[sparkyair]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Starting with version 1.19 for most books Kindle for PC and Kindle for Mac use the new KFX format, which is incompatible with calibre.

These books will appear in a subdirectory of the "My Kindle Content" folder, will import into calibre as "AZW" format, and will fail to convert with the error: "KFXError: This is an Amazon KFX book. It cannot be processed."

The following descriptions apply both to Kindle for PC and Kindle for Mac unless one mentioned explicitly.


Method 1 - Revert to an older version of Kindle for PC/Mac

At the moment Kindle version 1.17 is still available from Amazon and can be installed to work around this problem. I suggest following steps:

• Launch Kindle and under the menu choice "Tools", "Options", "General", uncheck "Automatically install updates when they are available without asking me."
• Exit the Kindle program.
• Delete the contents of the "My Kindle Content" folder within your "Documents" folder.
• Download version 1.17 of Kindle. It is safest to download it directly from Amazon, instead of going to a third party site. Direct links are https://s3.amazonaws.com/kindleforpc...1.17.44170.exe for PC and https://s3.amazonaws.com/kindleforma...rMac-44182.dmg for Mac.
• Install the downloaded version 1.17 software.
• Launch it and check that the option to automatically install updates is still turned off.
• Kindle may need to be registered by signing in to your Amazon account within the program. Some users have reported being unable to sign in to their Amazon account within Kindle for PC once version 1.17 is reinstalled. If that occurs go to the Amazon website and on the manage your content and devices page, and on the "Your Devices" tab locate "Kindle for PC" (or Mac) and deregister it using the "..." "Actions" menu. Wait a few minutes for it to take affect and try to sign in again. (If all else fails then re-install and register again and start over with step 1.)
• If asked if you want to update to the new version always reject it. ("Skip" the update.)
• Re-download your books and import into calibre as before.

Method 2 - Disable KFX support in Kindle for PC/Mac

As an alternative, a method is available to prevent version 1.19 (and possibly version 1.20) from making use of KFX format.

• Exit the Kindle version 1.19 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

• 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.

Method 3 - Use an e-ink Kindle instead

If you have an e-ink Kindle device registered to your Amazon account you have the option of downloading books directly from Amazon instead of using Kindle for PC/Mac.

• From the Amazon website access "Account & Lists" -> "Manage Your Content and Devices".
• Find a book you want to import into calibre and press the "..." button in the "Actions" column for that book.
• In the menu that pops up choose "Download & transfer via USB". Then select the name of your registered kindle device in the drop down menu and press the "Download" button.
• Import the downloaded file into calibre as you would a file from Kindle for PC. You will need to select the proper folder containing the downloaded file. (This folder will be different from the "My Kindle Content" folder used by Kindle for PC.)
• Users of the DRM Tools should refer to Apprentice Alf's Blog for information on the configuration required to support books downloaded for an e-ink Kindle.

I used method two and it worked like a charm!!!!!