Here's how to remove ebook DRM, so you can read your purchases on any of your multiple devices, including competing e-readers.
1. Install Calibre
Calibre is free epub programme and it is available for download here. Other than Windows, there are also versions available for OSX and Linux.
2. Install the DRM-remover
Download and install the DeDRM Tool here. You'll download a .zip file containing three folders and a readme.txt file; unzip them to a new folder on your desktop.
Now fire up Calibre, and click the large Preference button on the top menu, far right hand side. Select the "Change Calibre behaviour" option, then scroll down to the advanced section before clicking on Plugins.
A new screen will pop up, and you need to click the "Load plugin from file" button at the bottom right corner.
Point the software to the folder you unzipped Alf's tools to, then click on the DeDRM_calibre_plugin folder.
Then highlight the DeDRM_plugin.zip file, and hit the Open button. Click Yes when the virus warning starts up. Shut down Calibre, and then fire it up once more.
3. Download Python and PyCrypto
For older PCs, you may need to download Python and PyCrypto. Get them here and here.
4. Download the AZW Books with the Old Kindle
Download the old kindle here.
As an alternative, a method is available to prevent versions 1.19 and 1.20 from making use of KFX format. (Reported to also work with Kindle for Mac version 1.20.2.). Exit the Kindle program. Open a command window (PC) or terminal window (Mac). Cut and paste the appropriate command for your operating system to disable the renderer-test program.
PC:
ren %localappdata%\Amazon\Kindle\application\renderer-test.exe renderer-test.xxx
Mac:
chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test
This prevents the renderer-test program from executing, blocking the use of KFX.
PC Note: The renderer-test program may be in a different location in some Kindle for PC installations. If the rename command fails look in other folders, such as C:\Program Files\Amazon\Kindle.
Mac Note: If the chmod command fails with a permission error try again using sudo.
After restarting the Kindle program any books previously downloaded in KFX format will no longer open. You will need to remove them from your device and re-download them. All future downloads will use the older Kindle formats instead of KFX although they will continue to be placed in one individual subdirectory per book.
3. Download Python and PyCrypto
For older PCs, you may need to download Python and PyCrypto. Get them here and here.
4. Download the AZW Books with the Old Kindle
Download the old kindle here.
As an alternative, a method is available to prevent versions 1.19 and 1.20 from making use of KFX format. (Reported to also work with Kindle for Mac version 1.20.2.). Exit the Kindle program. Open a command window (PC) or terminal window (Mac). Cut and paste the appropriate command for your operating system to disable the renderer-test program.
PC:
ren %localappdata%\Amazon\Kindle\application\renderer-test.exe renderer-test.xxx
Mac:
chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test
This prevents the renderer-test program from executing, blocking the use of KFX.
PC Note: The renderer-test program may be in a different location in some Kindle for PC installations. If the rename command fails look in other folders, such as C:\Program Files\Amazon\Kindle.
Mac Note: If the chmod command fails with a permission error try again using sudo.
After restarting the Kindle program any books previously downloaded in KFX format will no longer open. You will need to remove them from your device and re-download them. All future downloads will use the older Kindle formats instead of KFX although they will continue to be placed in one individual subdirectory per book.
5. Run the Programme
Now that all of the hard work is done, you can simply remove DRM by importing books into Calibre's library.
If you already have your books stored on your PC, simply drag and drop them into Calibre's main window. If you're taking books off your e-Reader, plug it into your PC via USB.
Using File Explorer, drag and drop the e-Books from your e-Reader into Calibre's main window, and all that nasty DRM will be stripped out. However, Kindle users will need to jump through a few extra hoop first.
Head back into Calibre's Preferences menu, then go to Advanced, then Plugins, then double click the line called "File type plugins".
You'll see the DeDRM plugin; double click it. Select the first entry "eInk Kindle ebooks", then click the green plus button in the new window.
A small empty window will pop up, and this needs your Kindle's serial number.
Finding the serial number varies depending on the version of Kindle you're using – on our older 4th Gen Kindle, the serial number was found on page two of the Kindle's "Settings" screen.
To find where your serial, simply type "serial location", along with the model name of your Kindle, into Google.
Once you've got the serial number, type it into the Calibre window, removing any spaces as you go. Click Close, then OK – you should now be back at the Calibre Preferences Plugins window – click Apply in the top right.
Now head back to File Explorer and navigate to the area on your Kindle that stores your books. You'll notice that each book has several files associated with it.
Our copy of Doctor Sleep By Stephen King actually had five different file types - *.apnx, *.azw3, *.ea, *.han and *.phl.
Drag and drop every file associated with the book into the main Calibre window – as you can see in our screenshot, a warning will pop up about duplicates.
Click the "Select None" button, and then OK. Voila, you'll see your book now in Calibre's main Window, and it's 100% DRM free.
For some reason, our book showed up twice in the list, but only one of them worked – we removed the other by right clicking it and selecting "remove book".
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