Updated in 2025:
Amazon has remove the kcr format from the Kindle for Mac. I've checked my downloaded kindle books many time on Mac, they are not in .kcr format any more. But they are encryped with tougher Kindle drm and in different formats, like azw9, azw8 and KFX. See the screenshot below.
How to remove kindle drm on Mac now?
The method introduced in this post also works for the other Kindle format on Mac. If you like, you can also read this comprehensive guide on removing DRM from Kindle eBooks on Mac to learn the details.
What is Kindle kcr? I cannot give a definitive explanation as it was just released about one week ago. However, what I can tell you is that the .kcr file contains the main body of Kindle books which was previously stored in the Kindle .kfx file. Many of you may not have seen this new Kindle ebook format yet. If you have updated your Kindle for Mac to version 1.25.2 (52077) or a later version, you might be 'lucky' enough to encounter this new Kindle format - Kindle KCR.
Starting from Kindle for Mac 1.40, an increasing number of Kindle books downloaded via Kindle for Mac are in KCR format. Since this is a relatively new Kindle ebook format, there is currently no straightforward method to remove DRM from Kindle KCR files. However, this is not a major issue, as I have gathered two alternative methods to eliminate DRM from Kindle KCR books and convert them to PDF.
Method 1. Use Kindle Converte for Kindle DRM on Mac
Kindle Converter is specialized software that can assist you in removing DRM from Kindle for Android using an Android emulator. This means you need to install an Android emulator on your Mac computer, create an Android device, install the Kindle for Android APK to download Kindle books, and then proceed to remove kindle DRM.
1 Download Kindle Converter for Mac to your computer.
Download Kindle Converter Mac Intel Download Kindle Converter Mac Apple Silicon
2 Install Android Studio.
3 Create Android device and install Kindle for Android.
4 Download kindle books on Android emulator.
5 Remove kindle drm with Epubor Kindle Converter.
Please read the detailed guide to remove kindle drm on Mac with Epubor Kindle Converter.
Note: This method only support the books released before May, 2024. If your purchase many books that released later than that, you should not choose this method.
Method 2. Use Epubor Ultimate to handle Kindle books downloaded via Kindle eink device.
Updated 2025/2/13: As of February 26, 2025, the "Download Transfer via USB" option will no longer be available. — Take advantage of the final opportunity to remove DRM from your Kindle books on Mac.
Prerequisite for using this method: You need to have a Kindle device registered with your Amazon account information. It should be a kindle eink device because kindle fire tablet is not supported.
Step 1. Download Kindle books via kindle eink device.
Please ensure your kindle books downloaded completely before removing drm. If not, you will be failed to remove drm from your kindle books on device.
Step 2. Download and install Epubor Ultimate
To remove Kindle DRM and convert kindle books to pdf, Epubor Ultimate is highly-recommended. It is an one-stop ebook tools which can handle almost 99% ebooks on the market. It is available on Windows and Mac platform.
Download and install Epubor Ultimate.
Lanuch Epubor Ultimate, plugin your kindle device to your computer.
Your kindle device will be detected and displayed in the left side bar. Your downloaded books will be displayed in the left panel. Drag & drop downloaded kindle books to the main interface of Epubor Ultimate. The DRM will be removed.
Then select ”convert to pdf” from the drop-down list, then click on “Convert to pdf” button to start the conversion.
Once the conversion process has done, you will see “Succeeded” next to the book title. To find the converted file, just click on “Succeeded” or output folder icon at the bottom right.
Video tutorial--Remove drm from kindle eink device
Method 3. Install Virtual Windows Machine on Mac
All your kindle books downloaded via Kindle for PC will be in Kindle kfx format which is crackable by Epubor Ultimate. Therefore, there is another way to handle the kindle books directly on Mac --installing Windows on Mac, and then remove kindle drm on Windows.
Step 1 : Watch the following guide to install Windows on Mac computer:
Step 2: Then remove kindle drm on Windows virtual machine.
Detailed guide: How to Remove DRM from Kindle KFX eBooks
Final Words
1 KCR format has disappeared from Kindle format.
2 Kindle for Mac 1.40 can no longer download any Kindle books, making it impossible to remove DRM from Kindle for Mac in 2025.
3 The Download & Transfer via USB" option has been unavailable since 02/26/2025.
4 If you have a kindle eink device, you still can remove drm from kindle eink device with Epubor Ultimate.
Note: If the above mentioned methods cannot help you convert kindle kcr books, we also offer the conversion service.
Iris Yan is a passionate member of the Epubor team, dedicated to enhancing your ebook reading experience. She shares insightful tips, tricks, and practical advice to help you get the most out of your digital library. Join her on the journey to reading excellence today!
