Decrypting Kobo purchases - Page 3

A Lurker · 10-17-2025, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

It's definitely possible, but Kobo hasn't announced any kind of cutoff date AFAIK. The fact that KDA isn't being updated, doesn't work with current Kobo models, and has been officially replaced by the Kobo web reader doesn't bode well for its longevity, though.

Is there any concern they'll remove the ability to download books from their website, like Amazon did?

Aleron Ives · 10-17-2025, 11:34 PM

That seems less likely, since Kobo has never required you to buy one of its e-readers to access the books you buy from its store; however, since Adobe no longer maintains ADE and Tolino/Kobo is experimenting with LCP support, it could be possible that Kobo will replace ADE downloads with LCP downloads at some point. There's no way to know.

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 12:58 AM

If I understand this correctly, the intended purpose of the download feature on Kobo's website is so that you can read the book on any device? You download the acsm file from the website to your PC, open it in ADE, and then use ADE to export the epub onto the device of your choosing. Is that right?

If the epub is DRMed, how does it work on whatever device you export it to? Do you have to enter the device's serial number in ADE, so that the file will be keyed to that device (i.e. will be able to be opened on, and limited to, that device)?

Aleron Ives · 10-18-2025, 01:15 AM

The download option allows you to read the book on any device that supports Adobe's ADEPT encryption scheme. You "authorise" your device over the Internet with your Adobe account, and as long as you redeem the ACSM file with the same Adobe account, you can read the resulting EPUB file on that device. Kobo uses Adobe's RMSDK engine to read EPUB files, and since it's Adobe's engine, it supports Adobe's encryption scheme.

The main use for ACSM files around here, though, is that it's the easiest way to decrypt your Kobo purchases, since Calibre has an ACSM input plugin that allows you to redeem the ACSM file and decrypt the resulting EPUB in a single step. This means you don't need ADE or an Adobe account at all.

AFAIK the only benefit to using Kobo Desktop is that it allows bulk downloads, whereas you can only download ACSM files from the Kobo website one by one. As long as you keep up with your purchases and decrypt them in a timely manner, you never need to mess with KDA at all.

Sirtel · 10-18-2025, 03:22 AM

Just a note - you do need an Adobe account for the ACSM input plugin, else it won't be able to fetch and deDRM your book.

Edit: it seems I was wrong and you can authorize the plugin with an anonymous ID.

JSWolf · 10-18-2025, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

If you will be using kepub with an eInk device, you would have a Kobo ereader. You can sync the kepubs to that ereader and then use OBOK to copy them into calibre. No need for the Kobo desktop application to be installed.

No need for Kobo Desktop anyway. I use DeACSM and download ePub. I don't sync with my Libra 2.

JSWolf · 10-18-2025, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Lurker

Thanks. This worked. I'm all set now.

I just read that Kobo has ended support for its desktop app. Does that render my efforts doubly academic? Are we expecting the ability to download books through KDA to go away soon?

Your still best to download ePub.

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Just a note - you do need an Adobe account for the ACSM input plugin, else it won't be able to fetch and deDRM your book.

I don't remember signing up for an Adobe account, but I must have because the DeACSM plugin works for me. (My first attempt at downloading Kobo books was years ago, so it's not crazy that I've forgotten the original steps I took.) I just checked the plugin to see if I'd associated an Adobe account. On the customization screen it says:

"Authorized with ADE ID (Adobe ID) <username> on device <my PC> emulating ADE 2.0.1 (9.3.58046)."

But I don't see where I entered my ADE ID in the plugin? There are buttons for authorizing ereaders and other stuff, but no button to input your ADE account info? I'm curious incase I ever need to change or re-enter it.

I looked for the DeACSM plugin's "ReadMe.txt", but I don't have a zip for the DeACSM plug in. Is it a standalone or is it packaged with the DeDRM tools zip? Again, just curious in case I ever need to reinstall the DeACSM plugin.

Sirtel · 10-18-2025, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Lurker

I don't remember signing up for an Adobe account, but I must have because the DeACSM plugin works for me. (My first attempt at downloading Kobo books was years ago, so it's not crazy that I've forgotten the original steps I took.) I just checked the plugin to see if I'd associated an Adobe account. On the customization screen it says:

"Authorized with ADE ID (Adobe ID) <username> on device <my PC> emulating ADE 2.0.1 (9.3.58046)."

But I don't see where I entered my ADE ID in the plugin? There are buttons for authorizing ereaders and other stuff, but no button to input your ADE account info? I'm curious incase I ever need to change or re-enter it.

I looked for the DeACSM plugin's "ReadMe.txt", but I don't have a zip for the DeACSM plug in. Is it a standalone or is it packaged with the DeDRM tools zip? Again, just curious in case I ever need to reinstall the DeACSM plugin.

I think you only see the activation/authorization option when you've not authorized the plugin yet.

And I'm sorry, I was wrong about needing an Adobe account. You can actually authorize the plugin with an anonymous ID. I no longer remembered that - like you, it's been several years since I authorized mine.

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 11:40 AM

Is DeACSM v0.0.16 the latest version?

https://github.com/Leseratte10/acsm-...es/tag/v0.0.16

Martinoptic · 10-18-2025, 11:51 AM

No. But it works well enough.
Version 0.1.0 is the latest though it is in beta so not so easy to find.
Thanks to @gbm for the link in the post here

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

Version 0.1.0 is the latest though it is in beta so not so easy to find.
Thanks to @gbm for the link in the post here

When I try loading that into Calibre I get an error message. It says the file is invalid. "It does not contain a top-level _init_.py file".

EDIT: I just found these instructions that say to double-click the file "bundle_calibre_plugin.sh", select "run", and it will create the zip to import into Calibre. But that doesn't work for me. When I double-click the file, it asks me to select a specific application to open it with.

Martinoptic · 10-18-2025, 02:54 PM

@dnsb uploaded this which I used, importing the zip into plugins. Does that help at all?
You will need to restart calibre twice.

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

@dnsb uploaded this which I used, importing the zip into plugins. Does that help at all?
You will need to restart calibre twice.

Thanks. DeACSM v 0.0.16 is working fine for me, so I'll stick with that. I already over-complicated things by trying to get books from the Kobo desktop app, which was unnecessary since I can download them from the Kobo website. I'm gonna quit while I'm ahead.

A Lurker · 10-18-2025, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Use calibre and then install DeACSM, DeDRM, and download ePub (do not download KePub).

So that I'm clear, if I'm downloading epubs from the Kobo website and importing them into Calibre, do I only need the DeDRM and DeACSM plugins?

Do I also need the Obok plugin? Or is Obok plugin only used for importing books from the Kobo Desktop App and devices?

I currently have the Obok plugin installed. I'm just wondering if I need to worry about keeping it up-to-date moving forward, since I plan to stick with website downloads and no longer get books from the KDA.

10-18-2025, 03:22 AM	#35
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,970 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Just a note - you do need an Adobe account for the ACSM input plugin, else it won't be able to fetch and deDRM your book. Edit: it seems I was wrong and you can authorize the plugin with an anonymous ID. Last edited by Sirtel; 10-18-2025 at 10:50 AM.

10-18-2025, 11:51 AM	#41
Martinoptic Bibliophist Posts: 7,501 Karma: 7237230 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: England Device: none	No. But it works well enough. Version 0.1.0 is the latest though it is in beta so not so easy to find. Thanks to @gbm for the link in the post here Last edited by Martinoptic; 10-18-2025 at 12:22 PM. Reason: Link

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10-17-2025, 11:34 PM	#32
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,768 Karma: 16319690 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	That seems less likely, since Kobo has never required you to buy one of its e-readers to access the books you buy from its store; however, since Adobe no longer maintains ADE and Tolino/Kobo is experimenting with LCP support, it could be possible that Kobo will replace ADE downloads with LCP downloads at some point. There's no way to know.

10-18-2025, 12:58 AM	#33
A Lurker Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 335288 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle	If I understand this correctly, the intended purpose of the download feature on Kobo's website is so that you can read the book on any device? You download the acsm file from the website to your PC, open it in ADE, and then use ADE to export the epub onto the device of your choosing. Is that right? If the epub is DRMed, how does it work on whatever device you export it to? Do you have to enter the device's serial number in ADE, so that the file will be keyed to that device (i.e. will be able to be opened on, and limited to, that device)?

10-18-2025, 01:15 AM	#34
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,768 Karma: 16319690 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	The download option allows you to read the book on any device that supports Adobe's ADEPT encryption scheme. You "authorise" your device over the Internet with your Adobe account, and as long as you redeem the ACSM file with the same Adobe account, you can read the resulting EPUB file on that device. Kobo uses Adobe's RMSDK engine to read EPUB files, and since it's Adobe's engine, it supports Adobe's encryption scheme. The main use for ACSM files around here, though, is that it's the easiest way to decrypt your Kobo purchases, since Calibre has an ACSM input plugin that allows you to redeem the ACSM file and decrypt the resulting EPUB in a single step. This means you don't need ADE or an Adobe account at all. AFAIK the only benefit to using Kobo Desktop is that it allows bulk downloads, whereas you can only download ACSM files from the Kobo website one by one. As long as you keep up with your purchases and decrypt them in a timely manner, you never need to mess with KDA at all.

10-18-2025, 11:40 AM	#40
A Lurker Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 335288 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle	Is DeACSM v0.0.16 the latest version? https://github.com/Leseratte10/acsm-...es/tag/v0.0.16

10-18-2025, 02:54 PM	#43
Martinoptic Bibliophist Posts: 7,501 Karma: 7237230 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: England Device: none	@dnsb uploaded this which I used, importing the zip into plugins. Does that help at all? You will need to restart calibre twice.