IMPORTANT:
Windows users can also refer to this guide to decrypt Kindle books downloaded with Kindle for PC v2.8.0.
Kindle ebook owners should have the right to unlimited access to their purchased ebooks and the ability to share them with friends. It is unfair for Amazon to remove purchased Kindle books from your account, as that constitutes theft. Therefore, it is crucial to remove Kindle DRM to back them up for your own benefit.
Identify the solution you need before starting:
If you have a Kindle eInk device, removing DRM is the easiest.
On both Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs, use Epubor Kindle Converter.
On Apple Silicon Macs, use Epubor Ultimate to remove Kindle DRM.
1. How to Remove Kindle DRM with Epubor Kindle Converter?
Step 1Install Android Studio
Android Studio is required to download Kindle books. Follow this guide to set it up on your Mac.
Notice: You only need to follow the guide to set up Android Studio. There’s no need to install APKPure, as you’ll be installing the specific Kindle APK version provided below.
Step 2Download and Install the Kindle APK
Download the specific APK version below — it’s the only one that works correctly on the Android emulator. Make sure you install this exact version.
Launch Android Studio, then drag and drop the Kindle APK onto the virtual device to start installation. Once installed, swipe up the screen to find the Kindle app icon and tap it to open.
Step 3Download and Install Epubor Kindle Converter
Epubor Kindle Converter lets Mac users remove Kindle DRM without a physical Kindle device.
Download the correct version for your Mac chip:
1. Intel Chip >> Download Epubor Kindle Converter here
2. Apple Silicon >> Download Epubor Kindle Converter here
Once installed, launch Epubor Kindle Converter immediately.
Important: You must run Epubor Kindle Converter before downloading Kindle books in the Kindle app.
Step 4Download Kindle Books
Log in to your Amazon account, and tap a book cover to download your Kindle titles from the Library.
Important: Ensure every book is fully downloaded.
Step 5Remove Kindle DRM
1. In Epubor Kindle Converter, click Refresh — your downloaded Kindle books should appear.
2. Drag the Kindle books to the right panel, click Convert to remove DRM.
Troubleshooting DRM Removal
If a Kindle book fails to decrypt:
1. Open it in the Kindle app, then click Refresh in Epubor Kindle Converter to regenerate the decryption key. Retry removing the DRM.
2. Alternatively, delete the failed book from your Kindle library, redownload it, click Refresh in Epubor Kindle Converter, and try the DRM removal again.
2. How to Remove Kindle DRM with Kindle e-ink Devices?
Notice: Amazon released a new firmware update (v5.18.5) for 11th- and 12th-generation Kindle e-readers. eBooks downloaded on those devices cannot be decrypted. You can still remove Kindle DRM using an older Kindle device — follow the guide below to do so.
Step 1Download Kindle Books via Kindle eInk Device.
Log in to your Kindle account, then tap on a book cover to begin downloading. If you have a large library, it may take some time to download all your Kindle books completely.
Step 2Download and install Epubor Ultimate
Epubor Ultimate is a powerful DeDRM tool to help you remove Kindle DRM with ease.
Step 3Connect your Kindle eInk Device to Computer via USB
Epubor Ultimate will automatically detect your device’s serial number and locate the downloaded Kindle books. You’ll find your books listed under the device tab on the left panel.
Why Fail to Detect Kindle eInk Device?
There are two scenarios to address:
Windows — Epubor Ultimate cannot detect Kindle books, even if the Kindle eInk device is recognized.
macOS — The Kindle eInk device is not detected at all after connecting it.
Here’s how to resolve both issues:
1. Solution: Epubor Ultimate cannot Detect Kindle Books on Windows:
When you connect your Kindle eInk device to a Windows computer, your Kindle books are typically located at: E:\documents\Downloads\Items01
Situation 1. If Epubor Ultimate detects your Kindle (models purchased before 2024) but doesn't display your books:
1.1 Click Favorite on the toolbar.
1.2 Click Browse.
1.3 Paste or navigate to your Kindle's book folder path, and click Select Folder, then OK to confirm.
1.4 Your books should now appear under the Favorite tab. then drag them into the right panel to remove DRM.
Situation 2. If your Kindle eInk device appears as "Kindle Paperwhite" (or another model) on a Windows computer and your books are located in "Internal Storage\documents\".
Manually copy the ".kfx" files along with their corresponding ".sdr" folders to a local folder on your PC (e.g., Desktop). Then follow the steps below to remove DRM.
Tip: If Epubor Ultimate cannot detect your Kindle device at all, manually navigate to: "E:\documents\Downloads\Items01" Add the ".kfx" files from this folder directly into the Epubor Ultimate interface. Then continue with the following DRM removal process.
Then, go to Epubor Ultimate settings > Kindle, enter the serial number of your device, and click OK.
Next, drag and drop the KFX files into the Epubor Ultimate interface, and the Kindle DRM should be removed.
Note: If Epubor Ultimate cannot detect your Kindle eInk device on Mac, you can still follow the steps above to remove Kindle DRM.
2. Solution: Mac Can’t Detect Kindle eInk Device:
Due to MTP issue, MacOS might not detect your Kindle eInk device when plugged in. However, you can use Send to Kindle to transfer books from your Kindle device to Mac:
1. Download and install Send to Kindle.
2. Open Send to Kindle, then click "Open USB File Manager".
3. Plug in your Kindle eInk device and connect device.
4. Allow send to Kindle app to access file.
5. With your kindle connected, browse into "documents", however the trick here is that what you see here will be books you transferred over USB yourself when it was mounted. To see the encrypted books, you need to go into the Downloads/Items01 subdirectory in documents. There you'll find the kfx files and sdr folders and can drag them onto your desktop.
6. Open Epubor Ultimate, go to Settings > Kindle, enter your Kindle serial number, and click OK.
7. Finally, drag and drop the KFX files into Epubor Ultimate to remove DRM.
Note: Ensure that you've downloaded Kindle books to your Kindle eInk device beforehand.
Step 4Remove Kindle DRM.
Drag and drop the Kindle files into the right panel of Epubor Ultimate. The DRM will be removed instantly, and a “Decrypted” label will appear to confirm success. Once decrypted, you can convert your Kindle books to EPUB, PDF, or other formats as needed.
Step 5Explore Kindle Converted Files.
Click the "Decrypted" label or the folder icon in the lower-right corner of Epubor Ultimate to quickly access all your converted Kindle files.
For a more intuitive walkthrough, you can check out the video tutorial below.
3. How to Remove Kindle DRM with Epubor Ultimate?
Important: Epubor Ultimate supports only Macs with Apple Silicon.
Before using it, you must disable System Integrity Protection (SIP). Follow these steps:
Step 1Disable SIP
1. Enter Recovery Mode
Shut down your Mac completely, and press and hold the power button until the "Loading startup options" screen appears.
2. Disable SIP via Terminal
Open Terminal. And run the command: csrutil disable
You’ll see: "Successfully disabled System Integrity Protection. Please restart the machine."
3. Restart Your Mac
Click the Apple logo > click Restart. SIP is now disabled after reboot.
For a detailed, step-by-step guide on disabling SIP, watch this video tutorial:
Step 2Download and Install Kindle for Mac
Open Kindle for Mac and sign in. Make sure no books are downloaded before launching Epubor Ultimate.
If Kindle for Mac is already installed, de-register it first, then sign in again.
Step 3Download and Install Epubor Ultimate
Step 4Download Kindle Books
Launch Epubor Ultimate before downloading Kindle books. Then double-click a book cover in Kindle for Mac to start downloading.
Step 5Remove Kindle DRM
To automatically load downloaded Kindle books into Epubor Ultimate, go to Settings > Kindle > Set to Default Directory > OK. (Otherwise, Epubor Ultimate won’t detect them.)
Once your Kindle books appear under Kindle tab in the left panel, you can add them to the right conversion window to remove DRM.
You can access your DRM-free Kindle books by clicking the book folder icon in the lower-right corner of the program.
Encounter KFX Error?
Solution: First, delete the Kindle books from your Kindle library, then restart both Epubor Ultimate and Kindle for Mac. After re-downloading the books, try removing the DRM again.
Re-enable SIP after removing Kindle DRM (Critical After Use!)
1. Re-enter Recovery Mode (Step 1).
2. Open Terminal and run: csrutil enable
3. Restart your Mac.
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.
I guess your Kindle version is Kindle for PC/Mac 1.25, or your Kindle device firmware is higher than 5.10.2. Amazon changes its DRM scheme which causes the drm removing failed.
Use older version to download your kindle files again to remove DRM please.
https://youtu.be/wQIEI0-SbIA
the download doesn't work anymore since august 2...
So its impossible to use KCR Converter.
What can we do ?
Thanks. Gilda
Dear Sir/Madam,
We're sorry to tell you that Amazon has upgraded Kindle Cloud Reader in August 2020 for security reasons, which has finally made it impossible to download books from Kindle Cloud Reader. As a result, Epubor KCR Converter can’t help you convert the Kindle books from now on.
As per your purchase for Epubor KCR Converter, here we provide you with several solutions. Please have a try and tell us how it works. If you meet any questions during the process, just feel free to contact us and we will try our best to help you.
For Windows users:
You can follow this guide to decrypt and convert Kindle books with Epubor Ultimate:
https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth2
For Mac users:
If you have a Kindle e-ink device,
you can follow this guide to decrypt and convert Kindle books with Epubor Ultimate:
https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth4
If you don't have a Kindle e-ink device,
and your macOS is below than 10.15 Catalina,
you can follow this guide to decrypt and convert Kindle books with Epubor Ultimate:
https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth2
and your macOS is 10.15 Catalina or higher,
we're sorry to tell you that there is no any other effective way to decrypt Kindle books, including using Epubor Ultimate, Epubor KCR Converter or any other tool in the market.
At last and once again, we're sincerely sorry and apologize for the inconvenience caused.
What do you do if you have a 12th generation kindle or an older kindle with software version 5.17.1.0.3?
I had a really old kindle (2012) which just died on me and now I am having issues trying to convert books.
Thank you!
If you have a kindle device or have a windows computer, you can remove drm from kindle books. Otherwise, there is no way to remove drm from kindle books.
But it needs to be an older kindle not a new one? ie before 12th gen??
I have a new 2024 kindle and the download and transfer via USB does not work?
Requesting a response.
I emailed epubor.alice@gmail.com several days ago. No reply.
I emailed mailto:support@epubor.com yesterday. No reply.
I purchased this product on March 1st, and it is not operating correctly - it does not do what it says it should do. And to not receive a response from anyone at the company, not even acknowledging receipt of my communications, feels suspicious.
Is there a different email address to which I should be communicating my requests?
Thank you.
I am unable to remove KFX encryption via the described procedure "Using Kindle eInk"
My setup:
MacBook Pro Apple M2 macOS 15.5
Epubor Ultimate 3.0.13
Kindle paperwhite2 (5.12.2.2) connected via USB
Epubor is able to display the kindle kfx books from the Kindle PW2 at the left Epubor panel.
I can drag boooks to the Epubor R/H side, however the decryption fails.
I have sent an email to Epubor epubor.iris@outlook.com, however did not get any response.
What c an I do to use Epubor ultimate for decrypting kfx books?
Thanks
Gerd
Iris
I have received your email and i did respond as follows. Let me know if you did not receive the response.
My response: The Kindle SN is properly visible in Epubor Ultimate and the book I have tested with was a fresh payed purchase via Amazon. I am not signed up for Kindle Unlimited.
Please suggest how I can use Epubor Ultimate for KFX decryption.
Best regards
Gerd
It involved deleting books from the Kindle via my Amazon account and redownload it to the Kindle.
Works now. Thanks
Amazon Kindle 14.125.100(2.0.44703.0)
The new Path for Apple Silicon with Kindle Appstore Version:
In Epubor Kindle
Then you can load your kindle books again and remove drm. If you need more assistance, please contact me at epubor.service@gmail.com