’T is a sad, sad time for Kindle peeps as Amazon has been aggressively blocking methods for obtaining Kindle ebooks that work with calibre.
For those who have been using
DeDRM v10.0.9 beta/RC or the
alpha release, here's where things stand.
Note: If you have questions about installing, setting up, or using DeDRM, ask on
GitHub. Detailed help on the aforementioned topics is not permitted on MobileRead.
Method 1: Download & transfer via USB
Starting February 26, 2025, Download & Transfer via USB was removed from Amazon's website and is no longer available. If you have an eink Kindle, see Method 3.
Method 2a: Kindle for PC
Kindle for PC generally works as a method for retrieving Kindle ebooks if: 1) the book was
published before April 23, 2025, 2) you are using older versions of K4PC, such as
1.17 or 2.4.0 (70904) aka 2.4.70904, and 3) the book does not have super-duper encryption (e.g., textbooks, etc.). If you are using a version that downloads KFX (such as 2.4.0), you will also need the
KFX Input plugin.
Spoiler:
- 1.17 downloads KF8/azw3. All other versions download KFX.
- 1.17 can be found on third-party sites. Google is your friend.
- 2.4.0 (70904) aka 2.4.70904 may be downloaded from Amazon. If the link stops working, try third-party sites. Google is your friend.
- Current versions of K4PC (i.e., anything newer than 2.4.0) are problematic. To block automatic updates, run DNSB's disable_k4pc_download.bat file. Also remove the checkmark from Tools > Options > General > Automatically install updates when they are available without asking me, though there are reports of forced updates even when this box is unchecked, thus the .bat file.
- The default location for ebooks is your Documents > My Kindle Content folder. Import the .azw file into calibre (you can ignore the other files). If you're using anything newer than 1.17, such as 2.4.0, you will get KFX, in which case you will need the KFX Input plugin installed. If you get KFX-ZIP, the import probably failed, though in some cases it's worth deleting the book from your Kindle and trying again.
Method 2b: Kindle for Mac
Kindle for Mac is basically dead as a method to retrieve ebooks that work with calibre with an extremely limited exception.
Spoiler:
If you have v7.24 or earlier, it will work in an
extremely limited fashion provided you have the
KFX Input plugin installed. However, current versions of Kindle for Mac (starting with v7.25.1 and later) do NOT work with calibre, and 1.40.x, which previously worked, has been disabled and can't even be used to download and read ebooks within the app.
- Kindle for Mac 7.x is available from the Mac App Store. If you don't already have v7.24 or earlier, you might be able to obtain 7.1 if you try this.
- If you do have 7.24 or earlier, look for ebooks in User > Library > Containers > Kindle > Data > Library > eBooks. Import the .azw8 file into calibre (you can ignore the other files). If you get KFX, it worked; however, most will import as KFX-ZIP, in which case you will need to try another method, possibly involving virtual machine software (VM confirmed to work on silicon Macs for at least one Mac user on GitHub).
Method 3: eink Kindle
If you have an eink Kindle (including the new
2024 models) and are able to download ebooks directly to your Kindle via WiFi, try connecting the Kindle to a computer via USB cable and importing the ebook file (.kfx, .azw3, .azw, .mobi) from Kindle into calibre using drag-and-drop or
calibre's Add Books function. More info
here.
Spoiler:
This method has been reported to work with firmware up to
5.18.3; however
5.18.4 may have the potential for unbreakable DRM. As has been noted, with Amazon's recent aggressive actions, it wouldn't be surprising if Method 3
stops working for some or all devices and/or ebooks at some point.
If your eink Kindle was released in 2013 or later running firmware v5.6.5 or newer,
make sure you have the KFX Input plugin installed and read the instructions on how to import ebooks. You will get mostly KFX (older books may result in older formats, like .mobi). If you have a black-and-white Kindle, covers and images will be black-and-white; if you have a color Kindle, covers and images will be in color. If you get KFX-ZIP, it probably failed, though in some cases it's worth deleting the book from your Kindle and trying again (
more info).
If you have a pre-2013 eink Kindle running firmware older than v5.6.5, you will get mostly KF8/azw3 with color covers and images (older books may result in older formats, like .mobi). More info on older Kindle models and their usefulness in obtaining KF8 from jhowell:
here
Method 4: Kindle for Android on PC & Mac
There has been
some success in obtaining workable Kindle ebooks by using Android emulator software (available for both PC and Mac) to run older versions of Kindle for Android. This became more complicated on May 26, 2025, when
Amazon rolled out changes that interfered with these efforts; however, some have persevered. For the latest in this arena, see:
DRM workaround: Kindle for Android.
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Note: There may be additional tools floating around the Internet. Keep in mind that given Amazon's aggressive stance when it comes to squashing ways to liberate Kindle ebooks, the more attention and chatter any new tool gets, the more likely it will be blocked, rendering it useless to all. If a developer would like their tool to be added to this post, I will gladly do so; otherwise, discretion will be exercised.