Remove DRM from Adobe Digital Editions with Calibre

Adobe Digital Editions is an ebook reader app for reading ePub and PDF files. However, the reading experience of Adobe Digital Editions can be very terrible sometimes. That's the reason why many people want to get rid of limitations made by Adobe Digital Editions to read them in a better ebook reader. The limitation is called DRM. To remove the DRM restriction, we can make full use of Calibre with the DeDRM plugin, the guide of which will be comprehensively introduced in this post.

What Adobe Digital Editions books are supported by Calibre DeDRM Plugin to remove the DRM?

EPUBs and PDFs protected by Adobe DRM: Kobo books, Google Play books and more.

Now just follow my steps to remove DRM from the Adobe Digital Editions books.

Step 1. Install DeDRM Plugin to Calibre

First, download Calibre and the DeDRM_tools.zip to the computer first. (Unzip the DeDRM_tools.zip and get the DeDRM_plugin.zip. No need to further unzip the DeDRM_plugin.zip.)

Now run Calibre. Click the “Preference” at the top menu bar.

In the pop-up Preference window, find the "Plugins" under the "Advanced" option and click it.

Then tab "Load plugin from file". And then choose the DeDRM_plugin.zip you've prepared.

Follow the procedure and you'll find the DeDRM plugin has been added under the "File Type" option.

Having trouble in adding the DeDRM plugin to Calibre? Follow the guide Solutions to DeDRM Plugin Not Working with Calibre 5.0 to have it fixed.

Step 2. Add Adobe Digital Editions ePub or PDF to Calibre

First, we need to authorize the computer with an Adobe ID. (Click “Help”>“Authorize Computer”>Fill in Adobe ID and password>“Authorize”)

Then make sure the books have been downloaded from Adobe Digital Editions. The Adobe Digital Editions are stored here:

For Windows: C:\Users\Your Username\Documents\My Digital Editions

For Mac: \Users\username\Documents\Digital Editions

Next, add the Adobe Digital Editions ePub or PDF files to Calibre. You can just click the "Add books" icon in the upper-left corner, or just drag the ePub or PDF files to Calibre main interface.

You can continue to click the "Convert books" icon to convert your ebooks to any format you like, for example, convert the Adobe Digital Editions to Kindle AZW3 or Mobi format. Calibre supports a lot of output formats, including PDF, EPUB, DOC, TXT, AZW3, Mobi, FB2, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, PDFB and etc.

If you receive an error "This book has DRM" as shown in the below picture, you can try the following solutions.

1. Add the DeDRM plugin to Calibre for a second time.

2. Ask a support question or report an issue in Github concerning the DeDRM tools. 

3. Try another much easier-to-use Adobe DRM Removal called Epubor Ultimate. With this tool, you don't have to install any plugins to remove the DRM. Better still, your Adobe Digital Editions books can be detected by this tool and you don't need to manually find them. Just drag them from the left to the right column, and the DRM will be removed immediately.

Download Epubor Ultimate for Free

Kindle for PC/Mac is Forcing Users to Update to New Version without Permission

Usually, due to performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements, Kindle for PC/Mac is regularly updated to improve your reading experience.

Whenever there’s a new update available, you will be asked whether you want to skip the newer version or install it right now when you run Kindle for PC/Mac.

However, this time Kindle for PC/Mac is forcing users to upgrade to the latest version 1.30 aggressively without prompting or seeking your permission. It automatically updated itself to version 1.30 as soon as you run Kindle for PC/Mac. 

As it’s known to all, the only reason why some people prefer to run the older version Kindle for PC/Mac (below version 1.25) is that they want to get rid of the new KFX format files which can’t be decrypted right now. In other words, as long as Kindle books are downloaded via the older version Kindle for PC/Mac, they can be decrypted by the DRM Removal tool. Luckily, if you are one of this kind of users, here’s the step by step guide to teach you how to deal with the new Kindle update and remove Kindle DRM effortlessly. 

Obviously, those people who don’t care about decrypting Kindle books always want to make sure their Kindle for PC/Mac is the latest version. 

Kindle DRM Removal Calibre: Remove KFX/AZW/AZW3 DRM with DeDRM Plugin

Are you still trying to remove Kindle DRM with Calibre but haven't figured it out? If you are a Calibre new user, you are probably confused and disoriented the first time you use it. Don't worry. Today here in this post, I will guide you step by step to remove Kindle DRM with the Calibre. This is helpful for both Windows and Mac users (macOS Catalina & Big Sur included).

For successfully removing Kindle DRM, installing the DeDRM plugin and KFX-input plugin is a prerequisite. Therefore, I will show you this guide first.

Part 1. How to Install the DeDRM Plugin to Calibre?

Step 1. Download Calibre and the DeDRM plugin and KFX Input Plugin to your computer.

Step 2. Run Calibre. Click the “Preference” at the top menu bar.

Step 3. In the pop-up Preference window, find the "Plugins" under the "Advanced" option and click it.

Step 4. Tab "Load plugin from file". And then choose the DeDRM_plugin.zip you've prepared.

Follow the procedure and you'll find the DeDRM plugin has been added under the "File Type" option.

Receive a SyntaxError?

If you got a SyntaxError when you were trying to add the DeDRM plugin, it means you are using the Calibre 5.0 or higher version. The DeDRM plugin is not compatible with Calibre 5.0. In this case, please refer to The 3 Solutions to DeDRM Plugin Not Working with Calibre 5.0. 

The installation of the KFX Input plugin is the same as the DeDRM plugin. When these two plugins are added to Calibre, now we can start to remove Kindle DRM with Calibre.

Bonus Tip - Remove Kindle DRM without installing the plugin:

It's a little bit complicated to install the DeDRM plugin, right? If you are not tech-savvy, or if you prefer a simple solution to get rid of the Kindle DRM, it's highly recommended to try Epubor Ultimate, which is the easiest-to-use ebook DRM Removal and eBook Converter. With the tool, you can easily remove the Kindle DRM without installing any plugins. For a detailed guide, you can just refer to the user guide The Easiest Ways to Convert Kindle AZW to PDF.

Download Epubor Ultimate for Free

Part 2. How to Remove Kindle DRM with Calibre DeDRM?

What Kindle books are supported by Calibre?

(1). Kindle books downloaded via Kindle for PC V1.26 or lower version, and Kindle for Mac V1.23 or lower version. --This is available for Windows and Mac users (macOS 10.15 Catalina or higher are not included)

(2). Kindle books downloaded via Amazon's official website (you must own a Kindle e-ink device). -- This is available for all users who own a Kindle e-ink device (including macOS Catalina & Big Sur).

No matter where your Kindle books are downloaded, here I can share with you the detailed guide.

1. Remove DRM from Kindle downloaded via Kindle for PC/Mac

Step 1. Download and install the Kindle desktop app to your PC/Mac.

Step 2. Run Kindle for PC/Mac. In the Kindle library, right-click the book covers to download Kindle books to your computer. 

Step 3. Add the Kindle books (in .azw format)  to Calibre by clicking on the "Add books" button. 

And then you need to manually find your downloaded Kindle AZW books in the folder.

Where are Kindle AZW books stored on PC/Mac?

For Windows: C:/Users/your user name/Documents/My Kindle Content

For Mac: /Users/user name/ Library/ Containers/ com.amazon.Kindle/ Data/Library/Application Support/Kindle/My Kindle Content

Failed to remove DRM from Kindle books downloaded via Kindle for PC/Mac with Calibre DeDRM plugin?

If you failed to remove the DRM, you are probably not using the older version of Kindle for PC/Mac. The Kindle eBooks will be encrypted with a new Kindle KFX DRM if you download Kindle eBooks via Kindle for PC/MAC version 1.27 or higher. Now Calibre cannot handle this new KFX DRM scheme. The current solution is to downgrade your Kindle for PC/Mac to the older version and try once again. 

For macOS Catalina and Big Sur users, downgrading to the older version is not working. But you can still use the latest version of Kindle for Mac and patch Kindle for Mac on macOS Catalina or Big Sur to remove Kindle DRM successfully. Or if you have a Kindle e-ink device, you can take the next method.

2. Remove DRM from Kindle downloaded via Amazon website

Step 1. Go to the Amazon page Manage Your Content and Devices.

Step 2. Click the “Action” button in front of each book title, and then click “Download & transfer via USB”.

Step 3. Choose your Kindle e-Ink device, and click the button “Download”.

Note: Please choose the Kindle device you have registered with your Amazon account.

A note will show up when you are downloading the content. You can just save those AZW3 or AZW files on the desktop of your computer.

Step 4. Run Calibre and go to the Peference-Plugins settings. Find the DeDRM under the "File type" option. Double-click the DeDRM to customize DeDRM. Choose "eInk Kindle ebooks".

Next click the add "+" button and input the Kindle Serial Number of your Kindle e-ink device. Then remember to click "Apply" before you close the "Preference-Plugins" window.

(The Kindle Serial Number (KSN) can be found in the Manage Your Content and Device page of Amazon site. Or you follow the detailed guide on How to Easily Find Kindle Serial Number.)

Step 5. When the Kindle Serial Number has been addes, now you can add your Kindle AZW3 or AZW files downloaded from the Amazon website page to Calibre to remove the DRM.

Failed to remove DRM from Kindle books downloaded via Amazon website with Calibre DeDRM plugin?

If you failed to remove DRM from Kindle books that are downloaded via Amazon website, please check whether you have done the following things:

(1) The DeDRM plugin has been added to your Calibre successfully.

(2) The Kindle Serial Number of your Kindle e-ink device has been added to the customization of the DeDRM plugin.

(3) What you own is a Kindle e-ink device. Note that Kindle Fire tablet is not supported.

Bonus Tip - Remove Kindle DRM without manually inputting KSN:

If you are looking for a much easier way to remove Kindle DRM or convert Kindle books without inputting Kindle Serial Number manually by yourself, you can simply plug your Kindle device to your computer and download your Kindle books from the Amazon website. Epubor Ultimate will automatically detect the KSN automatically and you don't need to input it manually. For more details, you can read the full guide on How to Remove DRM from Kindle AZW3 Files.

Download Epubor Ultimate for Free

New Kindle Firmware 5.13.3 is Now Available！

 

Amazon just released the latest Kindle Firmware update, which is compatible with most models dating back to the Kindle Voyage. You can wait for the new update to install automatically on your Kindle in the next few weeks, or you can install it manually on Amazon’s official Kindle E-Reader Software Updates page now. 

This new update adds a few new features, like new public library filter, new user guide, Kindle Unlimited / Prime Badge on home, plus usual performance improvements, bug fixes and other general enhancements. There’s nothing thrilling about this new update, but it does make it easier to borrow ebooks right on your home screen from the public library, Kindle Unlimited, and Prime Reading.

Here's the what’s new for the Kindle Firmware 5.13.3 – October 2020

Public Library filter: You can filter your library to show public library books.

Kindle User Guide: The Kindle User Guide moved to the Help menu in Settings. Your old guides are saved to a User Guides folder at the end of your Library.

Kindle Unlimited / Prime Badging on Home: Subscribers can see which books from their home recommendations can be borrowed for free from Kindle Unlimited or Prime Reading.

Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

Barnes & Noble Had Been Hacked and Exposed Customer Information！

American bookseller giant Barnes & Noble had fallen victim to a cybersecurity attack. 

Since Sunday, Nook owners have been unable to download books to their devices, open and read books on the Android and Windows 10 apps, and buy new books. The bookstore giant acknowledged the issue in a tweet, telling customers that it was investigating the cause and that service restoration was taking longer than expected.

“We are continuing to experience a systems failure that is interrupting NOOK content. We are working urgently to get all NOOK services back to full operation. Unfortunately, it has taken longer than anticipated, and we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and frustration,” the company said.

It soon became clear the problem was quite serious when some cash registers in Barnes and Noble’s physical stores also briefly stopped working.

The bookseller partially restored its systems by October 13, but it was not until October 15 that Nook publicly acknowledged the hack, but they denied that any credit card or financial info was compromised. 

Here’s the email sent out by Barnes & Noble to all customers. 

Many Barnes & Noble’s customers are remaining skeptical at the moment. They guess all their personal information has been stolen already. If you are a regular B&N customer, I strongly urge you to ask your credit card company to place security checks on your cards. 

As for your purchased content, I suggest you back up your Nook files to your computer as soon as possible.