DRM workaround: Kindle for Android

[JudahsShadow]

Originally Posted by rand_kindle_user

I pushed KfA 8.51.1.0 via adb, as DSNB mentioned a couple of pages ago, and that let me download the aforementioned 2024 book, albeit in KFX. deDRM-ing it using the key from KfA 4.16.0.75 worked fine.

I am a bit bummed that the result is a KFX rather than azw3, but converting it to epub via the KFX-input context menu (rather than via Calibre's normal conversion menu) gives a result indistinguishable from how the KFX looks on my phone--though the formatting of the book is a fairly minimal one.

Yeah, I am currently going through my library of books that I had gotten behind on downloading. And since the download to transfer with USB went away, and I got Bluestacks working, I'm getting maybe 1 in 4 that successfully download via 4.16.0.75 (I just attempted 24, and got 6 that actually downloaded). Good to know that the newer one works with the older key in case K4PC stops working for me

[Kuram]

Can someone point me towards instruction on how to setup bluestacks (which version of the app, how to setup the program, etc). Thanks.

[Ma'am-I-Am]

Originally Posted by Kuram

Can someone point me towards instruction on how to setup bluestacks (which version of the app, how to setup the program, etc). Thanks.

Did you not see page 1 of this thread/topic?

[Kuram]

Yes... though it seems I missed one of the links, sorry about that.
Are the app/program versions still accurate?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Kuram

Yes... though it seems I missed one of the links, sorry about that.
Are the app/program versions still accurate?

Pretty much yes. I did the 64 bit BlueStacks install (5.11.1.1004 P64) and then the K4A 4.16.0.75 install. You will then need to register and export the encryption key. After this, I updated to K4A 8.51.1.0.

It's not the greatest since the K4A app closes itself on occasion but it does work and I prefer the KF8/azw3 files from this method.

[xyzzy_foo]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Pretty much yes. I did the 64 bit BlueStacks install (5.11.1.1004 P64) and then the K4A 4.16.0.75 install. You will then need to register and export the encryption key. After this, I updated to K4A 8.51.1.0.

It's not the greatest since the K4A app closes itself on occasion but it does work and I prefer the KF8/azw3 files from this method.

The bug where KFX downloads are rejected and KF8 (AZW3) is received instead is specific to BlueStacks Nougat; Pie, on the other hand, should have correctly received KFX.
Also, DeDRM accepts keys even for K4A version 4.17.0.146, even though it's actually a slightly newer version.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by xyzzy_foo

The bug where KFX downloads are rejected and KF8 (AZW3) is received instead is specific to BlueStacks Nougat; Pie, on the other hand, should have correctly received KFX.
Also, DeDRM accepts keys even for K4A version 4.17.0.146, even though it's actually a slightly newer version.

Just a quick note. You do need the alpha version of DeDRM. That's the auto-generated version from the latest code. It was last updated in November 2024 (I think).

[Kuram]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Pretty much yes. I did the 64 bit BlueStacks install (5.11.1.1004 P64) and then the K4A 4.16.0.75 install. You will then need to register and export the encryption key. After this, I updated to K4A 8.51.1.0.

It's not the greatest since the K4A app closes itself on occasion but it does work and I prefer the KF8/azw3 files from this method.

Thanks, this works for me. By the way I read elsewhere in the thread that you had a batch file to pull the downloads from Bluestacks, is that something you could share?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Kuram

Thanks, this works for me. By the way I read elsewhere in the thread that you had a batch file to pull the downloads from Bluestacks, is that something you could share?

You can find it in the Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre thread in message #874

Edit: Credit @DuckieTigger with his original version of the code which I've modified a bit. It was a lot more elegant than my original code

[fenny]

Could not for the life of me get adb backup to work, but the following worked with root enabled to pull the map_data_storage.db file directly:

adb shell su -c "cp /data/data/com.amazon.kindle/databases/map_data_storage.db /sdcard/"
adb pull /sdcard/map_data_storage.db

[xyzzy_foo]

Originally Posted by fenny

Could not for the life of me get adb backup to work, but the following worked with root enabled to pull the map_data_storage.db file directly

adb backup only works with Nougat, not Pie. BlueStacks support on Reddit confirms this. I think it's exceptional that it works with Nougat.
I recommend using Nougat because only Nougat can receive KF8 (AZW3).

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by fenny

Could not for the life of me get adb backup to work, but the following worked with root enabled to pull the map_data_storage.db file directly:

adb shell su -c "cp /data/data/com.amazon.kindle/databases/map_data_storage.db /sdcard/"
adb pull /sdcard/map_data_storage.db

Several other people have reported the same issue. For most of them, your workaround worked for them as well though it does give a rather large file to dig the key out of.

[pansutodeus]

Many thanks for this amazing guide , a little question, if I pull all the books from the emulator can i put them all in a single folder or that will break stuff? I mean, having all the prc, and ast in the same folder since doing it one by one is slow, i am using the high res workaround

[DNSB]

I pull the books from the emulator to a directory on my computer and then use calibre's Add from folders and sub-folders to add all the transferred books to calibre.

[xyzzy_foo]

PSA: The BlueStacks K4A method will be discontinued on May 26, 2025.