How to read EPUB from Library on Kindle

schwarz633 · 03-22-2026, 09:23 AM

I generally get my books from the library/overdrive in Kindle format, but there is occasionally a book I'd like to read that's only available in EPUB. I've installed Calibre on my PC along with the DeDRM plug-in, but haven't been successful in converting and emailing a book yet. I'm assuming that the EPUB library books expire just like the Kindle ones, so they must have DRM that needs to be removed before converting to AZW3.

In Calibre the book is listed twice. One showing EPUB, MOBI, and the other showing EPUB, AZW3. I've tried emailing both of these, but it always fails.

Any help will be appreciated.

JSWolf · 03-22-2026, 09:29 AM

The best solution is to get a Reader that will read library ePub.

theducks · 03-22-2026, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The best solution is to get a Reader that will read library ePub.

Not really helping Jon, even if it is the simplest solution.

OP Why are you emailing? That allows 'tampering'

by Amazon (It is their server that get used when you do it that way). USB is a fine way to send to device

issybird · 03-22-2026, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schwarz633

I generally get my books from the library/overdrive in Kindle format, but there is occasionally a book I'd like to read that's only available in EPUB. I've installed Calibre on my PC along with the DeDRM plug-in, but haven't been successful in converting and emailing a book yet. I'm assuming that the EPUB library books expire just like the Kindle ones, so they must have DRM that needs to be removed before converting to AZW3.

In Calibre the book is listed twice. One showing EPUB, MOBI, and the other showing EPUB, AZW3. I've tried emailing both of these, but it always fails.

Any help will be appreciated.

Can you open either or both of the epubs in Calibre? If not, there's a failure in decryption. I personally download books to ADE and then import them into Calibre; there's also a plug-in that skips that step but still requires ADE authorization.

If the epubs open in Calibre, then the issue is at the Amazon end. Amazon doesn't accept epub3 IIRC; convert it to epub.

Oho, rereading your post I wonder if the issue is that you're emailing the AZW3 files? Won't work; STK is epub only. I assume you've authorized your email. There's no reason to convert the files to AZW3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The best solution is to get a Reader that will read library ePub.

That's not helpful. The solution is trivial and no one is going to abandon a new Kindle in order to read a few OD books.

schwarz633 · 03-22-2026, 11:27 AM

OP here. I connected the Kindle to my PC with USB and found the Kindle folder where the .KFX files were. Then I found the .AZW3 file in my PC that I had created with Calibre. I copied that .AZW3 file to the Kindle folder and now I can open that book on the Kindle. Missing the cover, but I can live with that.

JSWolf · 03-22-2026, 12:07 PM

If you've removed the DRM from the ePub from Overdrive, you can then convert to KF8 with calibre and use calibre to send to your Kindle via the USB port.

jmurphy · 03-22-2026, 01:25 PM

You all seem to have ignored the fact that the OP was trying to remove DRM from *LIBRARY* books. Interesting.

Sirtel · 03-22-2026, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmurphy

You all seem to have ignored the fact that the OP was trying to remove DRM from *LIBRARY* books. Interesting.

Well, they can't read epubs on their Kindle without removing the DRM.

issybird · 03-22-2026, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmurphy

You all seem to have ignored the fact that the OP was trying to remove DRM from *LIBRARY* books. Interesting.

Moderator Notice
MobileRead doesn't have an issue with people removing DRM from library books for the sake of device shifting. It is assumed that the books are deleted in a timely fashion.

jmurphy · 03-22-2026, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

MobileRead doesn't have an issue with people removing DRM from library books for the sake of device shifting. It is assumed that the books are deleted in a timely fashion.

Oh? Is this new? There are hundreds of posts that seem to indicate otherwise.
Whatever, fair enough.

DNSB · 03-22-2026, 03:48 PM

Personally I don't remove DRM from library loans since I do not own the ebooks and my ereaders will handle ePub format ebooks. Morality can have some odd quirks.

OTOH, since outside of the USA, Kindle format ebooks are not an option for library loans, Kindle ereader owners have no choice other than to remove DRM and format shift if they want to use a public library. You will not get specific advice on how to do this on MobileRead but pointing people in the direction of where to find the information is permitted.

Sirtel · 03-22-2026, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmurphy

Oh? Is this new? There are hundreds of posts that seem to indicate otherwise.
Whatever, fair enough.

I think those hundreds of posts likely reflect the personal opinion of the poster, not the official stance.

JSWolf · 03-22-2026, 04:23 PM

The OP says he has an ePub and Mobi or an ePub and KF8. So why doesn't he just plug in his Kindle to the computer and send the Mobi or KF8 to the Kindle?

Sirtel · 03-22-2026, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The OP says he has an ePub and Mobi or an ePub and KF8. So why doesn't he just plug in his Kindle to the computer and send the Mobi or KF8 to the Kindle?

That's what they did. Read their second post.

schwarz633 · 03-22-2026, 09:18 PM

OP here again. I don't really understand the innuendos in some of the previous posts, but I'll assume that this forum may not allow any discussions about "stealing" books. This Epub book was lent to me by the library for 21 days. I just want to read it on my Kindle. If it were in Kindle format I would not be able to open it after the 21 day lending period (but I have discovered that I can continue reading it after 21 days, as long as I don't close it).

In the case of this converted Epub book that I now have on the Kindle, I'll assume that the lending period probably got disabled in that process. I only read a book once, so after I finish reading it, I plan on deleting it.

03-22-2026, 09:23 AM	#1
schwarz633 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2026 Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen 12	How to read EPUB from Library on Kindle I generally get my books from the library/overdrive in Kindle format, but there is occasionally a book I'd like to read that's only available in EPUB. I've installed Calibre on my PC along with the DeDRM plug-in, but haven't been successful in converting and emailing a book yet. I'm assuming that the EPUB library books expire just like the Kindle ones, so they must have DRM that needs to be removed before converting to AZW3. In Calibre the book is listed twice. One showing EPUB, MOBI, and the other showing EPUB, AZW3. I've tried emailing both of these, but it always fails. Any help will be appreciated.

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03-22-2026, 09:29 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,555 Karma: 151278869 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The best solution is to get a Reader that will read library ePub.

03-22-2026, 11:27 AM	#5
schwarz633 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2026 Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen 12	OP here. I connected the Kindle to my PC with USB and found the Kindle folder where the .KFX files were. Then I found the .AZW3 file in my PC that I had created with Calibre. I copied that .AZW3 file to the Kindle folder and now I can open that book on the Kindle. Missing the cover, but I can live with that.

03-22-2026, 12:07 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,555 Karma: 151278869 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you've removed the DRM from the ePub from Overdrive, you can then convert to KF8 with calibre and use calibre to send to your Kindle via the USB port.

03-22-2026, 01:25 PM	#7
jmurphy Zealot Posts: 112 Karma: 1133068 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: ipaq	You all seem to have ignored the fact that the OP was trying to remove DRM from LIBRARY books. Interesting.

03-22-2026, 03:48 PM	#11
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 50,834 Karma: 178402710 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Personally I don't remove DRM from library loans since I do not own the ebooks and my ereaders will handle ePub format ebooks. Morality can have some odd quirks. OTOH, since outside of the USA, Kindle format ebooks are not an option for library loans, Kindle ereader owners have no choice other than to remove DRM and format shift if they want to use a public library. You will not get specific advice on how to do this on MobileRead but pointing people in the direction of where to find the information is permitted.

03-22-2026, 04:23 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,555 Karma: 151278869 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The OP says he has an ePub and Mobi or an ePub and KF8. So why doesn't he just plug in his Kindle to the computer and send the Mobi or KF8 to the Kindle?

03-22-2026, 09:18 PM	#15
schwarz633 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2026 Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen 12	OP here again. I don't really understand the innuendos in some of the previous posts, but I'll assume that this forum may not allow any discussions about "stealing" books. This Epub book was lent to me by the library for 21 days. I just want to read it on my Kindle. If it were in Kindle format I would not be able to open it after the 21 day lending period (but I have discovered that I can continue reading it after 21 days, as long as I don't close it). In the case of this converted Epub book that I now have on the Kindle, I'll assume that the lending period probably got disabled in that process. I only read a book once, so after I finish reading it, I plan on deleting it.