The Easiest Ways to Convert Kindle AZW to PDF

Did you ever come across .azw format file? If you ever tried to download Kindle books from the Kindle for PC/Mac desktop application and find them in the stored folder, you will see an AZW file. This is the just Kindle ebook file. Want to convert your Kindle AZW books to PDF format? OK. Then follow this guide. Here this post concludes all the easiest ways to convert AZW to PDF. No matter what version of Kindle for PC/Mac you are using, you will get what you want.

The detailed guide is different according to what version of Kindle for PC/Mac you are using. So here I divide this post into two parts.

Part 1. Convert AZW to PDF with Kindle Latest Version V1.32

For a long time, we must downgrade our Kindle for PC/Mac to an older version in order to successfully decrypt or convert Kindle ebooks. But now, I feel much glad to tell you that Epubor has finally come out the solution to deal with the latest version of Kindle for PC/Mac (now the latets version is V1.32). Just follow my steps to convert AZW to PDF with Kindle for PC/Mac V1.32.

Note: If you are using macOS Catalina or macOS Big Sur, you can only use the latest version Kindle for Mac V1.32 to convert AZW to PDF, because mac Catalina and Big Sur cannot run Kindle for Mac older version.

Step 1. Download Kindle for PC/Mac latest version from Amazon site and sign in with your Amazon account.

Step 2. Disable KFX support in Kindle for PC/Mac V1.32.

This is a prerequisite step for successfully converting ebooks downloaded via the Kindle for PC/Mac V1.32. Why? Kindle for PC/Mac V1.32 actually adopted a new Kindle DRM scheme called KFX DRM, which cannot be handled by any tool. Therefore, we need to disable the KFX support.  So how to disable KFX support?

(Before this step, please delete all your downloaded Kindle books from your computer by clicking the book cover and choose "Remove From Device". Otherwise, the KFX DRM is still there, and you will fail to remove DRM from such books.)

For Windows users: 

Download KFX_begone3.zip to your Windows computer. Unzip the file, you will get a Kindle.cmd file. The cmd file is a command. You just need to double-click the cmd file to run the command.

When the command is running, your Kindle for PC will be opened automatically. You don't need to do anything further. Just wait for the command to be run finished. 

For Mac Users:

Open the Terminal window on your Mac, and cut and paste the following code in the Terminal. 

sudo chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test

Then tap "Enter" on your keyboard. By default, you will be requested to fill in your computer username passwords. Fill in the password and tap "Enter" again. This is a renderer-test to to diable KFX support in the Kindle for Mac. 

Step 3. Run Kindle for PC/Mac V1.32 to download Kindle books to your PC/Mac.

To download Kindle books, please right-click the book cover and choose "Download". Remember not to double-click the book cover to download it. And also, don't open the book to read it until you decrypt it. Otherwise, you will fail.

Step 4. Download and run Epubor Ultimate. 

Download Epubor Ultimate here for Free

 

Epubor Ultimate can automatically detect the books downloaded via Kindle for PC/Mac. So you just need to drag the books from the "Kindle" tab at the left column to the right column. The DRM will be removed in a second. Then just click the bottom Convert to PDF button to convert your Kindle AZW books to PDF format.

Note: Only Epubor Ultimate V3.0.12.1028 and higher versions support Kindle DRM Removing from Kindle V1.32. If you are not using the latest version, please first upgrade it.

Part 2. Convert AZW to PDF with Kindle Older Version

Note: This is only working for the Windows users, and Mac users whose macOS is below than macOS 10.15 Catalina.

If you think running the command line to disable KFX support is difficult, you can try to use the older version of Kindle desktop, which doesn't require you to run any command line. 

Step 1. Download Kindle for PC V1.17, or Kindle for Mac V1.17.

If you have already downloaded the latest verion of Kindle V1.30, you need to uninstall it and reinstall the older version. Or you can just use Epubor Ultimate to help you automatically downgrade Kindle to older version. 

Step 2. Run Kindle for PC/Mac older version to download Kindle books. 

Either double-click or right-click to download the books is OK. 

Step 3. Run Epubor Ultimate to convert AZW to PDF. 

Any version of Epubor Ultimate supports converting Kindle AZW books that are downloaded from older version of Kindle for PC/Mac. But it's still suggested to upgrade it if you are not using the latest version of Epubor Ultimate. 

Download Epubor Ultimate here for Free

 

No matter what Kindle version you are using to download your Kindle books, the process of using Epubor Ultimate is totally the same. Just drag the books from the "Kindle" tab at the left column to the right side. Then just click the bottom Convert to PDF button to convert your Kindle AZW books to PDF format.

Calibre Adds Read Aloud Feature in v5.7

It is so thrilling to find out that calibre adds TTS to the calibre viewer. Now the viewer gives you the option to read book text aloud. To use it you can simply click the Read aloud button in the viewer controls to start reading book text aloud. Or use the shortcut for read aloud function (Ctrl+S) to start reading aloud the whole book, starting at the current page. The word being currently read is highlighted. Once you start reading aloud, there is a floating bar with pause and other controls, like speed up speech and slow down speech, close read aloud, and configure read out, etc. You can also change the voice being used by clicking the gear icon in the floating bar that is displayed while Read aloud is active.

Besides, you can also read aloud selected text by adding the Read aloud button to the floating bar in the viewer preferences under Selection behavior(open the viewer controls >> preferences >> Selection behavior>> Click Add to add Read aloud option to the floating bar).

Kindle Firmware Update 5.13.4 is Available Now

Amazon just released the latest Kindle firmware update 5.13.4. The new software update is available for all Kindles dating back to the Kindle Voyage and Kindle Paperwhite 3. You can wait for the new update to download over Wi-Fi automatically on your Kindle over the coming weeks, or you can download the update file and install it manually now. 

Except for fix bugs, you can hardly see any new eye-catching functionalities added to this firmware. Most of the new functionality seems related to marketing: Amazon adds more advertisements and recommendations to the home screen. In this new update, they have extended the home screen so you can scroll further on Home and see up to 5 pages of content. If you want to use this new function, you should make sure you have turned on the default home screen by going to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > Home & Library > Home Screen View. 

Here’s what’s new about Kindle Firmware 5.13.4 – December 2020

Extended Home Feed: You can scroll further on Home and see up to 5 pages of content.

Amazon Kids and Amazon Kids+: Amazon FreeTime and Amazon FreeTime Unlimited are changing names to Amazon Kids and Amazon Kids+ in the coming months. There is no change to the benefits you enjoy and no action is required from you.

Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

However, today we noticed that they also added an important new feature not mentioned in the release notes, which enables you to Group Series in Library. This function can be turned on and off by going to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > Home & Library > Group Series in Library.

If you turn on Group Series in Library, a pop-up message will inform you: “Kindle has begun grouping series in your library. You can view individual books by tapping on the series group cover. This feature can be turned off in settings.” Then books that you have downloaded in a series will be grouped together automatically. It will show a cover for the first book with a number in the lower corner that indicates how many books are grouped.

Remove Kobo DRM with Calibre Obok Plugin

Did you notice the Obok plugin when you download DeDRM_tools from Github? Do you know what it is used for? If you have Kobo books, you may need this plugin to remove Kobo DRM. In this post, I will guide you on how to remove Kobo DRM by using the Obok plugin on Calibre. 

Tip: Obok plugin is only for removing DRM from Kobo ebooks that are downloaded from Kobo for PC/Mac desktop app. If you download your Kobo ebooks from the Kobo site and open them with Adobe Digital Editions, please follow this guide: Remove DRM from Adobe Digital Editions with Calibre.

Step 1. Download the Kobo desktop app for PC/Mac. 

Step 2. Log in to the Kobo desktop app with your Kobo account, and click the book cover to download Kobo books to your computer. 

Step 3. Download Calibre 4.23.

(Note: Calibre 5.0 and higher versions don't support the Obok plugin. You have to use Calibre V4.23 to make it work.)

Step 4. Download DeDRM_tools_6.8.1.zip to the computer. Unzip the file. You will get DeDRM_Plugin.zip and Obok_plugin.zip. The Obok_plugin.zip is the plugin that works for removing Kobo DRM. No need to unzip further.

Step 5. Run Calibre>>Preferences>>Plugins>>Load Plugin from Files>>Choose the Obok_plugin.zip and add it to Calibre.

Step 6. Find the Obok DeDRM from the top menu bar and click it. 

Then a window will pop up showing all your Kobo books. Just select the Kobo books that you want to add to Calibre to remove Kobo DRM.

Wait for the Kobo books to be added to the Calibre library. It is also the process of removing Kobo DRM.

When all the selected Kobo books have been added to the Calibre library, it means they are all decrypted successfully.

Note: If you've successfully installed the Obok_plugin.zip to Calibre but it doesn't show in the top menu bar, you need to add it to the interface menu bar manually by this way:

Click Preference in Calibre top menu bar.

In the next window, click "Tools & Menus" under the "Interface" option.

Click to choose toolbar or menu to customize, and select "The main toolbar".

Next, add the Obok DeDRM from the left side to the right side. And then "Apply".

In this way, the Obok DeDRM option should appear in the top menu bar of Calibre. Now you can follow Step 6 to remove Kobo DRM.

Tip: Remove Kobo DRM without installing any plugin.

Having a problem when installing or using the Obok plugin? Try another much easier-to-use Kobo DRM Removal -- Epubor Ultimate. By using this tool, you don't have to install any plugins to remove Kobo DRM. No matter you download your Kobo books are downloaded from Kobo site, from Kobo desktop app, or from a Kobo eReader, all your Kobo books can be detected by Epubor Ultimate. Just drag them from the left to the right column, and the DRM will be removed immediately.

Download Epubor Ultimate for Free

 

Apple Reveals the Best Books, Audiobooks, and Podcasts of the Year

As the year approaches the end, Apple revealed the list of the most popular books and audiobooks on Apple Books and podcast shows on Apple Podcasts. The offerings “kept us entertained, made us think, provided a much-needed escape, or filled our hearts up,” noted Apple.

Below are some of the highlights of the list. For the full lists, you can visit the Apple Books and Apple Podcasts apps.

Best Books of the Year

The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett

28 Summers, Elin Hilderbrand

Long Bright River, Liz Moore

Deep State, Chris Hauty

The Last Flight, Julie Clark

Reborn Yesterday, Tessa Bailey

The Roommate, Rosie Danan

The City We Became, N. K. Jemisin

Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

We Are Not Free, Traci Chee

Best Audiobooks of 2020

Open Book, Jessica Simpson

Memorial Drive, Natasha Trethewey

Upstream, Dan Heath

The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett

Interior Chinatown, Charles Yu

Caste, Isabel Wilkerson

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, Ibram X.Kendi

Fair Warning, Michael Connelly

The Guest List, Lucy Foley

Podcasts:

Show of the Year: Code Switch by NPR

Our Favorites This Year

California Love by LAist and KPCC

Canary by The Washington Post

Dying for Sex by Wondery

FANTI by Maximum Fun

Floodlines by The Atlantic

Ghost Tape by QCODE

How to Citizen with Baratunde Thurston by iHeartRadio

In The Bubble with Andy Slavitt by Lemonada Media