What is Calibre DRM Removal Plugin? Calibre DRM Removal Plugin, known as Alf's DeDRM Plugin tool, is developed to remove DRM from eBooks, including Kindle, Kobo and Adobe DRM. There is no doubt that Calibre's success majorly depends on those varieties of plugins and Alf's DRM Removal plugins are the super stars among them. But many people are saying the Calibre's interface and user-experience are not that friendly for tech noobs. No mention the plugin installation, which would be another challenge for them. To help you use this free DRM Removal plugin smoothly, this article will cover these two issues: how to install DRM Removal Plugin to Calibre on Windows /Mac and how to remove eBook DRM with Calibre DRM Removal plugins.
Part 1. How to Install Dedrm Plugin to Calibre
Step 1. Install Calibre
Calibre is totally free to download and use, click the buttons below you can download the Windows and Mac versions.
Download for multiple platforms click here: http://calibre-ebook.com/download
Step 2. Download the DRM Removal plugin
Download the latest version of DeDRM Plugin DeDRM_tools_10.0.9.zip (released on Aug 2, 2023) here.
Unzip the file, and you will get a DeDRM_plugin.zip file.
- The latest NoDRM fork is v10.0.3 for Calibre (V6.24 or later).
- The DeDRM versions 7.1.x or later works for calibre 5.x or later.
- You must use the 6.8.x DeDRM plugin for calibre 4.23 or earlier.
Step 3. Install the DeDRM_plugin.zip to Calibre
Run Calibre, and click "Preferences" in the top menu bar, then look at the bottom of the new window, you can see "Plugins" in the "Change calibre's behaviour" area.
In the plugins center, please click "Load plugin from file".
Find the DeDRM plugin you downloaded in the step 2, and click "Open". The Calibre will warn you about the security risk, click "Yes" to proceed.
Finally you can see the success notification.
Back to the Plugin center you can see the plugin information in under "File type plugins".
Now the plugin is installed successfully, you can use Calibre to remove eBook DRM.
Part 2. How to Remove eBook DRM with Calibre DRM Removal Plugins
For now, this Dedrm plugin can remove DRM from Kindle eBooks (only downloaded to your kindle desktop application and kindle eink device), Barnes & Noble ePub ebooks (Because Nook has changed its DRM scheme, this DRM plugin does not work for Nook DRM any more.) , any ebooks using Adobe Digital Editions DRM (This includes ePubs from Kobo and Sony that are downloaded for Adobe Digital Editions. I have to mention that many vendors have strength their ADE DRM to force readers to download eBooks via ADE4.5 which may caused the DRM removal failure.), and the older Mobipocket and eReader ebooks.
Detailed stepsRemove DRM from eBooks with Calibre
Step 1. To remove DRM from eBooks, you just need to find your downloaded file and add them to Calibre.
Step 2. Once the book has been added successfully, DRM will be removed automatically.
Detailed stepsRemove DRM from Kindle device with Calibre
The above steps show you how to remove DRM from ebook downloaded to your computer directly. If you have books downloaded via Kindle devices, this part will show you how to remove drm from Kindle device with Calibre DRM removal plugin. Please note: Calibre DRM Removal plugin cannot handle ebook downloaded via Kindle device firmware higher than 5.10.2 because they are encrypted with a new Kindle KFX DRM.
Before we start the detailed steps, please find your Kindle serial Number and write it down at first. You will need it later. You can also watch the following video to know how to find a Kindle serial No.
Step 1. Run Calibre, and find "Preference"-->>Plugins.
Step 2. Then find "File type plugins"-->>Select " DeDRM (6.6.3) by Apprentice Alf....scripts" and then click on "Customize Plugin".
Step 3. A new window will pop up to let you configure your DeDRM. Select "eInk Kindle eBooks" and fill in the kindle serial No. you have remembered at the very begining. Then click on "OK“ button.
Step 4. Then go back to the main interface of Calibre and plugin your Kindle device. Find the "Device" option at the top menu and select "Show books in the main memory of the device".
Step 5. All Kindle books from your device will be loaded in. Select the book you want to decrypt, right click the mouse and then choose "Add books to Library" . You will see your selected books has been transferred to the main library of Calibre and the DRM has been removed in this process.
This process is a little bit difficult, right? Don't worry, follow the bonus tip to learn the easiest way to remove Kindle DRM.
Calibre DeDRM not Working IssueQ1: DeDRM Kindle not working
A: Calibre Dedrm plugin does not work for kindle kcr ebooks on Mac computer. So please follow the instructions how to remove drm from kindle kcr and convert kindle kcr to pdf to older version. Then use Calibre DRM removal plugin to remove Kindle DRM.
Q2: Can Calibre DRM Removal plugin handle iBooks DRM?
A: This DeDRM tool does not work for iBook anymore.
Q3: DeDRM plugin has installed successfully, but failed to remove DRM.
A: Please ensure the plugin installed is the latest version. You can always find the latest version at Github.
Bonus Tip: Best Calibre DRM Removal Plugin Alternative
Epubor provides a software called "Epubor Ultimate" which can remove DRM from Amazon Kindle, Adobe Adept(including Kobo, Sony and Google eBooks), Barnes & Noble, Mobipocket and eReader eBooks.
With this program you need not to download or install Calibre and the plugin. Just download and install the Epubor Ultimate, your books will be automatically detected and displayed at the left column. Drag them from the left to the right column, DRM will be removed at the following picture. Cannot be much easier, right?
If you are using the Kindle device, you will not be required to fill in your Kindle serial No. In addition, it only requires you to click one button, then you can remove the eBooks DRM. From all aspects, this way is far more easier than Calibre and the plugins.
| Alf DRM Removal / Calibre DeDRM Plugin | Epubor Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Free; More functions and features to manage eBooks |
All-in-one tool; Easy to use; Clean interface; 7/24 Customer service with online livechat |
| Cons | Not easy to use; No customer service |
Paid software (with free trial) |
Here maybe you are interested in this video about the Epubor Ultimate.
Jonny Greenwood joined Epubor since 2011, loves everything about eBooks and eReaders. He seeks the methods to read eBooks more freely and wants to share all he has got with you.
If it doesn't work, try to:
1) remove your DRMed books from the library
2) reload Calibre
3) add them again to library
at least this works for me!
This didn't work for me. I tried this several times.
Does it work with the latest version of Kindle for PC?
(I know that older versions required the older version of Kindle for PC.)
This worked!
-- after adding plugin and restarting calibre, remove the ebook and re upload
To make it work, do this! (copied from earlier post, Thank you PuruPuru!)
If it doesn't work, try to:
1) remove your DRMed books from the library
2) reload Calibre
3) add them again to library
at least this works for me!
You MUST have Kindle for PC/Mac/etc. installed and activated on your PC before either the plug-in or Epubor software will remove the DRM from Kindle books.
If you download other e-books, you must have Nook for PC, Adobe Digital Editions, Kobo Reader, etc. installed for either approach to work. Both software solutions rely on being able to access YOUR account credentials which were used to encrypt the e-book you have downloaded. This is the only way the e-books with DRM can be decrypted. Note: This prevents sharing e-book files with intact DRM.
The documentation for DeDRM and Epubor both explain this. If you can't use these solutions, you probably didn't read the documentation. Everything is very well spelled out.
Also, Kindle books with DRM that are already added to Calibre must be removed and reloaded for the plug-in to work. It only works when Calibre loads and processes the book file.
DRM Removal plugin works very fine for me.
About 100 times with ePubs from a open library, in Germany.
Good Job
Greeting
Tomato33
To those of you that are complaining about this plugin not working:
This website's offering an outdated version of the Calibre plugin. Try downloading the latest version from the plugin's official website first before you start complaining: apprenticealf(dot)wordpress(dot)com
Hi,
When I try to install the plugin, I get an error message: calibre, version 3.40.1
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>InvalidPlugin</b>:The plugin in u'C:\\Users\\Owner\\Downloads\\DeDRM_plugin (1).zip' is invalid. It does not contain a top-level __init__.py file
calibre 3.40.1 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.17763-SP0 Windows ('32bit', 'WindowsPE')
32bit process running on 64bit windows
('Windows', '10', '10.0.17763')
Python 2.7.15+
Windows: ('10', '10.0.17763', 'SP0', u'Multiprocessor Free')
Interface language: None
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\preferences\plugins.py", line 317, in add_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 472, in add_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\ui.py", line 61, in load_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\zipplugin.py", line 193, in load
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\zipplugin.py", line 291, in _locate_code
InvalidPlugin: The plugin in ...\\DeDRM_plugin (1).zip' is invalid. It does not contain a top-level __init__.py file
Perhaps it needs an update?
Thank you!
This is the exact same problem that I'm having. When I open the .zip file, I can see the _init_.py file in the DeDRM_tools_6.6.3 in temp folder where the .zip unpacks.
Thinking I'll just get the other software and be done. This used to work perfectly, but sadly it doesn't and the plugin won't install now.
Seems the plugins was not updated, I still got the same issue today.
Cindy
Sorry again for the inconvenience caused.
I did the following steps but Calibre still shows the message that books are DRMed.
1) Downloaded Calibre
2) Downloaded the Plug-In --> added it to the PREFERENCES. It sais it is active
3) Restarted Calibre.
3) Downloaded the E-Book in AZW3 from Amazon ("Download and transfer via USB")
4) Added the book to Calibre
--> Cannot open it in Calibre
Do you have some helpful ideas I maybe missed to do? Would be great if you could help!
Plugin does not seem to work again. Please assist. Many thanks.
calibre, version 4.8.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>InvalidPlugin</b>:The plugin in u'/Users/apple/Desktop/DeDRM_plugin/alfcrypto_src.zip' is invalid. It does not contain a top-level __init__.py file
calibre 4.8 embedded-python: True is64bit: True
Darwin-18.7.0-x86_64-i386-64bit Darwin ('64bit', '')
('Darwin', '18.7.0', 'Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Tue Aug 20 16:57:14 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.271.2~2/RELEASE_X86_64')
Python 2.7.16
OSX: ('10.14.6', ('', '', ''), 'x86_64')
Interface language: None
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/preferences/plugins.py", line 319, in add_plugin
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/ui.py", line 472, in add_plugin
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/ui.py", line 61, in load_plugin
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 194, in load
File "site-packages/calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 292, in _locate_code
InvalidPlugin: The plugin in u'/Users/apple/Desktop/DeDRM_plugin/alfcrypto_src.zip' is invalid. It does not contain a top-level __init__.py file
You can try our software epubor ultimate to remove ebook drm: https://www.epubor.com/ultimate.html
Doesnt seem to work. i get this error message:
DeDRM_plugin/alfcrypto_src.zip' is invalid. It does not contain a top-level __init__.py file
Im running mac 10.12
Calibre 3.48
Trying to convert Kindle to Kobo
If you are looking for the alternative to Calibre DRM Removal plugin, please try Epubor Ultimate>> https://www.epubor.com/ultimate.html
The current 6.7.0 release at https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/releases/tag/v6.7.0 is not compatible with Python 3, while at least Calibre from Ubuntu 20.04 repositories already runs on Python 3.
There is ongoing community work on fixing this, and as a work-around the plugin can be cloned from a GitHub branch and installed manually. On Linux, this can be done on the command line like this:
[code]
git clone -b Python3 git@github.com:lalmeras/DeDRM_tools.git
cd DeDRM_tools
calibre-customize -b .
[/code]
Thank you for contacting us and we've check all the links in this page but they are all works fine now.
If you ensure there is invalid link, please send the link to us via epubor.iris@gmail.com.
Have a nice day.
I downloaded the Calibre plugin, unzipped and added the other zip file but it says 'InvalidPlugin... does not contain a top-level_init_-py file'
The other links I downloaded -the converters only convert a small percentage of the book and require you to pay $25 to convert. Is there another way??
No Init support found. Is there a Windows 10 64 bit supported version?
I keep getting a syntax error when I try to load into Calibre.
I got it on my old file from 2019, and on the newly downloaded one just now. See below:
calibre, version 5.12.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>SyntaxError</b>:invalid syntax (calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__, line 167)
calibre 5.12 embedded-python: True is64bit: False
Windows-10-10.0.18362 Windows ('32bit', 'WindowsPE')
32bit process running on 64bit windows
('Windows', '10', '10.0.18362')
Python 3.8.5
Windows: ('10', '10.0.18362', '', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Interface language: None
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre\gui2\preferences\plugins.py", line 316, in add_plugin
File "calibre\customize\ui.py", line 472, in add_plugin
File "calibre\customize\ui.py", line 61, in load_plugin
File "calibre\customize\zipplugin.py", line 293, in load
File "importlib\__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1014, in _gcd_import
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 991, in _find_and_load
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 975, in _find_and_load_unlocked
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 671, in _load_unlocked
File "calibre\customize\zipplugin.py", line 185, in exec_module
File "calibre\customize\zipplugin.py", line 181, in get_code
File "calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__", line 167
print u" v: Copying needed library files from plugin's zip".format(PLUGIN_NAME, PLUGIN_VERSION)
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
If you want the whole content, please upgrade it to the full version now.
Syntax Error: invalid syntax line 167)
What's the fix?
The dedrm removal plugin is totally free. You can just download it from the link in this article. We've checked this link after your comment, and ensure it is working.
Have a nice day.
Does this work with the latest azw3 files? I downloaded some from Kindle Unlimted and I get message:
Cannot convert [book]. this book is locked by DRM.
thanks.
We are sincerely sorry to inform you that both this software doesn't support the kindle unlimited ebook. The kindle unlimited ebooks are rented books.
Hi,
this doesn't seem to be working with the new version of Calibre (5.29.0). I get this error:
calibre, version 5.29.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>SyntaxError</b>:invalid syntax (calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__, line 167)
calibre 5.29 embedded-python: True is64bit: True
macOS-10.16-x86_64-i386-64bit Darwin ('64bit', '')
('Darwin', '20.6.0', 'Darwin Kernel Version 20.6.0: Wed Jun 23 00:26:27 PDT 2021; root:xnu-7195.141.2~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8101')
Python 3.8.5
OSX: ('10.16', ('', '', ''), 'x86_64')
Interface language: None
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/preferences/plugins.py", line 327, in add_plugin
File "calibre/customize/ui.py", line 477, in add_plugin
File "calibre/customize/ui.py", line 65, in load_plugin
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 293, in load
File "importlib/__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1014, in _gcd_import
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 991, in _find_and_load
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 975, in _find_and_load_unlocked
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 671, in _load_unlocked
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 185, in exec_module
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 181, in get_code
File "calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__", line 167
print u" v: Copying needed library files from plugin's zip".format(PLUGIN_NAME, PLUGIN_VERSION)
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
Hope you can fix it!
Best regards
Please follow this guide to get this issue fixed: https://www.epubor.com/solutions-to-calibre-dedrm-plugin-not-working.html
¡Gracias por su ayuda!
Here's the situation.
I have the same version of calibre running on two laptops.
W10 - Windows 10 Home
W11 - Windows 11 Home
- Both have the same version of DeDRM.
- The main library is on the D: drive on W10.
- I have the D: drive mapped to A: on W11.
- I dropped a book on calibre on W10 and it was added to the library.
- I can open and read the book on W10.
- Opening the book on W11 gives an DRM error
W10 has Adobe Digital Edition installed. W11 does not. The book was downloaded from the library and is still within the 21 days I am allowed to read it. I am assuming that is why it is working on W10 and not on W11. I was under the impression that once it was loaded into calibre through the DeDRM plugin that it would be readable anywhere.
Am I doing something wrong?
I tried to install DeDRM_Plugin.zip Calibre v 6.11 and got the following error:
calibre, version 6.11.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>SyntaxError</b>:Missing parentheses in call to 'print'. Did you mean print(...)? (calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__, line 169)
calibre 6.11 embedded-python: True
macOS-13.1-arm64-arm-64bit Darwin ('64bit', '')
('Darwin', '22.2.0', 'Darwin Kernel Version 22.2.0: Fri Nov 11 02:06:26 PST 2022; root:xnu-8792.61.2~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8112')
Python 3.10.1
OSX: ('13.1', ('', '', ''), 'arm64')
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeACSM (0, 0, 16) && Gather KFX-ZIP (from KFX Input) (1, 50, 0) && Package KFX (from KFX Input) (1, 50, 0) && Barnes & Noble (1, 4, 0) && Check Books (0, 1, 4) && KFX metadata reader (from KFX Input) (1, 50, 0) && KFX Input (1, 50, 0) && Set KFX metadata (from KFX Output) (1, 65, 0) && KFX Output (1, 65, 0) && KOReader Sync (0, 4, 1) && Obok DeDRM (6, 7, 0)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre/gui2/preferences/plugins.py", line 325, in add_plugin
File "calibre/customize/ui.py", line 479, in add_plugin
File "calibre/customize/ui.py", line 64, in load_plugin
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 307, in load
File "importlib/__init__.py", line 126, in import_module
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1050, in _gcd_import
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1027, in _find_and_load
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1006, in _find_and_load_unlocked
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 688, in _load_unlocked
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 199, in exec_module
File "calibre/customize/zipplugin.py", line 195, in get_code
File "calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__", line 169
print u" v: Copying needed library files from plugin's zip".format(PLUGIN_NAME, PLUGIN_VERSION)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print'. Did you mean print(...)?
recently the Kindle app will not allow older versions to be kept and will only allow a book download if the app is upgraded to 1.39 which won't work with the DeDRM tool (7.2.1). Does anyone know a work around, or if the DeDRM tool is going to be updated to accommodate this?
Converting Kindle ebooks without old eInk device
Have a look at kurzelinks(DOT)de/2cta
Works like a charm, just converted 4 Kindle ebooks published after 03.01.2023.
One question: When Calibre is able to extract a serialno. from a .ab-file, isn't it possible also to use it with epubor? The command "adb shell getprop ro.serialno" shows a serialno. of the device but adding it into epubor only lead to failures.
Hi!
Thank You for the tool. It works fine for Adobe DRM.
But unfortunately it doesn't work for Readium LCP. I enterthe passphrase I have from booksellerq but the tool is not decoding the book. Could You help?
Hello, thanks for your comment.
Please try to remove LCP DRM from your books by following this guide below:
https://www.epubor.com/remove-readium-lcp-drm.html
Any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team
Hello, thanks for your comment.
Recently we updated our Epubor Ultimate to a new version, it allows you to decrypt and convert your new Kindle books downloaded by the latest Kindle for PC/Mac.
Any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team