Answers.Body: <p>My recent experience with Amazon is that they add DRM to their books, even when the publisher doesn't require it. I bought a DRM free book (published by Tor) from Amazon. I executed the following (convoluted) steps to find the file:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>The Kindle for PC app is only available in the USA. I don't live there, so I installed the Android Kindle app on my phone.</li>
  <li>In Kindle's options, I elected to store the book on my SD card to make it easier to find.</li>
  <li>I connected the phone to my computer via USB cable</li>
  <li>I searched in directory <code>SD Card/Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/</code> for book files. The directory was visible using the phone's own file browser, but the directory was invisible from my PC! I'm not sure what trick Kindle used to hide the directory. At this stage, I had to use my Android phone to copy the <code>com.amazon.kindle</code> directory somewhere else on my SD card. <em>Now</em> it was visible from my PC. </li>
  <li>Amazon uses several different formats for its ebooks, including file extensions <code>.mobi</code>, <code>.prc</code>, <code>.azw*</code>, <code>.kfx</code>, and <code>.tpz</code>. Unfortunately, my book was stored in <code>.kfx</code> format. This is an encrypted format with DRM.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I stopped there, as I was not willing to attempt to break the DRM (<strong>caveat:</strong> cracking DRM is probably illegal, and might even be a crime, depending on your jurisdiction). I went back to Amazon and asked for a refund. They gave me the refund.</p>
  
  <p><strong>My recommendation to you:</strong> if you care about getting a DRM free book for which you can download the file and actually <em>own</em> the product you just purchased, then buy from a different vendor. I ordered the same book from the <a href="https://www.kobo.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kobo Bookstore</a> and they provided me with an easy download link and a file in universal <code>epub</code> format. It looks slightly less nice in my generic ebook reader as not all the text renders perfectly (I admit that the Kindle version looked fantastic), however, it's <em>mine</em>. :D</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-11T10:14:22.307Z
Answers.Text: I just downl;oaded a DRM free book from Amazon and it had no DRM. I choose the download via USB
Answers.UserDisplayName: mmmmmm
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-13T12:50:27.707Z
Answers.Text: @user151019 the `Download via USB` option was visible but greyed out (inactive) for me. I believe this option is only available if you have a Kindle device? Or perhaps only for residents of the USA? Or perhaps it's because the file had DRM? It's hard to say.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jonathan Benn
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-13T12:55:41.633Z
Answers.Text: It is because you don't have a kindle out of those 3. I don't know if only having a pc app works. I suspect the best way for you is get an old version of the app pre.kfx. Or use another provider who uses standard formats not an undocumented one.
Answers.UserDisplayName: mmmmmm
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-11-17T15:57:16.970Z
Answers.Text: I also ended up choosing to download from Kobo which did indeed have an option to download as epub. And if the formatting looks less nice, at least epub is easy enough to edit with the Calibre editor.
Answers.UserDisplayName: purplecat
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-06T12:53:11.217Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-04-06T12:53:11.217Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jonathan Benn
Answers.Body: <p>If you buy DRM-free ebooks from Amazon, you could download it onto any Kindle or Kindle app. From kindle app on android, you can probably find the unencrypted file in the <strong>Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/files/</strong> Kindle directory. </p>
  
  <p>You will look for files ending in .prc (which are given incomprehensible file names). </p>
  
  <p>I suspect that the unencrypted files for non-DRM files are stored in a similar file location on Kindle devices. </p>
  
  <p>I don't know how ios stores Kindle app files, but I wouldn't be surprised if the only way you can transfer to your computer  is via itunes. </p>
  
  <p>I'm not neutral on the subject, but I think that .epub files are a better archiving format than whatever kindle format happens to be at the moment. If you're trying to store things, .epub is a better archiving format. </p>
  
  <p>The deal Amazon makes with us is: the customer agrees not to worry too much about getting the files,  Amazon provides apps for the major platforms -- all of which are capable of reading your ebook file reasonably well. So far, Amazon has kept its end of the bargain.... Time will tell if this continues...</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-24T20:32:23.477Z
Answers.Text: It has not been .prc for years - try .azw3
Answers.UserDisplayName: mmmmmm
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-25T18:00:52.073Z
Answers.Text: Wow, then my answer is probably wrong, because I don't recognize any of the file formats listed in my android directory: .asc, etc...  PRC is a legacy format, but I suspected that was the way it was being stored locally.  But I definitely did not see .azw3 files inside that directory!
Answers.UserDisplayName: idiotprogrammer
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-08-23T03:35:56.747Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-08-23T03:35:56.747Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: idiotprogrammer
Body: <p>In a previous question, <a href="https://ebooks.stackexchange.com/questions/285/when-shopping-for-ebooks-on-amazon-how-do-i-tell-if-they-have-drm">When shopping for ebooks on Amazon how do I
  tell if they have DRM?</a>, it is explained that DRM-free ebooks on Amazon
  are characterized by the "Product Details" item: "<strong>Simultaneous Device
  Usage</strong>: Unlimited".</p>
  
  <p>I was a bit surprised though that all such books I looked at also had:
  "<strong>Lending</strong>: Not Enabled", which seems a bit contradictory. But this is a
  side remark.</p>
  
  <p>My problem is that I do not know how to download these (supposedly DRM-free) ebooks, once
  acquired.</p>
  
  <p>I did go to my Amazon page "Manage Your Content and Devices", where all my Amazon
  books are listed, one book on each line.</p>
  
  <p>There, it seem that to download a book. I must click it in the Action
  column (the second square of the line), and then select an action,
  which apparently should be "Download &amp; transfer via USB".</p>
  
  <p>But when I do, I get an error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Download &amp; transfer via USB
  Select a device from the dropdown 
  
              John - Android Tablet
              John's Kindle Cloud Reader
  
  You have selected content that is not compatible with any of your registered 
  devices. Please remove incompatible content from selection for eligible devices
  to appear.
  Transfer Tip: After downloading, use your USB cable to connect your computer and
  Kindle. Your Kindle will appear as a drive on your computer. Copy your downloaded
  file from your computer to your Kindle's documents folder.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>All I want is to get the MOBI file in my computer, as I do with other ebook sellers for DRM-free books.</p>
  
  <p>I am running Linux, if that can be any help. But I do not own a Kindle, and my only devices are my PC (running Calibre on Linux) and an Android pad used by another person.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-08-24T20:34:15.163Z
Comments.Text: Amazon downloads your book to a Kindle app - so which app do you have on your PC (Ah Linux - well then Amazon does not support it) So rent your books from elsewhere Or try Windows Kindle reader running under Wine
Comments.UserDisplayName: mmmmmm
Tags: <kindle><amazon><mobi><drm><download>
Title: How do I download DRM-free books from Amazon?
UserDisplayName: babou
ThreadText: # How do I download DRM-free books from Amazon?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-22)
  
  In a previous question, When shopping for ebooks on Amazon how do I
  tell if they have DRM?, it is explained that DRM-free ebooks on Amazon
  are characterized by the "Product Details" item: "Simultaneous Device
  Usage: Unlimited".
  I was a bit surprised though that all such books I looked at also had:
  "Lending: Not Enabled", which seems a bit contradictory. But this is a
  side remark.
  My problem is that I do not know how to download these (supposedly DRM-free) ebooks, once
  acquired.
  I did go to my Amazon page "Manage Your Content and Devices", where all my Amazon
  books are listed, one book on each line.
  There, it seem that to download a book. I must click it in the Action
  column (the second square of the line), and then select an action,
  which apparently should be "Download & transfer via USB".
  But when I do, I get an error:
  Download & transfer via USB
  Select a device from the dropdown 
  
              John - Android Tablet
              John's Kindle Cloud Reader
  
  You have selected content that is not compatible with any of your registered 
  devices. Please remove incompatible content from selection for eligible devices
  to appear.
  Transfer Tip: After downloading, use your USB cable to connect your computer and
  Kindle. Your Kindle will appear as a drive on your computer. Copy your downloaded
  file from your computer to your Kindle's documents folder.
  
  All I want is to get the MOBI file in my computer, as I do with other ebook sellers for DRM-free books.
  I am running Linux, if that can be any help. But I do not own a Kindle, and my only devices are my PC (running Calibre on Linux) and an Android pad used by another person.
  
  **Tags:** kindle, amazon, mobi, drm, download
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Amazon downloads your book to a Kindle app - so which app do you have on your PC (Ah Linux - well then Amazon does not support it) So rent your books from elsewhere Or try Windows Kindle reader running under Wine  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-04-06. Score: 2
  
  My recent experience with Amazon is that they add DRM to their books, even when the publisher doesn't require it. I bought a DRM free book (published by Tor) from Amazon. I executed the following (convoluted) steps to find the file:
  
  1. The Kindle for PC app is only available in the USA. I don't live there, so I installed the Android Kindle app on my phone.
  2. In Kindle's options, I elected to store the book on my SD card to make it easier to find.
  3. I connected the phone to my computer via USB cable
  4. I searched in directory `SD Card/Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/` for book files. The directory was visible using the phone's own file browser, but the directory was invisible from my PC! I'm not sure what trick Kindle used to hide the directory. At this stage, I had to use my Android phone to copy the `com.amazon.kindle` directory somewhere else on my SD card. *Now* it was visible from my PC.
  5. Amazon uses several different formats for its ebooks, including file extensions `.mobi`, `.prc`, `.azw*`, `.kfx`, and `.tpz`. Unfortunately, my book was stored in `.kfx` format. This is an encrypted format with DRM.
  
  I stopped there, as I was not willing to attempt to break the DRM (**caveat:** cracking DRM is probably illegal, and might even be a crime, depending on your jurisdiction). I went back to Amazon and asked for a refund. They gave me the refund.
  
  **My recommendation to you:** if you care about getting a DRM free book for which you can download the file and actually *own* the product you just purchased, then buy from a different vendor. I ordered the same book from the [Kobo Bookstore](https://www.kobo.com/) and they provided me with an easy download link and a file in universal `epub` format. It looks slightly less nice in my generic ebook reader as not all the text renders perfectly (I admit that the Kindle version looked fantastic), however, it's *mine*. :D
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I just downl;oaded a DRM free book from Amazon and it had no DRM. I choose the download via USB  
  > **username_2**: @user151019 the `Download via USB` option was visible but greyed out (inactive) for me. I believe this option is only available if you have a Kindle device? Or perhaps only for residents of the USA? Or perhaps it's because the file had DRM? It's hard to say.  
  > **username_1**: It is because you don't have a kindle out of those 3. I don't know if only having a pc app works. I suspect the best way for you is get an old version of the app pre.kfx. Or use another provider who uses standard formats not an undocumented one.  
  > **username_3**: I also ended up choosing to download from Kobo which did indeed have an option to download as epub. And if the formatting looks less nice, at least epub is easy enough to edit with the Calibre editor.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2016-08-23. Score: -1
  
  If you buy DRM-free ebooks from Amazon, you could download it onto any Kindle or Kindle app. From kindle app on android, you can probably find the unencrypted file in the **Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/files/** Kindle directory.
  
  You will look for files ending in .prc (which are given incomprehensible file names).
  
  I suspect that the unencrypted files for non-DRM files are stored in a similar file location on Kindle devices.
  
  I don't know how ios stores Kindle app files, but I wouldn't be surprised if the only way you can transfer to your computer is via itunes.
  
  I'm not neutral on the subject, but I think that .epub files are a better archiving format than whatever kindle format happens to be at the moment. If you're trying to store things, .epub is a better archiving format.
  
  The deal Amazon makes with us is: the customer agrees not to worry too much about getting the files, Amazon provides apps for the major platforms -- all of which are capable of reading your ebook file reasonably well. So far, Amazon has kept its end of the bargain.... Time will tell if this continues...
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: It has not been .prc for years - try .azw3  
  > **username_4**: Wow, then my answer is probably wrong, because I don't recognize any of the file formats listed in my android directory: .asc, etc...  PRC is a legacy format, but I suspected that was the way it was being stored locally.  But I definitely did not see .azw3 files inside that directory!  
  
  ---
  
  