
Aside from Adobe Digital Editions, you can now use the third-party Calibre ACSM plugin (DeACSM) to download ACSM files. This plugin allows you to easily convert ACSM files into DRM-free EPUB or PDF formats without relying on ADE. Follow the step-by-step tutorial below to download and convert ACSM files directly to EPUB/PDF using Calibre.
1. What You Need to Know about ACSM Files?
1What is An ACSM File?
An ACSM (Adobe Content Server Message) file is a link used to download and manage eBooks. It contains information like the book's title, author, publisher, and the encryption key needed to access the eBook from an online bookstore or library.
2Which Online Book Retailers Use ACSM Files?
ACSM files are commonly used by retailers and libraries, including: Adobe Digital Editions Store, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play Books, Booktopia, OverDrive, etc.
3Why Need to Use ADE to Download ACSM Files?
ADE is free software designed to manage and read eBooks. It processes ACSM files by extracting the encryption key, downloading the eBook, and activating DRM protection, making the content ready for reading.
4Does ACSM File Have DRM Protection?
Yes, ACSM files usually include DRM protection to prevent unauthorized copying and sharing. However, some retailers or publishers may offer DRM-free options.
2. How to Download ACSM Files with Calibre ACSM Plugin?
ACSM files required ADE to download them as EPUB or PDF. However, with the Calibre DeACSM plugin, you can now download ACSM files directly to your computer without ADE. This plugin also removes DRM from your eBooks. Follow the steps below to complete the process easily.
Step 1Download Calibre to your PC/Mac
Calibre is a free and open-source e-book management software that allows users to organize, convert, edit, and read e-books on their computers. The software supports a wide range of e-book formats, including DOCX, EPUB, TXT, PDF, and many others.
Step 2Download Calibre ACSM Plugin
With the third-party plugin, Calibre gains the superpower to extend the functionality of the Calibre software in various ways, including automating tasks, removing DRM protection, converting e-books to different formats, and more. So does this Calibre ACSM Plugin, which allows users to turn ACSM files into EPUBs or PDFs just like ADE would.
Download Calibre ACSM Plugin here
Step 3Load Calibre ACSM Plugin to Calibre
Launch calibre, then go to Preferences (in Calibre toolbar) > Plugins > Load plugin from file. After successful DeACSM plugin installation, you need to restart calibre for the plugin to take effect.
Step 4Setup DeACSM Plugin to Authorize ADE
After restarting Calibre, you need to open the DeACSM plugin settings to authorize the plugin with your Adobe ID account in order to prepare for it to work. There are four options to authorize this ACSM plugin:
1. If you have ADE installed and activated on your machine, you can click Import activation from ADE to clone the existing activation from your ADE installation.
2. You can also click on Link to ADE account and enter your Adobe ID credentials to link your Calibre installation to your Adobe ID account. This uses up one of your available activations.
3. You can click on Create anonymous authorization to create an anonymous authorization. Make sure to create backups of that authorization.
4. If you have used this plugin before, you can click on Import existing activation backup to import a previously created activation backup (ZIP) file to restore an activation. This functionality can also be used to clone one activation to multiple computers.
Since we have installed and activated ADE on our computer before, so we chose the third option to authorize ADE. If you don't have an Adobe ID account to authorize ADE, you can create a new Adobe ID here.
During authorization, the plugin may ask you for the ADE version to emulate. Usually, you can leave this setting as it is (ADE 2.0.1).
If you authorize ADE with the wrong Adobe ID or choose the wrong authorization option, you can find the DeACSM plugin under the File type, then double click it, next press Ctrl + Shift + D keyboard to pop up the setup windows. You can remove the ADE authorization by clicking Yes.
Step 5Turn ACSM File into EPUB/PDF directly without ADE
After you’ve activated the DeACSM plugin, then just drag and drop ACSM files into Calibre and they'll turn into EPUBs or PDFs depending on the output format you chose earlier when exporting the files from the ebook vendor's website. BTW, some ebook vendors may only provide EPUB output files.
As is shown in the above screenshot, the cover has not been displayed successfully. And when you try to open this EPUB via calibre e-book viewer, it says “This book has DRM” How did this happen?
Correct! The Calibre ACSM plugin can only turn ACSM files into DRM-protected EPUBs or PDFs. And the DRM-protected EPUBs or PDFs can still be opened with ADE. Here comes to the most essential part: how can I remove DRM from these EPUB/PDF files? In order to download ACSM files into DRM-free EPUBs or PDFs for good, you need to use the Calibre ACSM plugin with another DeDRM plugin.
How Can I Identify whether the ADE Files Are Encrypted or Not?
Generally speaking, if the downloaded ebook file is saved as a .acsm file, then this file is DRM-protected. If it is saved as EPUB or PDF file directly, then this ADE file has no DRM.
Step 6Download DeDRM Plugin to Your Computer
Download Calibre DeDRM Plugin here
The DeDRM Plugin can help you remove DRM from Kindle ebooks, ADE ePubs, and PDFs. Unzip the DeDRM Plugin and you will get this:
You must unzip the DeDRM plugin before loading it into Calibre, or it will fail to load.
Step 7Import DeDRM Plugin to Calibre
Open Calibre's Preferences dialog. Click on the "Plugins" button > "Load plugin from file" > Navigate to the unzipped DeDRM_tools folder > Select the file "DeDRM_plugin.zip" and select "Open"> Click "Yes" in the "Are you sure?" dialog box > Click the "OK" button in the "Success" dialog box. Then restart Calibre to let this plugin take effect.
Step 8Remove DRM from EPUB/PDF Files
Now all it’s set up. Drag and drop the ACSM files to Calibre again, boom~ DRM is removed instantly. Now you can convert DRM-free EPUB and PDF files to other formats as well.
As you can see, the Calibre ACSM plugin is a super useful tool to help you download ACSM files to EPUB/PDF files without ADE. So you can read them on your preferred e-reader device or reading apps. If you find the whole process is difficult for you to operate, you can use Epubor Ultimate to remove DRM from your ACSM files instead.
Epubor Ultimate can help you remove DRM from almost all the mainstream ebook providers, such as Kobo, Nook, Google Play, OverDrive, etc.

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.
Thanks for contacting me. I'm sorry that we can not make sure that all books downloaded by Calibre ACSM plugin can be decrypted. I suggest that you'd better download the books by ADE and then use our software to remove the drm. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm glad that this article can help you.
Any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
best regards
Epubor Team
Hello,
May I ask where you downloaded the plugin?
Please download the DeDRM plug-in from the website we mentioned in this article, and then import it again.
Any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team
Hello, thanks for your comment.
If you have any questions or concerns when you use Epubor software, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team
Hello, thanks for your comment
Can you provide a screenshot to show the error message and send it to us via support@epubor.com?
We will identify the issue and help you solve your problem as soon as possible. Thank you!
Best regards,
Epubor Team
So I came here, and successfully downloaded the book to my computer (PC Windows)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DETAILED GUIDE!!!!
Installing ADE in wine is such a pain.
No way to go on.
Any solution to suggest ?
THANKS A LOT Amy !!! (2025-02-03)
I run Calibre under Linux OpenSUSE Leap 15.6 (2025-02-03) updated regulary.
I followed your procedure and all worked fine.
Previously, I was not able to remove the DRM protection and I had to run Calibre on Winxxx !
Best regards
Patapoum (from France)