Version 6.6.3 released on 30 March, 2019
Welcome to Apprentice Alf’s blog
This blog is intended to help anyone looking for free and simple software for removing DRM from their Kindle ebooks, stripping DRM from their Adobe Digital Editions ebooks, getting rid of DRM from their Barnes and Noble ebooks, freeing their Kobo ebooks of DRM, or decrypting their Fictionwise eReader ebooks.
If you want to find out more about ebooks, DRM and why you will probably want to remove the DRM from your ebooks, see this post: Ebook Formats, DRM and You — A Guide for the Perplexed.
If you already know that you want to strip the DRM from your ebooks, you’ve found the right place.
The Tools
To get started on removing DRM from your ebooks, just download the tools archive from the link below. Unzip the archive, and start reading.
The latest release can be found at the top of this page:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/releases
Getting Help with the Tools
If you have any questions about the tools, ebooks, and DRM, check the FAQs at the GitHub repository:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
If you have any problems with the current tools, please ask for help in a comment on this post or open a new issue at the GitHub repository. If you are having a problem with an older version of the tools, please first update to the current version, and see if that solves your problem.
Before commenting here, please check the ReadMe file and the FAQs (see link above).
In any bug report or help request, please include:
- which tool was used
- which OS you are using
- where the ebook file came from (device or application)
- any error messages
- a log of the DRM-removal attempt (see the FAQs on how to get a log).
Anti-Piracy Notice
Please only use these tools for gaining full access to your own ebooks for archiving/conversion/convenience. De-drmed ebooks should not be uploaded to open servers, torrents, or other methods of mass distribution. No help will be given to people doing such things. Authors, retailers and publishers all need to make a living, so that they can continue to produce books for us to read. Don’t be a parasite.
Origin of the Tools
The tools for removing DRM from ePubs were originally posted at i♥cabbages’ blog. The tools for Kindle/Mobipocket were originally posted at The Dark Reverser’s blog.
They have since been improved by many people, but mostly some_updates, DiapDealer, Apprentice Alf, and Apprentice Harper. While there are many sites that redistribute these tools, the most up-to-date versions of the tools are currently released here.
Other Sources
Anyone trying to sell you ebook DRM removal tools for Adobe Adept ePub and PDFs, Barnes & Noble ePubs, Kindle ebooks, Kobo ebooks, or eReader ebooks has probably just repackaged (an earlier) version of the tools available here.
I’m trying to reinstall the DRM removal plugin, version 6.6.3. I keep getting a message saying the zip file is invalid, because it “does not contain a top-level init.py file.” Will it help to load an older version? Where can I find older versions of the plugin? The apprenticeharper github page doesn’t have any of the older versions.
You must be trying to load the wrong file. Unzip DeDRM_tools_6.6.3.zip. Look in the DeDRM_calibre_plugin folder for DeDRM_plugin.zip. That’s what you load into calibre.
You shouldn’t need to use an older version in this case. But if you ever want to, you can find the previous releases here:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/releases
Thanks, Laura. I’ve been doing so many mods for games recently it never even occurred to me to UNZIP the folder first. I’m an idiot. LOL
Oh, wait … a zip folder in a zip folder. I seem to remember that tripping me up before. HAHAHA!
It installed, but still no key retrieval. I wanted to see if NookStudy would work in place of Nook for PC, but that won’t connect either.
And trying to read my old, dead hard drive with a USB3 adaptor crashed my computer twice and couldn’t read or open anything.
Yeah, Nook key retrieval is broken. You could possibly find it on a rooted Android device with the Nook app or with a rooted Nook device.
I’m trying to troubleshoot using DeDRM. I noticed that other users have said that the Kindle version can’t be 1.25 or 1.26, so I just downloaded 1.24.3 Kindle for PC — but still having the same issue. Debugging gives me the below. Would love any help!
C:\Users\Isaac>calibre-debug -g
calibre 3.23 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17134-SP0 Windows (’32bit’, ‘WindowsPE’)
32bit process running on 64bit windows
(‘Windows’, ’10’, ‘10.0.17134’)
Python 2.7.12+
Windows: (’10’, ‘10.0.17134’, ‘SP0′, u’Multiprocessor Free’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: Gather KFX-ZIP File Type (from KFX Input) (1, 3, 0) && DeDRM (6, 6, 3) && Package KFX File Type (from KFX Input) (1, 3, 0) && KFX metadata reader (from KFX Input) (1, 3, 0) && KFX Input (1, 3, 0)
Turning on automatic hidpi scaling
devicePixelRatio: 1.0
logicalDpi: 120.0 x 120.0
physicalDpi: 190.5 x 190.5
Using calibre Qt style: True
[0.00] Starting up…
[0.02] Showing splash screen…
[0.16] splash screen shown
[0.16] Initializing db…
[0.19] db initialized
[0.19] Constructing main UI…
[2.83] main UI initialized…
[2.83] Hiding splash screen
[3.44] splash screen hidden
[3.45] Started up in 3.45 seconds with 9 books
stdout+stderr from file dialog helper: [”, ”]
piped data from file dialog helper: [‘\xe7\xdb\xac\xeb\xdd\xf2B\xccm)\x99\xc2\xf6\x17O\xd4!\x02\xd6\xf1\x14^\xfc\r\xcaS\x02\x8e34\x1e\xf9’, ‘C:\Users\Isaac\Documents\My Kindle Content\B002AKPB7K_EBOK\B002AKPB7K_EBOK.azw’]
Gather KFX-ZIP File Type (from KFX Input) 1.3.0: Importing C:\Users\Isaac\Documents\My Kindle Content\B002AKPB7K_EBOK\B002AKPB7K_EBOK.azw
KFX Input: Gathered 4 files as C:\Users\Isaac\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_icceml\h44l98.kfx-zip
DeDRM v6.6.3: Trying to decrypt h44l98.kfx-zip
Using Library AlfCrypto Python
Decrypting KFX-ZIP ebook: h44l98
Got DSN key from database default_key
Found 1 keys to try after 0.2 seconds
Decrypting KFX DRM voucher: amzn1.drm-voucher.v1.768d5562-3597-42d7-8c1b-8c20093afda2.voucher
DeDRM v6.6.3: Failed to decrypt with error: Failed to decrypt KFX DRM voucher with any key
DeDRM v6.6.3: Looking for new default Kindle Key after 0.2 seconds
searching for kinfoFiles in C:\Users\Isaac\AppData\Local
Found K4PC 1.9+ kinf2011 file: C:\Users\Isaac\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage.kinf2011
Decrypted key file using IDString ‘2531465429’ and UserName ‘4973616163’
DeDRM v6.6.3: Found 1 new key
Decrypting KFX-ZIP ebook: h44l98
Got DSN key from database default_key_1
Found 1 keys to try after 0.4 seconds
Decrypting KFX DRM voucher: amzn1.drm-voucher.v1.768d5562-3597-42d7-8c1b-8c20093afda2.voucher
DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.4 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Running file type plugin DeDRM failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py”, line 171, in _run_filetype_plugins
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 624, in run
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 574, in KindleMobiDecrypt
DeDRMError: DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.4 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Package KFX File Type (from KFX Input) 1.3.0: Packaging C:\Users\Isaac\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_icceml\h44l98.kfx-zip
Processing container: B002AKPB7K_EBOK.azw
Running file type plugin Package KFX File Type (from KFX Input) failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py”, line 171, in _run_filetype_plugins
File “calibre_plugins.kfx_input.package_filetype”, line 22, in run
File “calibre_plugins.kfx_input.package_filetype”, line 35, in run_kfx
File “calibre_plugins.kfx_input.kfxlib.yj_book”, line 52, in convert_to_single_kfx
File “calibre_plugins.kfx_input.kfxlib.yj_book”, line 118, in decode_book
File “calibre_plugins.kfx_input.kfxlib.yj_book”, line 205, in get_container
KFXDRMError: Book container B002AKPB7K_EBOK.azw has DRM and cannot be converted
KFX metadata reader activated for C:\Users\Isaac\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_icceml\wbanqr_add_books\0\B002AKPB7K_EBOK.kfx-zip
Added Wildflower to db in: 0.4
Added 1 books in 3.0 seconds
Worker Launch took: 0.296999931335
Did you re-download the book with version 1.24? You might also want to update the KFX Input plugin.
Updating KFX Input, deleting the book and then redownloading, successfully fixed the issue. Thank you Laura and hope this log is helpful!
There is a bug in the logic of the DeDRM plugin that is coming into play with this log.
It first tries to decrypt the KFX book and fails due to a lack of the proper key. It then obtains the key and tries to decrypt the book again, and it fails again. However it does not report the reason for the second failure. It could be that obtaining the proper key failed (likely caused by the book having been downloaded by a new Kindle for PC version) or it may be due to some other cause, such as a rented or borrowed book.
It DeDRM plugin allows you to create a new keyfile separately from importing a book by using the configuration dialog. I suggest doing that first and then trying to import the book. That may provide a more explicit error message in the log.
@jhwll
The following is more like guesswork, do not take it for granted. May be some other (Laura?) can chime in, if I am totally off.
KFX is a newer format and works only on Kindle Paperwhite Version 2 and Newer, and requires the right firmware.
Older firmware and Kindles without the capability for KFX use DRM for which the Key can be found or input and DeDRM works – which might even be true for older KFX versions, it worked a short time for me with DeDRM and the KFX plugin.
The newest KFX files with DRM, starting with newer firmware for the Kindles has a change which means DeDRM is not working anymore, wether a Key is not found or the DRM itself is different, is unkown (to me at least).
My Kindle Voyage shows currently Version 5.11.1.1, which allows to filter the booklist read/unread – one of the most significant. visible and useful changes, imho. So, if your Software Version is showing at least 5.10.x, you cannot use DeDRM with import from the Kindle for ebooks with KFX.
Most Kindles have the same current firmware version number, if it is current, so this is with the date today being May 24, 2019 the current firmware as listed at Amazon:
for Paperwhite 2, 3, 4, Oasis 1, 2 and Voyage. The newer Kindle shows 5.11.1 (missing the second .1) at Amazon for download (Kindle Version 10).
If you use Kindle for Mac or Kindle for Windows, you have use the old version mentioned which does not download KFX files. And download the ebook again, to get the right filetype.
For the Mac I modified the Kindle for Mac as per the instruction on mobileread, so I can use the newest version, but the disadvantage is, when I quit the App, it crashes with a crash-log sent to Apple, so there is that and not everyone might feel good about that. Also if there is an update, I have to manually modify it again.
Kindle for PC/Mac version 1.17 cannot download KFX format. Kindle for PC/Mac versions 1.19 through 1.24 unmodified will download KFX files that can be used with the DeDRM and KFX Input plugins. You can modify Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 through 1.24 so that it doesn’t download KFX files. As you said, it’s still possible to modify the latest versions of Kindle for Mac so that they don’t download KFX files, and you can still DeDRM those older formats. But Kindle for PC must be 1.24 or earlier for DeDRMing either KFX or older formats.
Older E-ink Kindles with firmware prior to 5.6.5 do not use the KFX format. Prior to firmware 5.10.2, you could DeDRM KFX files directly from E-ink Kindles, but no longer.
I posted a question recently but it didn’t post as a comment. Are comments filtered?
Sometimes things get caught in spam/moderation. Especially if there are more than a couple links. Alf will probably liberate it shortly.
Got it. No links but it was a debug log, so maybe that looked like spam.
Those have links in them.
Help! I migrated from an older iMac to an iMac Pro running OS 10.13.6.
Tried running DRM 6.2.2 as usual, but got an error message: “Can’t get POSIX path of alias “/Applications/DeDRM-Mac/DeDRM_Mac_v6.2.2/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/erdr2pml.py”. (-1728). Tried opening the DRM application itself (instead of the alias), same error.
Installed DRM 6.2.3, get a similar POSIX path error message.
Any idea of how to fix this?
I’m guessing you meant you tried 6.6.3. There are some suggestions in the FAQs for the Mac app, but nothing that sounds like this error. People have been having trouble getting the latest versions of the standalone apps running ever since support for Amazon’s KFX format was added to DeDRM. So you might have better luck with the last version before that — 6.5.5.
Oops, yes I meant 6.6.3. Tried 6.5.5, same error. Hmm…
Hopefully someone familiar with Macs will have an answer. Or you could use calibre and the DeDRM plugin.
Sometimes Apps do not work if they are directly unzipped into the /Apps -Path structure.
Something to try out: move the App to a different place (easiest is Desktop), start it once, quit. Move back into the /Apps-Path structure.
There should be an error message when first starting, but I forgot what it said.
Reasons for not seeing it: it is in the background or does not have the focus, or it is clicked before reading (and understanding it).
It is some kind of security measure which is new since 10.14 mojave.
And the changes do not really help, like others they only nag.
Wondering if there’s any discussion anywhere of de-DRMing PressReader’s .pdn files?
If that’s a subscription service, then the Apprentices won’t be interested in supporting it.
DRM-ed PDF newspaper/magazine issues. And didn’t mean to suggest they should support it, just wondered if anyone here knew of any discussion about removing the DRM from this particular file. Been searching for a while, doesn’t seem to be terribly known.
Yeah, note I didn’t ask anyone to DO anything, wondered if anyone knew of any discussion about it, or frankly other forms of DRM. So if anyone else knows of any discussion groups on this or other DRM, it’d be great if you’d reply. Thanks.
DeDRM for Amazon ebooks works fine on Linux: I have used kindle-for-pc with calibre on windows, copied the key file from calibre on windows to calibre on Linux and have been able to de-drm kindle books on Linux–I have also done download for transfer via USB on linux and dedrm’ed fine on linux using the serial from my 10-th gen. kindle.
Given that, I wonder what would be involved in creating a standalone app for Linux, as already exist for windows and Mac? I’ve glanced at those two, and to be honest, I don’t see where one would start, but I’m thinking there is probably a way if one had some understanding of how they work.
Would any of the Apprentices have any interest in looking into this, or at least drop me a hint as to feasibility and possibly some further hints on how to go about it? (I’m pretty fluent in C, not-so-much in Python, but would be willing to take a crack at it.)
thanks in advance!
Fred
The core of all three DeDRM apps (Windows, Mac, and the plugin) are the same exact Python scripts.
The Mac one uses AppleScript. The Windows one uses the python GUI, so that would probably be the one to work from.
OK, thanks Paul. I’m playing with the windows one (not even trying the click-on-the-bat file thing, just do “python .pyw and I get the form to fill in), and am having a problem with it finding the correct key. I enter the kindle serial # into the form and give it the filename of the book and it instantly fails with some non-descript error.
so I fire up PDB and trace thru the code for a while. I get to where it appears to be accumulating lines of text, which produces this:
MobiDeDrm v0.42.
Copyright © 2008-2017 The Dark Reverser, Apprentice Harper et al.
Decrypting Kindle Format 8 ebook: Field of Bones: A Brady Novel of Suspense (Joanna Brady Mysteries)
Found 2 keys to try after 0.0 seconds
Crypto Type is: 2
Error decrypting book after 0.0 seconds: No key found in 2 keys tried.
I know this book can be DeDRM’d because I imported it into Calibre and can read it. I also processed it with the calibre commandline interface, successfully.
Calibre reports either 14 or 16 keys found (my memory isn’t great anymore, so I don’t exactly remember), whereas this standalone app reports. 2. This is odd because I only input one serial number, making me wonder if it isn’t even looking in the right place. So far I haven’t had time to dig further, so I don’t know where it is looking.
If you have any further comments I’d be happy to see them, else I’ll continue to dig.
thanks in advance!
The book is definitely for that particular E-ink Kindle? Also double-check that you have the serial number entered correctly.
Is there currently any way to de-drm Barnes & Noble books. I cannot get Nook Study or Nook for PC to run. I can access the books in Nook for Window app. However I cannot get tools to retrieve B&N key.
If you don’t already have a key from before Nook for PC and Nookstudy stopped working, the only way I know to get it now is from a rooted Android device with the Nook app or a rooted Nook device.
Hi,
Can you help me how i can remove DRM of kindle 1.26.55076 ebooks.
I bought two kindle ebooks but i can’t download & open them in old kindle for PC versions like kindle 1.17 or 1.24 versions.
When i bought them and i wanted to send them to my kindle for PC version 1.17 or 1.24, this message has been show in Amazon website:
An app update is required to read this title on the selected device.
And when i send them to my kindle for PC (old versions), i can’t download them and an error in pop-up window has been shown that mentioned that i should upgrade my kindle for PC to the latest version (1.26.55076).
But eBook-converter DRM removal softwares can’t remove DRM of them.
Please help me.
Thanks in advance
If they’re also not available for E-ink Kindle, then you’re not going to be able to remove the DRM at this time.
It looks like you’ve found books which are only available in KFX format, and possibly only in a recent version of KFX format. Could you post the ASIN for one of the books (The number that’s in their Amazon URL after /dp/ or /gp/)?
Also, just to point it out, you have good reason to give the ebooks back. The faster you decide to do that, the easier it is, and I would also say in polite words, why you give them back, with an apology that you thought you could read them on your device, but you where wrong.
No need to give them money for things you cannot use.
If you do not give ebooks back frequently it should be no problem, they may not even ask for a reason and just give you the money back, imho the same way you paid (credit-card, store-credit whatever).
Some people had that done too often and got problems, just so you know.
The way to do it online is to log in to your account and go to your account -> Manage your content and devices – Content.
Here’s one that I’ve found: B07TQMFL1P
It’s also a print replica, so still a PDF underneath presumably.
Yes, as far as I know that’s a PDF underneath. I’ve no idea why it would not be available to older versions of Kindle for PC/Mac.
I believe that if you have a working Kindle for PC version 1.24 (i.e. the calibre plugin has decoded one or more books from it, and so have the key for that version), and you then update to 1.26, and then use it to download BUT NOT OPEN books, those books should still be in a format that can be decrypted.
Worth a try, perhaps, and if not, I’d suggest asking for a refund as Ingo suggests.
Don’t forget about disabling render-test. Unfortunately that only works with Kindle for Mac. Or at least I haven’t been able to get it to work with Kindle for PC. Kindle for PC 1.26 doesn’t seem to care whether render-test can be run or not. Even after disabling render-test again and without opening the books, anything downloaded after the update was in newer formats and couldn’t be DeDRMed with the old key.
I’ve just had a conversion error on an Amazon AZW3 book with 6.6.3 on Win7. It’s a large book (16.3Mb, the collected works of HG Wells) and the error message is :
calibre, version 3.44.0
WARNING: Errors while adding: There were problems adding some files, click “Show details” for more information
Failed to read metadata from the file:
D:\Upgrades\The Collected Works of H. G. Wells_ Over 120+ Science Fiction Classics, Dystopian Novels & Time Travel Tales; Including Scientific, Political and Historical … The War of the Worlds, Modern Utopia…).azw3
With error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\pool.py”, line 374, in worker_main
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\metadata\worker.py”, line 87, in read_metadata
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\metadata\worker.py”, line 77, in run_import_plugins
File “shutil.py”, line 97, in copyfile
IOError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: u’C:\Users\Chris\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_o6piuv\sp2ktd_add_books\0\The Collected Works of H. G. Wells_ Over 120+ Science Fiction Classics, Dystopian Novels & Time Travel Tales; Including Scientific, Political and Historical … The War of the Worlds, Modern Utopia\u2026).azw3′
Is this a known phenomenon?
Ah, the filename was too long… Panic over, although it’s a Thing To Note…
While you found the reason yourself, from the log this has nothing to do with DRM (although I with the standalone I sometimes have to rename ebooks so they work if they have no extension or malformed names). The ebook listed is imho due to its age in the Public Domain and should be available without DRM (something to look for if the ebook is from Amazon, even free), but this is just a guess, so I may be wrong.
It’s a re-packaging of a pile of stuff, and for that I was happy to pay £0.49. it certainly did have DRM and 6.6.3 chewed its way through very satisfactorily, once I’d sorted the name out.
I’d like to say I was getting a drm error due to a similar thing. This time it was the complete works of H.P.Lovecraft. After I shortened the file name, which was something you did as well, the drm removal tool actually worked. Thanks for bringing up file name length.
So what is the maximum file name length DeDRM will accept? And does it include the file extension as part of the maximum.
Hi. I’m trying to retrieve a key for Barnes and Noble using DeDRM 6.6.3 and Calibre for Windows 10. I verified that I’m using correct email and password by logging onto B&N site – but the plug-in fails to retrieve the key. Is it supposed to work as of June 2019? Thanks
Unfortunately B&N key retrieval with these tools has been broken since earlier this year.
that’s a major bummer. Is there hope, do you know?
If you happen to have a key from before, it may still work. You can find the key on rooted Nook devices or rooted Android devices with the Nook app. As for someone figuring out a new way to get the key that can be added to DeDRM, who knows. This is all on a volunteer basis, and many people have simply moved away from nookbooks.
Having a problem with obtaining a Barnes&Noble key. Windows 10, DeDRM 6.6.3 – using the obtain keyfile dialog, getting a message that username & password incorrect, but I am absolutely positive they are not. Has anyone else experienced a problem? Is B&N blocking somehow?
Yes. See the comments just above yours.
Hello, I experimented a bug trying to convert a file after using the dedrm plugin.
I added the book after succesfully installing the plugin, and dropped the book in azw format from the kindle app for PC local file.
Can you help me ?
Here is the log :
DeDRM v6.6.3: Trying to decrypt B07NVSH1MG_EBOK.azw
Using Library AlfCrypto Python
MobiDeDrm v0.42.
Copyright © 2008-2017 The Dark Reverser, Apprentice Harper et al.
Decrypting Mobipocket 4 ebook: Réussir avec le Digital learning (Formation permanente) (French Edition)
Found 2 keys to try after 0.1 seconds
Crypto Type is: 2
DeDRM v6.6.3: Failed to decrypt with error: No key found in 2 keys tried.
DeDRM v6.6.3: Looking for new default Kindle Key after 0.1 seconds
searching for kinfoFiles in C:\Users\Laure\AppData\Local
Found K4PC 2.25+ kinf2018 file: C:\Users\Laure\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage.kinf2018
Decrypted key file using IDString ‘311275350’ and UserName ‘4c61757265’
DeDRM v6.6.3: Found 1 new key
MobiDeDrm v0.42.
Copyright © 2008-2017 The Dark Reverser, Apprentice Harper et al.
Decrypting Mobipocket 4 ebook: Réussir avec le Digital learning (Formation permanente) (French Edition)
Got DSN key from database default_key_1
Found 3 keys to try after 0.2 seconds
Crypto Type is: 2
DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.3 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Running file type plugin DeDRM failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py”, line 171, in _run_filetype_plugins
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 624, in run
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 574, in KindleMobiDecrypt
DeDRMError: DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.3 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
C:\Program Files (x86)\Calibre2\app\pylib.zip\dateutil\parser.py:601: UnicodeWarning: Unicode equal comparison failed to convert both arguments to Unicode – interpreting them as being unequal
Added Réussir avec le Digital learning (Formation permanente) (French Edition) to db in: 2.0
Thank you so much ! I bought this ebook with amazon but my kindle cannot even read it…
You’ll need to install an earlier version of Kindle for PC. The tools can’t handle the latest version.
Thank you very much !
Hello,
I am trying to use this tool on a file that I am downloading for my Kindle Fire (newest version). When I download the file from Amazon, I am asked which device to download the file for. If I answer with my newest Fire device, I cannot process the downloaded file. If I, however, answer with an older device that I have (a PaperWhite device), the processing works correctly.
I have entered the serial #s for both devices in the plugin customization.
Why can it not process the file downloaded for the Fire?
–James
The key for E-ink Kindles can be created from its serial number. Kindle Fires have a different key which isn’t connected to the serial number and no other way to extract their key has been figured out.
I’ve tried using this to covert an epub book that I bought from Barnes and Noble. It isn’t working for me. Here’s the debug that I got.
calibre Debug log
calibre 3.44 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17134-SP0 Windows (’32bit’, ‘WindowsPE’)
32bit process running on 64bit windows
(‘Windows’, ’10’, ‘10.0.17134’)
Python 2.7.15+
Windows: (’10’, ‘10.0.17134’, ‘SP0′, u’Multiprocessor Free’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3)
calibre 3.44 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17134-SP0 Windows (’32bit’, ‘WindowsPE’)
32bit process running on 64bit windows
(‘Windows’, ’10’, ‘10.0.17134’)
Python 2.7.15+
Windows: (’10’, ‘10.0.17134’, ‘SP0′, u’Multiprocessor Free’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3)
Turning on automatic hidpi scaling
devicePixelRatio: 1.0
logicalDpi: 96.0 x 96.0
physicalDpi: 141.76744186 x 142.134715026
Using calibre Qt style: True
[0.00] Starting up…
[0.00] Showing splash screen…
[0.05] splash screen shown
[0.05] Initializing db…
[0.06] db initialized
[0.06] Constructing main UI…
Loaded cached store plugin for: Amazon Kindle at version: 17
Loaded cached store plugin for: Google Books at version: 6
[0.97] main UI initialized…
[0.97] Hiding splash screen
[8.38] splash screen hidden
[8.38] Started up in 8.38 seconds with 1 books
stdout+stderr from file dialog helper: [”, ”]
stdout+stderr from file dialog helper: [”, ”]
piped data from file dialog helper: [‘\xe0R”\x92\xac<@;F\xbc\xb2\x91\xf8\x1cW<;\x07}\xfczP\x1b\xc7=\xcc\x1d\xa1\x14\x16\xe2\x9b’, ‘C:\Users\BL\AppData\Local\Packages\BarnesNoble.Nook_ahnzqzva31enc\LocalState\9780061809620.epub’]
DeDRM v6.6.3: Trying to decrypt 9780061809620.epub
DeDRM v6.6.3: Verifying zip archive integrity
DeDRM v6.6.3: “9780061809620.epub” is a secure Barnes & Noble ePub
DeDRM v6.6.3: Looking for new NOOK Study Keys after 0.0 seconds
Found nookStudy log file: C:\Users\BL\AppData\Roaming\Barnes & Noble\NOOKstudy\logs\BNClientLog.txt
DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.0 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Running file type plugin DeDRM failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py”, line 172, in _run_filetype_plugins
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 635, in run
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 304, in ePubDecrypt
DeDRMError: DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.0 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Added Shadow of the Silk Road to db in: 0.1
Added 1 books in 0.5 seconds
Worker Launch took: 0.0870001316071
Unfortunately the methods for retrieving your B&N key with DeDRM no longer work. If you have a key that worked previously, it may still work. If not, it’s possible to get it from a rooted Nook device or a rooted Android device with the Nook app.
I did everything I read here: reverted to old Kindle app, downloaded and installed DeRM and KFX plugins, etc.. the Calibre imports the azw.res file but the result is a KFX-ZIP , what more can I do ?
Post a log:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md#i-cannot-solve-my-problem-with-the-dedrm-plugin-and-now-i-need-to-post-a-log-how-do-i-do-that
if it’s imported a zip as kfx-zip, that sounds like things gave worked. You should be able to get a azw3/kf8 format from Kindle for PC/Mac by following the instructions in this thread. at MobileRead:https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283371
Is there no hope for Nook book keys? I have the files on my computer which I was able to download from Nook for PC a few months ago – I don’t think that’s even possible anymore. But, I can’t remove the DRM because I have not idea what the keys are – account email and password don’t work.
If you have a key which worked before, it should still work. Otherwise, you can find it on a rooted Nook device or a rooted Android device with the Nook app.
If you downloaded the files from B&N a long time ago, the key could be the credit card number you used when purchasing the ebook.
The download would have to have been about five years ago or earlier. They started switching away from cc-based keys in Sept 2014. You’d need to know the name and number of the default credit card you had on file at B&N at the time of the download. You’d also need to use an old version of DeDRM (or run the old B&N key gen script which is still included in the Other Tools folder).
I have been happily using DeDRM for some time, and am very grateful for it. Thank you.
However, it has just failed on a couple of Kobo books – and, yes, I have tried the latest version. I am running solely python.exe ineptepub.pyw under wine, and it prints the error message “Error: ascii”. One file gets decrypted, except for the cover, but the other is unreadable; other files decrypt perfectly well, so it’s something file-specific. I am quite happy to investigate further, but I am very rusty at advanced Python, and can’t find where that script actually decodes the file or even where it creates the prompt box – clearly, it does something pretty fancy. Any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks, Nick.
As far as I can see from a quick look, all the decryption happens in function decrypt of class Decryptor
Thank you. Let’s hope that message is coming from the decryption; if not, it may be tricky to find.
Nuts. It turns out to be corrupted Epub files, with garbage where a few file names should be. No DeDRM involvement, except in producing that error message. I will try downloading again and, if not, moan to Kobo.
You could also try the kepubs and Obok. May have the same problem though.
Hi,
I’m tyring to remove DRM from Adobe PDFs that I access and download to through my university’s library.
BTW, I am not wanting to do this to illegally re-distribute the books, but because in most cases I can only read the PDF for a week and then have to go through the library search again, locate the book and re-download it. I am doing a PhD and regularly need to take a quick look at many books just to check a reference, etc.
I have successfully installed the Calibre plugin but while I can read the book in Adobe DE (v2.0) within the borrowing period, it will not read in Calibre or any other PDF readers. Below is the error text I receive when attempting to read with the Calibre reader…
calibre, version 3.43.0
ERROR: Could not open e-book: Failed to read book, C:\Users\XXX.pdf click “Show Details” for more information
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\simple_worker.py”, line 290, in main
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\oeb\iterator\book.py”, line 64, in extract_book
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py”, line 246, in call
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\pdf_input.py”, line 54, in convert
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\pdf\pdftohtml.py”, line 89, in pdftohtml
ConversionError: pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Couldn’t find the ‘EBX_HANDLER’ security handler
I’d really appreciate any help. Hopefully it is something simple that I am overlooking.
These tools don’t work with library or rented books.
Please forgive this “comment;” I know this belongs in some forum somewhere, but I don’t know of one, so here I am.
My standard operation: Buy a Kindle book; download it to Kindle for PC v1.16.0 (44025) on a Windows XP virtual machine that doesn’t do anything else; bring it into calibre v0.9.42; convert to EPUB; save EPUB to disc; delete book from calibre and Kindle. Lather, rinse, repeat; has worked fine for me so far, can organize and transfer the EPUB file to phone or tablet as necessary.
When it comes to textbooks, I find buying used books is mostly cheaper than ebooks. But I found one textbook that, purchased (not rented) for the Kindle is actually $70 CHEAPER than a USED book, so it has my attention. However, the blub on Amazon’s Kindle page says;
—
This title is not supported on Kindle E-readers.
On PC & Mac, the latest version of the Kindle app is required. Learn more
This title is only compatible with Kindle for PC & Mac (versions 1.26 or later) and is not supported on Kindle for Windows 8 app. To read this title on Windows 7, 8, or 10, you can use the Kindle for PC app.
So because it is an eTextbook and apparently NOT really a Kindle book, may I assume that I will not be able, even with the lastest version of DeDRM, to move this book into a decent reader, and if I purchase will need to use the horrid little Kindle app reader?
Thanks.
It sounds like it’s using some kind of new format or encryption that’s only supported in Kindle for PC/Mac 1.26 and probably the latest iOS and Android Kindle apps. It’s just possible that if you get a Kindle for PC 1.26 setup that worked for removing DRM from normal kindle ebooks (See a long thread at MobileRead about Kindle and KFX and how to update from 1.23 to 1.26 in a way that preserves the key used so that things still work, even though the key can’t be retrieved from 1.26 just now.)
But even if that all worked, it’s possible that the book is in a new format that nothing decodes yet. Probably not something I risk on a really expensive book.
On Windows there’s no way to upgrade beyond Kindle for PC 1.24 and still have it work with DeDRM.
I started a discussion thread about this on MobileRead in June: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320762
I swear I searched with DuckDuckGo and Startpage and did not turn up this thread…thank you! Will be studying this ASAP.
Hello! Thanks a lot for the plugin and the support. I have trouble using it with Calibre, it doesn’t seem to remove the DRM on import (file is from Kindle for PC). I’ve included the log below and any help would be much appreciated!
Cheers
calibre Debug log
calibre 3.45.2 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17134-SP0 Windows (’32bit’, ‘WindowsPE’)
32bit process running on 64bit windows
(‘Windows’, ’10’, ‘10.0.17134’)
Python 2.7.15+
Windows: (’10’, ‘10.0.17134’, ‘SP0′, u’Multiprocessor Free’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3)
calibre 3.45.2 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17134-SP0 Windows (’32bit’, ‘WindowsPE’)
32bit process running on 64bit windows
(‘Windows’, ’10’, ‘10.0.17134’)
Python 2.7.15+
Windows: (’10’, ‘10.0.17134’, ‘SP0′, u’Multiprocessor Free’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3)
Turning on automatic hidpi scaling
devicePixelRatio: 1.0
logicalDpi: 96.0 x 96.0
physicalDpi: 157.825242718 x 158.566473988
Using calibre Qt style: True
[0.00] Starting up…
[0.00] Showing splash screen…
[0.06] splash screen shown
[0.06] Initializing db…
[0.08] db initialized
[0.08] Constructing main UI…
[1.22] main UI initialized…
[1.22] Hiding splash screen
[7.51] splash screen hidden
[7.51] Started up in 7.51 seconds with 0 books
stdout+stderr from file dialog helper: [”, ”]
piped data from file dialog helper: [‘\x7f\xe3″\xe3\xb7\xae\xd2\xe3\xff\xc2a\xa35\x8dc\x82\x9b/8\x16\xd4\x81\x9e\xa9\xadH\xbc\x93\x86\xc3\xa2U’, ‘C:\Users\Mom\Documents\My Kindle Content\B07NQV2NJR_EBOK\B07NQV2NJR_EBOK.azw’]
DeDRM v6.6.3: Trying to decrypt B07NQV2NJR_EBOK.azw
Using Library AlfCrypto DLL/DYLIB/SO
MobiDeDrm v0.42.
Copyright © 2008-2017 The Dark Reverser, Apprentice Harper et al.
Decrypting Kindle Format 8 ebook: Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition)
Found 0 keys to try after 0.0 seconds
Crypto Type is: 2
DeDRM v6.6.3: Failed to decrypt with error: No key found in 0 keys tried.
DeDRM v6.6.3: Looking for new default Kindle Key after 0.0 seconds
searching for kinfoFiles in C:\Users\Mom\AppData\Local
Found K4PC 2.25+ kinf2018 file: C:\Users\Mom\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage.kinf2018
Decrypted key file using IDString ‘372024242’ and UserName ‘706f6c79636f6e7365696c’
DeDRM v6.6.3: Found 1 new key
MobiDeDrm v0.42.
Copyright © 2008-2017 The Dark Reverser, Apprentice Harper et al.
Decrypting Kindle Format 8 ebook: Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition)
Got DSN key from database default_key_1
Found 3 keys to try after 0.1 seconds
Crypto Type is: 2
DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.1 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
Running file type plugin DeDRM failed with traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py”, line 172, in _run_filetype_plugins
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 624, in run
File “calibre_plugins.dedrm.init“, line 574, in KindleMobiDecrypt
DeDRMError: DeDRM v6.6.3: Ultimately failed to decrypt after 0.1 seconds. Read the FAQs at Harper’s repository: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md
C:\Program Files (x86)\Calibre2\app\pylib.zip\dateutil\parser.py:601: UnicodeWarning: Unicode equal comparison failed to convert both arguments to Unicode – interpreting them as being unequal
Added Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition) to db in: 0.1
Added 1 books in 0.7 seconds
Worker Launch took: 0.124000072479
Job: 0 Convert book 1 of 1 (Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition)) finished
Convert book 1 of 1 (Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition))
C:\Program Files (x86)\Calibre2\app\pylib.zip\dateutil\parser.py:601: UnicodeWarning: Unicode equal comparison failed to convert both arguments to Unicode – interpreting them as being unequal
Conversion options changed from defaults:
cover: u’C:\Users\POLYCO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_7uhsfl\tn1krn.jpeg’
read_metadata_from_opf: u’C:\Users\POLYCO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_7uhsfl\3wa7fv.opf’
output_profile: u’kindle’
verbose: 2
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 3.45.2
{‘asciiize’: False,
‘author_sort’: None,
‘authors’: None,
‘base_font_size’: 0.0,
‘book_producer’: None,
‘change_justification’: u’original’,
‘chapter’: u”//*[((name()=’h1′ or name()=’h2′) and re:test(., ‘\s*((chapter|book|section|part)\s+)|((prolog|prologue|epilogue)(\s+|$))’, ‘i’)) or @class = ‘chapter’]”,
‘chapter_mark’: u’pagebreak’,
‘comments’: None,
‘cover’: u’C:\Users\POLYCO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_7uhsfl\tn1krn.jpeg’,
‘debug_pipeline’: None,
‘dehyphenate’: True,
‘delete_blank_paragraphs’: True,
‘disable_font_rescaling’: False,
‘dont_split_on_page_breaks’: False,
‘duplicate_links_in_toc’: False,
’embed_all_fonts’: False,
’embed_font_family’: None,
‘enable_heuristics’: False,
‘epub_flatten’: False,
‘epub_inline_toc’: False,
‘epub_toc_at_end’: False,
‘epub_version’: u’2′,
‘expand_css’: False,
‘extra_css’: None,
‘extract_to’: None,
‘filter_css’: u”,
‘fix_indents’: True,
‘flow_size’: 260,
‘font_size_mapping’: None,
‘format_scene_breaks’: True,
‘html_unwrap_factor’: 0.4,
‘input_encoding’: None,
‘input_profile’: <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x04B4D770>,
‘insert_blank_line’: False,
‘insert_blank_line_size’: 0.5,
‘insert_metadata’: False,
‘isbn’: None,
‘italicize_common_cases’: True,
‘keep_ligatures’: False,
‘language’: None,
‘level1_toc’: None,
‘level2_toc’: None,
‘level3_toc’: None,
‘line_height’: 0.0,
‘linearize_tables’: False,
‘margin_bottom’: 5.0,
‘margin_left’: 5.0,
‘margin_right’: 5.0,
‘margin_top’: 5.0,
‘markup_chapter_headings’: True,
‘max_toc_links’: 50,
‘minimum_line_height’: 120.0,
‘no_chapters_in_toc’: False,
‘no_default_epub_cover’: False,
‘no_inline_navbars’: False,
‘no_svg_cover’: False,
‘output_profile’: <calibre.customize.profiles.KindleOutput object at 0x04B4DAD0>,
‘page_breaks_before’: u”//*[name()=’h1′ or name()=’h2′]”,
‘prefer_metadata_cover’: False,
‘preserve_cover_aspect_ratio’: False,
‘pretty_print’: True,
‘pubdate’: None,
‘publisher’: None,
‘rating’: None,
‘read_metadata_from_opf’: u’C:\Users\POLYCO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_7uhsfl\3wa7fv.opf’,
‘remove_fake_margins’: True,
‘remove_first_image’: False,
‘remove_paragraph_spacing’: False,
‘remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size’: 1.5,
‘renumber_headings’: True,
‘replace_scene_breaks’: u”,
‘search_replace’: ‘[]’,
‘series’: None,
‘series_index’: None,
‘smarten_punctuation’: False,
‘sr1_replace’: None,
‘sr1_search’: None,
‘sr2_replace’: None,
‘sr2_search’: None,
‘sr3_replace’: None,
‘sr3_search’: None,
‘start_reading_at’: None,
‘subset_embedded_fonts’: False,
‘tags’: None,
‘timestamp’: None,
‘title’: None,
‘title_sort’: None,
‘toc_filter’: None,
‘toc_threshold’: 6,
‘toc_title’: None,
‘transform_css_rules’: ‘[]’,
‘unsmarten_punctuation’: False,
‘unwrap_lines’: True,
‘use_auto_toc’: False,
‘verbose’: 2}
InputFormatPlugin: MOBI Input running
on C:\Users\POLYCO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_7uhsfl\zewwjc.azw
Found KF8 MOBI of type u’standalone’
Python function terminated unexpectedly
Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition) (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site.py”, line 101, in main
File “site.py”, line 78, in run_entry_point
File “site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py”, line 200, in main
File “site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py”, line 42, in gui_convert_override
File “site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py”, line 27, in gui_convert
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py”, line 1110, in run
File “site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py”, line 246, in call
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\mobi_input.py”, line 47, in convert
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\mobi\reader\mobi8.py”, line 86, in call
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\mobi\reader\mobi6.py”, line 158, in check_for_drm
calibre.ebooks.DRMError: Le Chant de l’assassin (French Edition)
You’ll need to go back to Kindle for PC 1.24 or earlier.
Thanks a lot, it worked!
Trying to convert a book from Adobe Digital Editions. Used to work fine, but recently it’s like the DRM tool isn’t working at all – nothing I’ve tried (uninstalling, reinstalling, etc etc) seems to work. Any other suggestions?
Try deauthorizing and reauthorizing ADE with your Adobe ID.
I was so hopeful, but nope 😦 Still getting ‘cannot convert – this book is locked by DRM’. Have stripped back to ADE 2.0, authorised it. Reinstalled Calibre (3.46), and the DRM tool (6.6.3). Redownloaded the title, after removing it from the library. Nothing seems to work and am running out of ideas – any other suggestions (again)?
Just to be sure: ADE 2.0.1 authorized with your Adobe ID is on the same machine and user as calibre with DeDRM? You can read the book in ADE 2.0.1?
For a more thorough method of deauthorizing, see the Windows or Mac troubleshooting steps on this page:
https://helpx.adobe.com/digital-editions/kb/user-credentials-found-error-upgrading.html
(If you’re on Windows, this involves deleting a registry key. Be very, very careful when editing the registry.)
Ah! Bingo! Somehow the authorisation was messed up. ADE 4.5 was the one that worked with Calibre (weirdly), and when I’d uninstalled that and tried to register ADE 2.0 it wouldn’t let me use the same account. Thank you so much, this has been driving me nuts trying to figure out 🙂
I’m trying to find a way to bring the Kindle app for the iPad to the same usability as my actual Kindle readers. I can’t find a way to release the DRM such that I can control the iPad library from Calibre, but this may be through using the wrong search terms, old age or stupidity. Can an iPad be managed this way, and if so, could someone point me towards the correct place?
thanks in advance,
Chris M
I couldn’t stand using the Kindle apps, so I started converting the Kindle books to ePub. Then I wasn’t happy with iBooks when it screwed up my carefully sorted by Author+Series layout, so I moved all my books from iBooks to MapleRead SE. Now I’m no longer tied down to Amazon’s or Apple’s ebook apps!
Not sure, what you want, mold the Kindle App on iPad to your wishes?
The other answer might point to an easier solution.
An iPad with iOS is a closed system, so everything an App does not do you are out of luck.
Unless you are a programmer and built something yourself.
You could look for other reader App, as suggest, then there is or was “calibre ios companion” (Google it). Have not used it, so cannot say what it does or does not.
But, this is not here nor there, and has nothing to do with DeDRM, imho.
A forum to search through for help is
mobileread.com
so I would start there.
You can’t remove DRM from books downloaded with the iPad Kindle app. But if you download them with Kindle for PC/Mac or download them from the website for an E-ink Kindle and DeDRM them, then you can read them on whatever app/device you want.
Ah, that fits with my experiences so far. Thanks, I shall re-download from Amazon via PC and sort them out that way…
Want to remove DRM from Nook books. The last time I did this, late 2016, the Calibre & DeDRM plugin worked just fine. However, it looks like things have changed and this may mostly have have to do with Barnes & Noble trying to prevent DRM removal.
I just installed the latest version of Calibre for Windows (the version on portableapps.com). Then I downloaded DeDRM 6.6.3 and installed it. However, when I go to customize the plugin the procedure for Barnes & Noble involved entering the username & password for my account which I gather is how DeDRM obtains the keys needed to decrypt (?) protected books. When I do that an error message is displayed which says, “Could not retrieve key. Check username, password, and internet connectivity and try again.”.
I checked immediately by using the same values to sign-in to my Barnes & Noble account using a browser. No problem! This suggests there is nothing wrong with either my network or the values entered.
After a lot of research regarding various changes made by Barnes & Noble, that particularly include removing the ability to download files using either old or new Windows software, it occurs to me that the instructions I’m following might have worked at some prior time but no longer. It might be worth pointing out that the only method I’ve found for successfully downloading book files involves the use of the Android Nook App. Using it I can copy the books to an SD card which can then be read on a computer. Is it possible that DeDRM cannot handle such files?
Any advice on current status of DRM removal for Nook books would be most welcome. While I do very much want to retrieve my books and make them independent of what looks to be very unstable Nook migration (possibly even future disappearance), I’d also like to avoid wasting more time searching for soemthing that doesn’t exist.
As a result, something else that would be appreciated is advice about other book sellers that may be more accommodating to those of us who think that our books are artifacts that should be preserved long into the future and ought not always depend on the seller in order to be able to read them.
Unfortunately the methods of key retrieval that DeDRM uses broke when B&N stopped allowing the old desktop Nook apps to work. If you have your key from your old calibre/DeDRM setup, it may still work. If not, it is possible to find it on a rooted Android device with the Nook app or a rooted Nook device. Incidentally, the Windows 8/10 Nook app still works for downloading the books, and they usually unlock with the same key found on an Android or Nook device logged in to the same account.
I’ve switched to Kobo myself. You can download your books from the website via Adobe Digital Editions 2.0.1 and remove the Adobe DRM with DeDRM. Or you can use the Kobo Desktop app and remove that DRM with the Obok plugin. Always a risk with DRM, but at least you have two different ways to get them free. Hopefully, one or the other will keep working.
I do have the Nook App installed on a Windows 10 computer but I haven’t been able to figure out to download. Some web searches lead me to documentation which said that on the “Library” page you select the “Download” button but I don’t see such a button and haven’t found where it might be hiding.
I’m willing to consider rooting my tablet but would appreciate knowing how to find it (i.e., key) before doing that? May I assume it is a file that I can then transfer to the computer running Calibre and then import using the customization page for DeDRM? If so it sounds like this amounts to finding the proper file.
Also, does such a file exist somewhere on my Windows 10 computer?
The Android app stores the unencrypted key in a root-accessible database. Info in this comment:
https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/comment-page-40/#comment-63891
The key is 28 characters and the last character is an equal sign. Put that in a txt file, but give it a .b64 extension. Import that into the B&N section of DeDRM’s customization.
The Windows app stores the key as an encrypted string.
Very nice! That is what I’m looking for.
However, another thought has come to mind. I’m very much a novice when it comes to Android. Only have one such device at present. However, I do have a fair amount of experience on computers which does include some software development. As a result, I’m thinking it is time to install Android on one of my computers. Could be either Windows or Linux. Some preliminary investigation has me thinking what I might like to have is called Android Studio although it does appear as though there is quite a bit of variety when it comes alternatives. Figuring all that out will take me some time but a simple question comes to mind for for which anyone with Android expertise might know the answer. That would be the following:
Can Android Studio download and run standard apps, such as the Nook App, from the Google Store?
By the way, MANY THANKS for the very helpful replies!!!
David – If you are still thinking “to install Android on one of my computers”, then I would suggest you look for “Android emulators for Windows”, e.g. BlueStacks. I believe that Android Studio is for developing apps, although it does also include an emulator, so it would do what you want. I installed BlueStacks (it’s free) in order to use the Android app “Moon+ Reader Pro” on my Windows laptop as well as my Android phone.
This idea was triggered by the suggestion that I root my tablet. After a little research it became clear that there is some downside to rooting. Since this tablet which I just recently acquired is my only Android device I’m a little hesitant about undertaking experiments. Experimentation is something I do routinely on my computers and they have been configured with that in mind. The mention of emulators in general & Bluestacks in particular would definitely fall into that category. Thanks for introducing that idea. I will look into it. Might very well do both Bluestacks & Android Studio. While development is not the immediate objective it is something I might like to try. I have lots of flexibility when working on computers.
Haven’t tried it myself, but this post may be what you’re looking for:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3710502#post3710502
To download books in the Windows Nook app, click the down arrow on a cloud next to the book cover. EPUBs will be in a hidden folder here:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\BarnesNoble.Nook_ahnzqzva31enc\LocalState
Oh! You mean hiding in plan sight. I think I did that but there is no indication provided that the books are stored locally and I certainly could NOT find a way to place them into my file system in a manner of my choosing. The reference to where they are located does allow me to find them which is very good. Thanks for that. Now I suppose the question becomes, “does the Nook for PC App also provide a method for removing them?”.
Sort of. Right click the book cover. Menu bar comes up from the bottom. Click Archive. This not only removes it from the device, it puts it in the “Archived” area of your B&N cloud library. To get it back with the rest of your Library (but not downloaded), right click anywhere in the library that’s not on a book cover and click Archived. Right click the archived book and click unarchive.
Hi Laura,
when you say “I’ve switched to Kobo myself. You can download your books from the website via Adobe Digital Editions 2.0.1 and remove the Adobe DRM with DeDRM” – do you mean you can use that toolchain for Barnes and Noble? Please excuse my ignorance.
No, I mean that I stopped buying books from B&N and buy from Kobo instead. I removed the DRM from my B&N books before the current issues. And Kobo books have two ways to remove their DRM, both of which are still working at present.
Hi, I updated the plugin to the latest version because the older version didn’t DeDRM my ADE (.acsm) files any longer. But unfortunately when I import the.acsm file in Calibre it doesn’t DeDRM even in the updated version (last time it worked was 3 months ago, then I automatically got a .pdf version of the .ascm file). I can only open the file with ADE when clicking on it in Calibre. I tried to read it with the calibre e-book viewer but then i get the following error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\simple_worker.py”, line 290, in main
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\oeb\iterator\book.py”, line 54, in extract_book
File “site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py”, line 755, in init
ValueError: No plugin to handle input format: acsm
Any suggestions on that? Thanks in advance!
Open the .acsm file in Adobe Digital Editions 2.0.1 authorized with your Adobe ID. Then add the EPUB or PDF file that gets downloaded to the My Digital Editions folder to calibre.
Is there a newer version of Kindle I can use. I have Kindle For PC version 1.17.44183 & until yesterday it was working okay. Today I tried opening the app & it is not responding 😦 Have tried x’ing out & re-opening it but am still stuck in limbo. Would it help to reinstall the version I have?
Kindle for PC 1.17 is still working for me. Don’t know if trying to reinstall would help. If you aren’t able to get it working again, version 1.19 through 1.24 still work with DeDRM. See this post for details:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283371
I tried something totally different. Looked in My Devices & found a few listed. It was set on K4PC 4, which wasn’t working. I switched to K4PC 2 & my reader came up no problem…I’m not sure what the deal is but whatever… It worked 🙂
Set as your Default Device?
Yes. K4PC 2 was on an old computer, while K4PC 4 is the most recent computer I’m using.
Hi there,
Thanks for uploading DeDRM 6.3.3 – unfortunately I have been unable to decode my purchased books.
Tool used – DeDRM Macintosh Application (v6.3.3)
OS I am using – OS X El Capitan (v.10.11.6)
Source of ebook files – downloaded from Kobo, transferred it into Adobe Digital Editions (can read the books there fine but DRM protected)
Error messages – cannot be decoded
Log of the DRM-removal attempt: Please see below
There is 1 ebook to be decrypted.
Processing file: Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in.epub
shellcommand: /usr/bin/python ‘/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/zipfix.py’ ‘/Users/Felix/Documents/Digital Editions/Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in.epub’ ‘/Users/Felix/Desktop/Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in_fixed.epub’ > ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/DeDRM_temp.log’
shellresult:
shellcommand: /usr/bin/python ‘/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/epubtest.py’ ‘/Users/Felix/Desktop/Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in_fixed.epub’ > ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/DeDRM_temp.log’
shellresult: Adobe
shellcommand: /usr/bin/python ‘/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/adobekey.py’ ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/newKeys/’ > ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/DeDRM_temp.log’
shellresult: adobekey.py v6.0
Copyright © 2009-2013 i♥cabbages and Apprentice Alf
Saved a key to /Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/newKeys/adobekey_1.der
shellcommand: /usr/bin/python ‘/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/ineptepub.py’ ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/AdobeKey 5.der’ ‘/Users/Felix/Desktop/Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in_fixed.epub’ ‘/Users/Felix/Desktop/Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in_nodrm.epub’ > ‘/Users/Felix/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/DeDRM_temp.log’
shellresult: Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/ineptepub.py”, line 346, in
AES, RSA = _load_crypto()
File “/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/ineptepub.py”, line 340, in _load_crypto
AES, RSA = loader()
File “/Users/Felix/Downloads/DeDRM_tools_6/DeDRM_Macintosh_Application/DeDRM.app/Contents/Resources/ineptepub.py”, line 138, in _load_crypto_libcrypto
libcrypto = CDLL(libcrypto)
File “/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/ctypes/init.py”, line 365, in init
self._handle = _dlopen(self._name, mode)
OSError: dlopen(/Users/Felix/lib/libcrypto.dylib, 6): no suitable image found. Did find:
/Users/Felix/lib/libcrypto.dylib: mach-o, but wrong architecture
There was an error with 1 ebook:
Simple But Not Easy An autobiographical and biased book about in.epub couldn’t be decoded:
I’d try shortening the file name.
I tried to pull the unencrypted nook key from my rooted android using the instructions below and ran into an error.
https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/comment-page-40/#comment-63891
After I type “adb pull /data/data/bn.ereader/databases/cchashdata.db” I get the error “adb: error: failed to copy ‘/data/data/bn.ereader/databases/cchashdata.db’ to ‘.\cchashdata.db’: remote permission denied”. Do you have any suggestions on getting past this error?
Thank you
Not sure, but you might find something in this thread at GitHub discussing getting the key:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/issues/814
I recently tried to use the standalone app, DeDRM 6.6.3, on Amazon books and it no longer worked. The last time I used it was a year ago so I’m not sure what changed since then other than DeDRM. I’m on a Mac, Mojave 10.14.6 and Kindle 1.17.1. The log has
shellcommand: /usr/bin/python ‘/private/var/folders/pj/fkqs2yx13j778gq55lffhz9c0000gs/T/AppTranslocation/EE864008-4EE5-4D8B-9550-2D9452F5DC26/d/DeDRM-6.6.3.app/Contents/Resources/k4mobidedrm.py’ -k ‘/Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/KindleKey 7.der’ ‘/Users/$USER/Downloads/eConscience Beta.azw3’ ‘/Users/$USER/Downloads/’ > ‘/Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.apprenticealf.dedrm/DeDRM_temp.log’
shellresult: Using Library AlfCrypto DLL/DYLIB/SO
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/private/var/folders/pj/fkqs2yx13j778gq55lffhz9c0000gs/T/AppTranslocation/EE864008-4EE5-4D8B-9550-2D9452F5DC26/d/DeDRM-6.6.3.app/Contents/Resources/k4mobidedrm.py”, line 94, in
import kfxdedrm
File “/private/var/folders/pj/fkqs2yx13j778gq55lffhz9c0000gs/T/AppTranslocation/EE864008-4EE5-4D8B-9550-2D9452F5DC26/d/DeDRM-6.6.3.app/Contents/Resources/kfxdedrm.py”, line 20, in
import ion
File “/private/var/folders/pj/fkqs2yx13j778gq55lffhz9c0000gs/T/AppTranslocation/EE864008-4EE5-4D8B-9550-2D9452F5DC26/d/DeDRM-6.6.3.app/Contents/Resources/ion.py”, line 20, in
from Crypto.Cipher import AES
ImportError: No module named Crypto.Cipher
There was an error with 1 ebook:
eConscience Beta.azw3 couldn’t be decrypted.
So I’m pretty sure I’m missing the python module Crypto.Cipher but I’m not sure where to find it. Anyway, I installed the Calibre plugin and got that working. I’d still like to have the app as an option in case the plugin has issues later.
See this section of the FAQs:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/blob/master/FAQs.md#the-application-opens-but-always-gives-an-error-in-the-log-importerror-no-module-named-cryptocipher
Thank you!
Hi
I have Calibre 2.37.1
Running on OSX
I installed the DeDRM_calibre_plugin from DeDRM_tools_6.6.3.
I tried converting a Kindle book with a .azw3 extension.
I get the message, “Cannot convert [book name]. This book is locked by DRM… etc ”
Do I need another plugin?
Needs to be for an E-ink Kindle (not a Fire), and you need to put the Kindle’s serial number into the DeDRM plugin’s customozation.
Hi. Yes, it was the serial number I hadn’t entered. All working perfectly now. Thanks.
Does Alf’s tool work with latest ADE, eg. ADE 4.5 mac osx?
IMHO no, you should use ADE 2.0. With newer ADE there is also the danger of a newer and different DRM – which so far has not been used to my knowledge on e-Ink-devices. With the newer ADE you run in the risk that you download just bought books with the newer DRM, while the old ADE 2.0 only downloads ebooks with the older DRM which can be removed.
If you get a book which gives an error message and cannot be opened in ADE 2.0 complain to the Adobe support or the place where you bought it.
It depends on whether the bookseller is using the newer Adobe DRM or not. As Ingo said, best way to avoid downloading something you won’t be able remove DRM from is to stick with Adobe 2.0.1.