub, with drm). If you want to transfer Kobo books to Kindle, you can continue to convert them to Mobi format in Calibre.
Tips that work:
1. If you already downloaded Kobo books on Kobo eReader, you can also connect it to the computer and then import that book to calibre so that you can remove DRM directly from them.
2. If you use the Kobo desktop app to help download files, download and install the app from Kobo official site please. DON’T install the app from any app stores. Otherwise, you may fail to remove DRM from kepub.
3. Garage sales near me tomorrow. Couldn’t find the kepub folder on Mac? Use Terminal and running following command: write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles yes then Enter.
Final Words, with Some Useful Tricks
This is all I could share with you on Calibre DeDRM 101. If you follow this guide step by step, I think you will succeed in unlocking your purchased eBook files.
Check you are using the correct version of Calibre.
Check you are using the latest version of Plugins.
Downloading eBooks via desktop app makes the DeDRM more easier to function.
Re-import eBooks to Calibre again.
The drm is removed after importing the book, not converting it.
Don’t forget to submit your error log to Mobileread, github, reddit to get help.
Or use the best alternatives from iSummersoft, these products deserve your trial and are much easy to use.
How to view and convert KFX files in Calibre - Tutorial
This is a rather interesting topic. Over the years, Amazon have changed the Kindle file format several times. Their digital books came in a variety of formats, including AZW, then AZW3 and finally KFX. The last one is a complex archive that combines numerous features, including typesetting engine, fonts, multi-page thumbnails, and also DRM. I noticed this starting with Decay, one of my books published in 2017.
Reading some more, I realized KFX seemed to include DRM even for books that are not meant to use DRM, and I found this quite weird, because as an author, I have specifically chosen not to publish my own works with any sort of lock-in encryption. So this got me thinking. Is there a way to actually convert KFX into the old format, or other e-book formats, and use them in Calibre and other readers, the way the older formats allowed? Follow me.
Basic tools, requirements & disclaimer
What you want to do is simple: convert KFX files to other formats - for archiving, backup and publication testing purposes, so you can use them on different e-reader devices. If you try to open a KFX file in a typical e-book reader, you probably won't succeed. For instance, Calibre cannot read this file format natively. The solution is then to convert the file, our task for today.
I spent a good few hours reading about this topic, compiling information, trying to find out all the necessary bits and pieces to get the job done. In the end, I did successfully manage, but it wasn't trivial, and there are still many ifs and buts to the whole thing. So let's start with the tools:
I tested this on a Linux system (Ubuntu-based).
Calibre software (apt-get install calibre or dnf install calibre, for instance).
DeDRM Calibre plugin.
KFX Input Calibre plugin.
Your Kindle device serial number.
KFX book (which includes ALL the files and associated folders for the specific book on your Kindle).
You will need to feel comfortable installing Calibre plugins and working with archives. If you can't do these things easily, you will probably struggle getting the job done here.
Disclaimer
The purpose of this guide is not to teach you how to hax0r your way around. The purpose is to allow you to decrypt your own books and use them on your own devices. In fact, the DeDRM plugin listed above does not work with rented or lent books - it only works for the books you have purchased yourself.
Kepubify - Pgaskin
There are also numerous technical limitations on how well the tools listed above work, including the version of Kindle software and such. In my test, I did not encounter any such problems. But please take this into consideration as you read on.
Before you start . download non-KFX books
When you purchase a Kindle book, and then go to your Kindle library, you can choose different delivery methods. You can send books directly to a Kindle device or reader, and you can also transfer them via USB. This will effectively download the book to your local computer, which you can then copy to the relevant device. For the time being, books downloaded via USB come in the non-encrypted AZW format, but this may change. So this is your first and best options, before doing any fancy conversions! If the book is in your Kindle library, then you are all set.
Calibre plugins setup
After you install and start Calibre, you will need to install the two plugins (Calibre > Preferences > Plugins). KFX Input is available in the list of plugins, although you can also download it manually (see the linked forum thread at the beginning of the page). DeDRM is available from GitHub. Both plugins come as ZIP files. The DeDRM plugin ZIP contains more than just the plugin itself - but it also has what we need, the Calibre plugin.
To install KFX Input, click on Get new plugins, select, install, restart Calibre.
To install DeDRM, download the zip file from GitHub, extract it. Next, in Calibre, click on 'Load plugin from file' in the plugins window, navigate to the Calibre sub-folder in the extracted archive and then select the plugin zip. If you have chosen the 'wrong' zip (such as the external zip archive), you will see the It does not contain a top level __init__.py file error. Once you've installed this plugin too, restart Calibre.
DeDRM setup
Your next step is to configure the DeDRM plugin. Open the plugins list, search for DeDRM in the list. Double-click on the plugin, and it will open the customization window. You must configure the plugin, otherwise it will not work. And this is probably the most complex step. Because not everyone has a Kindle device, and this is where it gets complex. There are various technical limitations on different types of devices, like Kindle for Android or Kindle for Mac.
I selected eInk Kindle books - please note I own a Kindle device, and I connected it via USB to my Linux machine, and then copied my Decay book over ( all Decay* titled files, KFX plus folder). When you select this option in the DeDRM customization screen, you need to add a serial number for your Kindle device. It's a 16-digit string composed of numbers and digits (no spaces).
Add KFX book to Calibre
The next step is to add your KFX book to Calibre. If you have already added it to Calibre, remove it and then add it fresh. DeDRM runs on first import only. If you've configured everything correctly, DeDRM will run now. This can take a few seconds.
While this was happening, in the background, DeDRM configured WINE for Linux, probably so it could install various Windows-based tools it needs to create decryption keys. There's no need for you to do anything manually, but you should be aware of this, especially since it creates a new WINE configuration directly in your home directory, and not as a hidden object (no dot prefix), so this may pollute your home - you will suddenly see drive_c and various WINE reg files there.
And then, it was done. The book was imported. I noticed the cover image was black & white rather than color, but that's easily solvable. I opened the book in the Calibre ebook reader, to verify that I indeed the DRM component was removed.
Convert to other formats
Kepub Into Calibre
The next step is to convert the book using KFX Input. This is an optional step, but if you want to have your book in AZW3 format, or maybe EPUB or alike, then you can use this plugin. This can be quite useful if you have multiple ebook devices, or want to keep a backup of your own files - although they should all be available in your Kindle library, but still.
I then opened the file in the Calibre ebook reader, to make sure everything is dandy:
And that's it. We're done. Happy times.
Why And How To Convert DRM-free EPUBs To Kobo’s KEPUB Format
Various errors
In case things didn't work as they should, then you will see various errors, apart from the DeDRM plugin ZIP error we've already discussed. First, if you try to open a KFX file in Calibre without the use of the DeDRM plugin, you won't be able to do so. Moreover, if you try to use KFX Input before DeDRM has run, you will not be able to convert the file, even if you did select the option to ignore errors during the conversion process.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide was useful. I have never really needed the ability to open any KFX file in Calibre before, because I'm happy using and reading them on my Kindle. But when it comes to my own books, the books I've written myself and then published WITHOUT DRM, then I expect to actually be able to work with these files, including any pre- and post-publication processing required - after all, this allows me to test how the digital books render on different devices, and make sure that my readers get the best experience.
This isn't a trivial tutorial - it uses Linux (which may already be too much), requires two Calibre plugins, and you need some tweaking to get things working. But in the end, we did succeed. For people who can't be bothered, my advice is to grab the files from your Kindle library using the USB option, this way you won't need to worry about the KFX conversion. Alternatively, this article outlines the steps you need to get the job done. See you out there, and enjoy your books!