Google Play Books, one of the largest eBook stores in the U.S., offers over five million titles that can be read on the Google Play website, the Google Play Books app, and Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). However, these books aren’t compatible with e-ink readers or other apps. This article explains why and shows you how to remove DRM from Google Play Books so you can fully enjoy your purchases on any device.
1. What is an ACSM File
Before downloading a Google Play Book to your computer, it's essential to understand ACSM files. Most DRM-protected ebooks downloaded from the Google Play website are ACSM files, not PDFs or ePub books.
An ACSM file (Adobe Content Server Message) is used by ADE to distribute DRM-protected eBooks. Instead of downloading the eBook directly, you get an ACSM file containing a link to download the book. When opened in ADE, it verifies your purchase and downloads the encrypted eBook.
Keep in mind that ACSM files require an Adobe ID to open, and once authorized, the book can be accessed on any device using the same ID.
2. How to Download Google Play Books to Your Computer
Step 1Download Adobe Digital Editions to your computer and authorize it with an Adobe ID.
Run Adobe Digital Editions, click Help in the menu bar > Authorize Computer with Adobe ID. If you have an Adobe ID already, you can just input your Adobe ID and password to authorize it. If you don't have one, then you need to create an Adobe ID to authorize it.
Step 2Export Google Play Books to Your Computer.
Access your library by navigating to https://play.google.com/books using your computer's web browser. Ensure that you are logged in to view your owned books.
Then find ebook title you want to download, click the three dots icon on the bottom-right corner of the ebook cover. Next, select Export > Export ACSM for EPUB or Export ACSM for PDF from the popup menu to start downloading the book.
Step 3Open .acsm File with Adobe Digital Editions (ADE).
You will get a .acsm file instead of a Epub or PDF file directly. So you need to double click the .acsm file, then ADE will download the book automatically. After downloading the book to your computer, you can open and read it in Adobe Digital Editions.
1. When exporting ACSM for EPUB/PDF from your Google Play Books library, you will receive a .acsm link. Simply double-click the link to initiate the content download through ADE.
2. Please be aware that not all Google Play Books are exportable in ACSM format. Many Google Books are DRM-free and can be directly exported as EPUB or PDF files.
3. How to Remove DRM from Google Play Books
Epubor Ultimate is an excellent solution for removing Google Play DRM. It automatically detects your downloaded Google Play eBooks and makes it easy to remove DRM while also allowing you to convert the eBooks to other formats.
Step 1Download and Install Epubor Ultimate to Your Computer.
Step 2Remove DRM from Google Play Books.
All of your Google Play books downloaded via ADE will be displayed under 'Adobe' tap in the left side-bar. Next add the books to the right main window to remove DRM.
After the decryption process in Epubor Ultimate, a 'Decrypted' label will appear next to the book title. Click on the label to access the DRM-free file, which will open its location on your device.
Step 3Convert Google Play eBooks to Other Formats
Choose the format you prefer to read if you want to convert book format. Then click the convert button to start the conversion.
Conclusion
Google Play Books is a great ebook digital distribution service. But the DRM free Google Play books will play a greater role in your reading and studying experience and allow you to make the most out of it.
Amy Lopez crafts informative articles on eBooks and eReaders, uncovering optimal methods to enhance your eBook reading experience, and eagerly shares her findings with you.
Weird question:
How does ADE "know" which Google account to authorize the ebooks to?
I logged in with an Adobe ID that has no connection to my Google account.
Download the ACSM and it open just fine in ADE
Then I can transfer it to calibre without stripping the DRM! I can even convert to TXT and other formats.
Furthermore, I logged out of ADE and it won't open the ebooks, but if I go to explorer I can open the epub in Calibre and convert it and read it etc.
What's going on here? This is driving me mad!
1. The .acsm file is the link to download the google play books. So if you authorize the adobe digital editions with your adobe id, it will help you download the acsm file to epub/pdf.
2. Some downloaded epub are encrypted pdf/epub are encrypted with drm and some are not.
3. If you've already install the calibre drm removal plugin, when you add the google books to calibre, the drm will be removed automatically. That's why you can convert them to other format.
Bait and switch. To get it to download a full pdf you will be instructed to pay for a full license of the software -- it is misleading that the article claims you can do this with a free edition of the software.
"Your ebook has decrypted. The file just save 20% of ebook content. Please register the software, then get full content and the valid ebook format."