Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[odamizu]

It's been an uphill battle for Kindle users as Amazon aggressively blocks methods for obtaining Kindle ebooks that work with calibre.

For those who have been using tools by NoDRM or Satsuoni (heirs to Apprentice Alf and Apprentice Harper), here's where things stand.

If you have questions about installing, setting up, or using the tools, ask on GitHub. Detailed help on the aforementioned topics is not permitted on MobileRead.


Method 1: Downloading from Amazon's website

If the publisher has set the ebook to DRM-free, you should be able to download an EPUB (of sorts) or PDF from your Content Library on Amazon's website. However, there's no way to tell in advance if a book has a DRM-free download or if the download is EPUB or PDF. More discussion here.

Note: The days when eink Kindle owners could download most any ebook from Amazon's website (aka "Download & Transfer via USB") ended on February 26, 2025.


Method 2a: Kindle for PC & Kindle for Windows

Kindle for PC is being replaced by Kindle for Windows, available from the Microsoft Store. According to Amazon: "The Legacy Kindle app (previously called Kindle for PC) isn't supported as of June 30, 2026." However, many users running K4PC older than 2.9.1 are already unable to download books and are instead getting a message advising them to install Kindle for Windows. More discussion here.

• If you have K4PC older than 2.8.x and it's still able to download books, try NoDRM or Satsuoni's DeDRM plugin.
  
• If you have K4PC 2.8.x and newer and it's still able to download books, try Satsuoni's tools.
  
• If you have K4W, try Satsuoni's MSIXKFXArchiver.
  Spoiler:

  • Download books into Kindle for Windows
  • Run MSIXKFXArchiver (for detailed help, ask on GitHub)
  • Look for your liberated books in a folder called "archived_kfx"
  • Import your liberated books into calibre (make sure you have the KFX Input plugin installed)

Method 2b: Kindle for Mac

Kindle for Mac is basically dead as a method for retrieving ebooks that work with DeDRM. However, Mac users have successfully used VM software to run Kindle for PC. Unclear whether Kindle for Windows will work with VM.


Method 3: eink Kindle

If you have a Kindle released after 2012 running firmware that is NOT 5.12.2.2, 5.16.2.1.1, 5.18.1.1.1 or 5.18.5 and higher, try connecting it to a computer via USB cable and importing the ebook file (.kfx, .azw, .mobi, etc.) from Kindle into calibre after first installing either NoDRM or Satsuoni's DeDRM plugin AND the KFX Input plugin.

Kindles running 5.12.2.2, 5.16.2.1.1, 5.18.1.1.1 and 5.18.5 and higher have hardened DRM that the DeDRM plugin cannot handle. However, if your Kindle is jailbroken, Satsuoni's kfxdedrm KUAL extension may do the trick.

Kindles released in 2012 and earlier have been cut off from Amazon, effective May 20, 2026, and are no longer able to download books. More discussion here and here.


Method 4: Kindle for Android on PC & Mac

It is unclear if Kindle for Android is still a viable method. On 6/13/2026, it was reported that it is still possible to use Android emulator software (available for both PC and Mac) to run older versions of Kindle for Android to retrieve Kindle ebooks (even though the original post says it's not). However, on 6/14, it was reported that books can no longer be downloaded. Start here and see also this and this and this.

[Rosales]

It's still possible to download Kindle 1.35.0 for Mac from amazon.co.uk by following this link and 'purchasing' it for £0:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MWT3C...=docs-os-doi_0

It worked fine for me on a M1 Mac running Sonoma, with the usual Calibre/DeDRM/KFX input plugin setup.

[carpler]

I just followed the link in the initial post to download the latest version of Kindle for PC, but I ended up with 2.3.70840, not 2.3.5.
If 2.3.5 is required could you point it out in the post and bring back a link on where to retrieve it?
Thank you very much!

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Rosales

It's still possible to download Kindle 1.35.0 for Mac from amazon.co.uk by following this link and 'purchasing' it for £0:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MWT3C...=docs-os-doi_0

It worked fine for me on a M1 Mac running Sonoma, with the usual Calibre/DeDRM/KFX input plugin setup.

Are you able to download new books (published in 2023 and later) with 1.35.0? It is my understanding that Amazon changed things so that anything published in 2023 or later requires at least 1.39.

Originally Posted by carpler

I just followed the link in the initial post to download the latest version of Kindle for PC, but I ended up with 2.3.70840, not 2.3.5.
If 2.3.5 is required could you point it out in the post and bring back a link on where to retrieve it?

Can anyone confirm whether Kindle for PC 2.3.70840 works or if 2.3.5 is required? I am a Mac user and rely on Windows users to provide the latest Windows info.

[DNSB]

On my Windows PC, 2.3.5 (70840) works. I can download books, import them to calibre and convert them to other formats.

[Rosales]

My apologies for not checking more thoroughly! Kindle 1.35.0 for Mac doesn't work with post 2023 books.

[carpler]

Originally Posted by DNSB

On my Windows PC, 2.3.5 (70840) works. I can download books, import them to calibre and convert them to other formats.

I confess that I did not install the downloaded version. Does this mean that the file that shows in the name 2.3.70840 is actually the correct version (2.3.5)?

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by carpler

I confess that I did not install the downloaded version. Does this mean that the file that shows in the name 2.3.70840 is actually the correct version (2.3.5)?

Yes. The current latest version works.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by carpler

I confess that I did not install the downloaded version. Does this mean that the file that shows in the name 2.3.70840 is actually the correct version (2.3.5)?

Yes, the version number is 2.3.5, the build is 70840. So another bug fix to 2.3.5 might show up as 2.3.5 with the build number changing to 71012. <= I invented that number and would be very shocked if it showed up as a real public release build number!

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by odamizu

I’m starting this thread to hopefully serve as a new central place for discussion and investigation going forward for people who want to use Kindle ebooks with calibre.

Thank you so much for taking on this responsibility!

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Thank you so much for taking on this responsibility!

Thank YOU, jhowell, for maintaining the original thread for over 7 years and for all of your work over the years unraveling Kindle formats and Kindle apps. You know so much more about all this than I do. I hope you will continue to share your knowledge in this and other threads.

Originally Posted by DNSB

On my Windows PC, 2.3.5 (70840) works. I can download books, import them to calibre and convert them to other formats.

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Yes. The current latest version works.

@DNSB and @mbovenka: Great! I will update the first post to clarify.

[lkmiller]

@paola from previous thread:

sure, I should have said it in the first place, this is it:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&ie=UTF8&psc=1

the pages do look all like each is a pdf.

Since that is a 2024 publication, I'm surprised it downloaded with an older version at all. Suggest trying method 2 above.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

@paola from previous thread:



Since that is a 2024 publication, I'm surprised it downloaded with an older version at all. Suggest trying method 2 above.

If it really is a book of images, then it cannot be converted to KFX. The eBook shows Enhanced Typesetting as Not Enabled.

[odamizu]

Windows users: Is "the newer Kindle for PC app available in the app store for Windows 11" still a thing? Is it still helpful to reference this in the original post or is it sufficient to say the latest Kindle for PC app available directly from Amazon is the one you need?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it really is a book of images, then it cannot be converted to KFX. The eBook shows Enhanced Typesetting as Not Enabled.

Enhanced Typesetting refers to books in reflowable KFX format. However KFX is also used for fixed-layout books, such as print replica and comics.

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Since that is a 2024 publication, I'm surprised it downloaded with an older version at all.

paola stated that the book was dated November 2021 so perhaps there is a mixup in the book involved.