DRM workaround: Kindle for Android

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I tried a new install of the older Bluestacks version in a virtual machine, installed the same K4A that I used originally, registered it with Amazon, extracted the backup file and imported that into calibre. I then updated to K4A 8.51 and it continued working.

The real fun was finding the Bluestacks version I originally installed since I ended up digging into some backups to find it.

Thank you, good to know. I gave up trying to get the database file, didn't try backup as that wasn't what I originally did.

[TEN]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I tried a new install of the older Bluestacks version in a virtual machine, installed the same K4A that I used originally, registered it with Amazon, extracted the backup file and imported that into calibre. I then updated to K4A 8.51 and it continued working.

The real fun was finding the Bluestacks version I originally installed since I ended up digging into some backups to find it.

Which version, and is your approach limited to 32-bit i.e. Nougat, as well as generating a different key, i.e. requiring another extraction of backup.ab for every (re)install?

[DNSB]

Bluestacks version is 5.11.1.1004 P64. I generated a new extraction from the backup for my test install since it was on a VM with a new calibre install as well. And yes, running a Windows 11 VM under VMWare Workstation to run an Android emulator was noticeably slower than the bare metal install.

[TEN]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Bluestacks version is 5.11.1.1004 P64. I generated a new extraction from the backup for my test install since it was on a VM with a new calibre install as well.

Thanks, so here too the hard part may be getting a download link for this "last known good" older release (or confirming which newer one does work).
To be seen whether the key from backup.ab is specific to an Amazon account, or to a (virtual) device.

[lkmiller]

Key is specific to app. If you have to reinstall or it makes you log in again, key will be different. So hopefully that doesn't happen after updating from the version that produces a useable backup.ab.

[TEN]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Key is specific to app. If you have to reinstall or it makes you log in again, key will be different. So hopefully that doesn't happen after updating from the version that produces a useable backup.ab.

Thanks, feared as much.

A way to extract AZW3 (no matter its file extension) likely remains much needed, as some Kindles are old and offline (and possibly deregistered) long enough that they can't be expected to even support Amazon's "latest and greatest" KFX & DRM (and we won't let the latter make perfectly fine hardware obsolete).

[lkmiller]

All the ways to get non-kfx files are slowly but surely being wittled away. And a few books are not available in in anything but the newest KFX which DeDRM can't handle.

[TEN]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me, 8.51.1.0(1.3.272119.0) is still downloading .prc files which import as .azw3 and rarely as .mobi. BS reports it's version as 5.11.1.1004 P64 since I've refused any offer to upgrade.

The situation is not quite as dire as some assumed:

With the current BlueStacksInstaller_5.21.650.1063_native.exe,
as soon as additional components have been downloaded to use Nougat 32 instead of the default Pie 64 bits,
the following do work (still or again):

adb backup com.amazon.kindle (for the coveted backup.ab) and
adb pull (e.g. /sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/files so in Calibre you can Add book > Add from folders and sub-folders > Assume all e-book files in a single folder are multiple formats of the same book? Yes)
cf. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...86#post4376586, https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...31#post4305731

There may be more than one connection available (now), so you have to find out which you need from the output adb devices -l (for list), then specify it as an extra parameter to the above adb commands (e.g. adb -s 127.0.0.1:5556 ...).

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by TEN

There may be more than one connection available (now), so you have to find out which you need from the output adb devices -l (for list), then specify it as an extra parameter to the above adb commands (e.g. adb -s 127.0.0.1:5556 ...).

I made an automated way to get the correct connection to download books. Especially since BS may change the port number each time. And if it doesn't change ports, it still works.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...26#post4330426

[dellai]

This method is still working ?
Because I tried many version of kindle in BlueStacks 4 x64
and when I try to download a book I got an error message "book not available on this app version"
if it still working what versions you use

[TEN]

Originally Posted by dellai

I tried many version of kindle in BlueStacks 4 x64
and when I try to download a book I got an error message "book not available on this app version"
if it still working what versions you use

Still working strictly with Kindle 8.51.1.0 upgraded after extracting backup.ab from 4.16.0.75 for Android Nougat 32 bits only (not BlueStack's default configuration in v5.21.650.1063, nor necessarily the default ADB port, as above https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...79#post4478379).

Except for https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0CXYSHDLT which is the first title I found to repeatedly get stuck at "Opening is taking a little longer than usual - hang tight!", hogging CPU/fan (no matter how many hours of patience).
Can anyone confirm this when trying to enforce download of "good old" AZW3 in the guise of .prc (rather than first & reluctantly KFX as .azw through version-pegged Kindle 2.4.70904 for PC) ?

[DNSB]

I am using K4A version 8.51.1.0(1.3.272119.0) with BlueStacks 5.11.1.1004 P64.

Basically went through the same process of getting the backup from the v4 K4A and then updating. I tried the book you mentioned but from amazon.ca and it didn't show any issues either downloading or opening.

[TEN]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I am using K4A version 8.51.1.0(1.3.272119.0) with BlueStacks 5.11.1.1004 P64.

BlueStacks version not retrievable anywhere, anymore, but a later one as above also works.

Basically went through the same process of getting the backup from the v4 K4A and then updating. I tried the book you mentioned but from amazon.ca and it didn't show any issues either downloading or opening.

Probably that nerdy a title had never before been requested in its much leaner "legacy" format (0.5 vs 3.2 MB) on this side of the Pond, or Kindle stores are not created equal for every country (if this is still an authorized word, hard to keep track in this 1984-turned-real, or does one have to say "former vs future fiefdoms of the Trumpire" ?): Anyway the queries seem to have been triggered into and synchronized from some queue now, for a few days later AZW3 downloads in "Old Europe" (or is that "Airstrip One" by edict of Our New Overlords already?) as well.

[RustyHill]

For what it is worth, I'm using BlueStacks Tweaker 6.9.2 beta and BlueStacks_nxt Nougat32 version 5.10.10.1013.

The Kindle for Androuid version is 8.26.0.100 (1.2.215016.0) dated 2025.

OS = Win 10, x64

This all seems to still work for downloading books into Calibre and then to a NAS for storage. Fingers crossed!

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by RustyHill

The Kindle for Androuid version is 8.26.0.100 (1.2.215016.0) dated 2025.

Not that it matters much but Kindle for Android 8.26.0.100 was released by Amazon in January 2020. The latest version as of February 2025 is 8.114.2.0.