Version 6.6.0 released on 5 April, 2018
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.
calibre isnt loading my book at all. anyone have this problem?
calibre windows 10 desktop kindle pc
Remove the DeDRM plugin. Does the problem persist? If so, not a plugin problem. Ask in the calibre forum at MobileRead.
i installed an older calibre version and it works but now converts with bad text and image formatting
If it converts, then the DRM is removed (or there wasn’t any). For conversion issues, ask at MobileRead in the calibre forums or whatever you’re using to convert it.
This is to Laura in the comment thread I made, since I can’t reply directly for some reason. I can see what you mean with regards to the lack of interest in supporting Kindle for Android because Kindle for PC/Mac can support basically all e-books. The thing is that with the e-book I was trying to deDRM, it wasn’t available for Kindle for PC or regular Kindle e-readers (except for the Kindle Oasis). And I am assuming no one’s been able to figure out how to remove the DRM from Kindle Fire e-books as of yet. I’m not sure how many e-books are like the one I was trying to deDRM, but having a working method to do so for the Android Amazon Kindle app would be good as a “just in case.”
If someone were to figure out a way, I’m sure Apprentice Harper would be willing to incorporate it into the tools if possible.
And you’re right, no one’s found out how to get keys for Kindle Fire devices as far as I’m aware.
As it stands now, I don’t think anyone will try to figure out a way to remove the DRM from the newer Kindle for Android apps because, as was previously mentioned, the Kindle for PC application is much easier to use in terms of working with the tools. I certainly don’t have the talent to figure out a way, and anyways, in my experience, there are only three e-books that aren’t supported by the Kindle for PC application.
Hi all, I’d like to know if there’ll be a 64-bit version of the tools in the near future, i.e., before macOS 10.14 arrives. Thank you very much.
No idea. What problem have you seen with the current plugin?
Paul, I don’t think there is a problem with the CURRENT plug-in; rather the concern is that with the arrival of macOS 10.14 later this year, only 64-bit applications will be allowed to run. Now whether this means that Calibre plug-ins have to also be 64-bit is unknown (can a 64-bit Calibre use a 32-bit plugin internally while running as a 64-bit application on macOS?) but the standalone Mac version of the tools WILL have to be 64-bit to run on macOS 10.14.
Exactly. Thanks.
I am facing a new DR System:
CARE (“Content & Author Rights Environment”) developped by TEA (“The eBook Alternative”).
Is there any chance to get rid of it?
Not with these tools right now. Where is it being used?
It’s based on Readiums “Open Source Technology for EPUB 3 and the Open Web Platform”. (https://readium.github.io/). It might be used by libraries in Europe and companies who don’t want to go further with Adobe. It’s said that the most important ebook reader suppliers are willing to implement it. There is a comprehensive description on Readiums website.
If it gets used by stores and someone figures it out, I imagine that the Apprentices would be willing to incorporate it into these tools. If only libraries adopt it, then no.
I posted a long comment which seems to have disappeared when I was asked to log in when posting. I’ll repost a short version.
My problem is that the epub generated by obok has a non-functional table-of-contents when read by iBooks in iOS. It works fine in the Mac version of iBooks, but in iOS iBooks all toc links take me to the cover image.
I used the Obok DeDRM 6.5.4 plugin in calibre 3.21.0 to convert a kobo book from kobo desktop 4.6.7093 to DRM free epub. I’m running on MacOS 10.13.4 and iOS 11.2.6. I ran “calibre-debug -g” during the conversion and the short log file had no error messages, only “success” messages.
The “edit book” program in calibre gives 54 warnings for the resulting epub. The first few are:
CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [645:2: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [679:2: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
CSS: MediaQuery: Missing token for production media_type: (‘IDENT’, u’amzn-kf8′, 742, 12) [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Fonts Module Level 3 @font-face properties” property: “../fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf” [6:2: src] [OEBPS/styles/vintage_style.css]
The file OEBPS/fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf has a mimetype that does not match its extension [OEBPS/content.opf]
Non-linear items in the spine [OEBPS/content.opf]
CSS: Property: Unknown Property name. [1:13: -webkit-text-combine] [OEBPS/pages/about_author.xhtml]
and then another 46 similar errors that all start “CSS: Property: Unknown Property name. [1:13: -webkit-text-combine]”
and ends with
The file OEBPS/pages/nav.xhtml is not referenced [OEBPS/pages/nav.xhtml]
CSS: Property: Unknown Property name. [1:13: -webkit-text-combine] [OEBPS/pages/notes.xhtml]
CSS: Property: Unknown Property name. [1:13: -webkit-text-combine] [OEBPS/pages/story_page.xhtml]
CSS: Property: Unknown Property name. [1:13: -webkit-text-combine] [OEBPS/pages/title_page.xhtml]
The file rights.xml is not listed in the manifest [rights.xml]
The table of contents looks fine in “edit book” and works fine on the Mac, both in calibre viewer and iBooks reader, but not in iOS.
Obok doesn’t do really any conversion. Kepubs are just epubs with some extra tags.
You could try downloading the epub via ADE and then using DeDRM. See if that version has the same issue.
Thanks for the suggestion, Laura! I just tried that now, but it still has exactly the same problem. In fact, in iBooks on iOS, every entry in the table of contents opens an image of the cover, which returns to the table of contents when you close it. The same file works correctly on other readers on the Mac, and even in iBooks on the Mac.
I should have mentioned that, doing it this way, “edit books” only reports 9 problems when I check the file:
ERROR: The meta cover tag has content before name [OEBPS/content.opf]
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [645:2: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [679:2: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
ERROR: CSS: MediaQuery: Missing token for production media_type: (‘IDENT’, u’amzn-kf8′, 742, 12) [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Fonts Module Level 3 @font-face properties” property: “../fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf” [6:2: src] [OEBPS/styles/vintage_style.css]
WARNING: The file OEBPS/fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf has a mimetype that does not match its extension [OEBPS/content.opf]
WARNING: Non-linear items in the spine [OEBPS/content.opf]
WARNING: The linked resource ‘../../js/kobo.js’ does not exist [OEBPS/pages/nav.xhtml]
WARNING: The file OEBPS/pages/nav.xhtml is not referenced [OEBPS/pages/nav.xhtml]
iOS iBooks still has the problem with this file. If I let it fix problems automatically, it fixes all but 4 problems:
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [664:3: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Level 2.1” property: 99vh [699:3: height] [OEBPS/styles/style.css]
ERROR: CSS: Property: Invalid value for “CSS Fonts Module Level 3 @font-face properties” property: “../fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf” [6:3: src] [OEBPS/styles/vintage_style.css]
WARNING: The file OEBPS/fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf is not referenced [OEBPS/fonts/AvenirLTPro-Heavy.otf]
and iOS iBooks still has the problem with this file.
Solution! Letting calibre convert from epub to epub with page-setup input-profile set to “nook” seems to have resulted in a file that reads properly everywhere.
You did it all wrong. What you want is to install the Modify ePub plugin for Calibre. You can use it to remove all javascript code and all kepub code and turn the kepub into an ePub. But really, the best way to do this is to go back to Kobo,com and download the eBook as ePub.
The epub had the same problem as the kepub.
Hello. I recently got a few comics gifted by a friend with NOOK Books because it was the only digital service that sold the comics. Initially I had no way to acess them in PC as I am not american. Got a friend to DL them through the W10 app which is not available to me. I got them now, and they’re DRM’d to hell. Got Calibre. Installed both plugins correctly. But DRM is not removed. I know, I know. BN is more complicated and has a key. Okay, well, under configurations for DRM removal in BN I added my account mail and credit card. Dunno what to put on the name of the key.. put a random o ne.. still didn’t work after resetting the program.
Can anyone please TELL me how can I remove the DRM correctly, please?
Unfortunately, with comics, you may be out of luck. The DRM is sometimes handled differently when downloading with the Windows 10 Nook app. Try downloading them with the old Nook for PC program. Available here:
http://images.barnesandnoble.com/PResources/download/eReader2/bndr2_setup_latest.exe
If you can’t download them with that program, then there’s no good way to remove the DRM. If you can, then you should be fine. And, yes, you can put in whatever name you want for your B&N key. As long as the email and password are correct, it should retrieve a working key.
The Obok plugin can’t find the Kobo folder.
calibre, version 3.21.0
ERROR: Obok DeDRM v6.5.4:
Could not find Kobo Library
Windows/Mac: do you have Kobo Desktop installed?
Windows/Mac/Linux: In case you have an Kobo eInk device, connect the device.
I have the desktop installed on a Win10 and I’m logged in, so I know everything is there. I assume it’s looking for something than:
C:\Users\Name\AppData\Local\Packages\KoboInc.KoboBooks_v*********0\LocalState\DownloadedBooks
but that is the default folder created by the app when I recently downloaded it. How can I change the folder the plugin looks for? Or, if I can’t, can you tell me what the path it’s trying to find is and will simply creating it and pasting the books into it work? Thanx.
Are you using the Windows 10 Kobo app? You need the Kobo Desktop program:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/p/desktop
I was pretty sure I was. Your link even took me to the page I remembered. But, just to be sure, I uninstalled and downloaded the exe, which ended up having the same file name as the one I already downloaded a couple days ago. However, when I installed it, I saw that it was a completely different interface–more robust. So I tried again and it all went off without a hitch. Thanx.
I’ve installed DeDRM 6.6.0, as well as KFX input 1.3.0.
I’m able to import KFX files – and they appear in the library. However, when I try to actually open them in Calibre – it simply tries to re-add them again?
I’m not sure that calibre has a viewer for kfx files. Can you convert them to ePub? If so, the DRM has been removed.
You can view a KFX book within calibre. Right click the book entry in the calibre library and from the menu choose “View” and then “View with calibre E-book viewer”. This will be slow since the book will be converted from KFX to EPUB each time it is viewed this way. One alternative is convert to EPUB first and then view that.
Another way to view KFX is using Kindle Previewer 3 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1003018611). See “Open KFX with Kindle Previewer 3” (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3288333&postcount=2).
I am not able to import Amazon KFX format ebooks into calibre using the DeDRM plugin. The ebooks were all purchased directly from Amazon. Per the plugin readme file, I installed an earlier version of Kindle for PC to prevent downloads of the new format. Calibre still recognizes the KFX format.
calibre version 3.21.0
DeDRM tool 6.6.0
Kindle for PC 1.16.0
Windows 8.1
Full details and debug log here:
https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/issues/492
Replied over at GitHub.
I am not able to convert .azw downloaded using “download and transfer via USB” on a Mac.
calibre Debug log
calibre 3.20 embedded-python: True is64bit: True
Darwin-17.5.0-x86_64-i386-64bit Darwin (’64bit’, ”)
(‘Darwin’, ‘17.5.0’, ‘Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Mon Mar 5 22:24:32 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.51.1~1/RELEASE_X86_64’)
Python 2.7.12
OSX: (‘10.13.4’, (”, ”, ”), ‘x86_64′)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 0)
calibre 3.20 embedded-python: True is64bit: True
Darwin-17.5.0-x86_64-i386-64bit Darwin (’64bit’, ”)
(‘Darwin’, ‘17.5.0’, ‘Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Mon Mar 5 22:24:32 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.51.1~1/RELEASE_X86_64’)
Python 2.7.12
OSX: (‘10.13.4’, (”, ”, ”), ‘x86_64’)
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 0)
devicePixelRatio: 2.0
logicalDpi: 72.0 x 72.0
physicalDpi: 113.500001705 x 113.500001705
Using calibre Qt style: True
[0.00] Starting up…
[0.03] Showing splash screen…
[0.22] splash screen shown
[0.22] Initializing db…
[0.25] db initialized
[0.25] Constructing main UI…
[1.52] main UI initialized…
[1.52] Hiding splash screen
[1.57] splash screen hidden
[1.57] Started up in 1.57 seconds with 153 books
2018-04-19 17:27:05.788 Calibre[11165:3448654] deliverNotificationWithTitle()
* Notification delivered.
That log isn’t showing the book getting added. But did you choose an E-ink Kindle? Did you enter its serial number into the plugin customization?