Mac system makes great changes since Catalina. Catalina is the first version of macOS to exclusively support 64-bit applications. Kindle for Mac 1.23 no longer runs at all on macOS 10.15 Catalina since it is a 32-bit application.
Can I still remove Kindle DRM on Mac Catalina or Big Sur or even the Mac Monterey? This is the most frequently asked questions for Mac users.
Yes, you can. And in this article I will share the easiest way to remove Kindle drm on Mac Catalina, Big sur, and Monterey.
My Mac is with chip M1 or M2, can I still remove kindle drm on it?
Yes, this method also works on Mac with M1 or M2 chip.
There are two ways to remove kindle drm on mac Catalina or later Mac OS which can be divided by Kindle holder and non-kindle user.
1 If you have kindle eink devices, please download & transfer via USB to get kindle books for drm removing.
2 If you don't have kindle eink devices, just disable kindle kfx format on kindle for mac.
3 If you don't have kindle eink devices, but want to remove drm from kindle books published in 2023, you can use the Epubor Kindle Converter.
Remove Kindle DRM Mac Catalina(Download & Transfer via USB)
Do you have any Kindle device? If yes, then this method will work for you.
If you don't have kindle device, please patch your kindle for mac to remove Kindle drm on Mac Catalina.
To use this method, please ensure:
You should own a kindle device(kindle eink device or kindle fire tablet) that registered with your Amazon Account.
Step 1 Go to your Manage your Content and Devices on Amazon website. Under "Content" tab, you can see all your kindle ebooks (purchased and borrowed).
Step 2 Download Kindle books to your computer at first.
Click the "More actions" at the end of the books title, then choose "Download &Transfer via USB".
Step 3 Choose your registered Kindle e-ink device in your pop-up window, then click on "Download" .
Your kindle books will be downloaded to your Mac.
Step 4 Remove Kindle DRM on Mac Catalina with Epubor Ultimate.
1 Download and install Epubor Ultimate, the best kindle drm removal and ebook format converter.
2 Plugin your Kindle device to your Mac Catalina for loading the kindle serial number.
If your Kindle device is not in your hand right now, you need to go to the Amazon.com to find your Kindle serial Number and then go to User center>> Setting>>Kindle>>fill in the kindle serial number.
Pro tip: the easiest way to find kindle serial number on Amazon website
1. Go to "Device" tab under "Manage your Content and Devices", you'll see all your registered kindle device and app. Just click the kindle eink device you selected in the previous step and then click on the Kindle name.
2. Find the Kindle serial number in the kindle device details.
3 Just drag and drop the kindle ebooks from your computer to the main interface of Epubor Ultimate. You can get rid of kindle drm easily as the below picture.
To find the drm-free kindle books, just click the output folder icon on the bottom-right corner. Only few steps, you can strip Kindle drm on Mac Catalina. It is definitely the ultimate way to remove kindle drm on mac Catalina.
Remove Kindle DRM from Kindle for Mac
Since there is no way to revert Kindle for Mac to version 1.23 on macOS Catalina or Big Sur, one alternative solution is to remove the Kindle DRM from version 1.31. This can be done with the help of certain command execution tools, which can remove DRM from Kindle eBooks.
Note: please ensure your kindle for MAC is 1.31 or older version. If you are using kindle for Mac 1.32, or later version, please install the Kindle for Mac 1.31 at first.
Or, you can use the "auto-degrade" button in Epubor Ultimate, as shown in the picture below.
Two things you need to do before excuting the command
- Uncheck the "Auto-update" option in the Kindle for Mac.
- Close the Kindle for Mac.
Then follow the following steps to remove kindle drm on Mac.
1. Open your terminal, copy& paste the following command, and then click enter.
chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test
If the chmod command fails with a permission error try again using sudo.
sudo chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test
Then fill in the computer passwords, and press "Enter". This chmod command will help you avoid the kindle kfx downloading from kindle for Mac.
Notification: "NO such file or diectory" or "Operation not permitted"
For some Mac users, after executing the command, they may encounter a "No such file or directory" error.
If you are using a Mac with an "M1" or "M2" chip, the error message would be "Operation not permitted."
This issue is occurring because the version of Kindle for Mac you are using is not Kindle for Mac 1.31 or an older version. You may think that you have successfully downgraded your Kindle to version 1.31, but that might not be the case.
To resolve this error, please navigate to your "Applications" folder, right-click on the "Kindle" app, and select "Move to Trash." Next, download Kindle for Mac version 1.31 and install it again. Make sure to "Skip" the latest version during the installation process. After that, close the kindle app and run the command again.
Note: If the error message continues to appear, please repeat the above process until you have successfully removed the DRM.
2. Run Kindle for Mac, register it with your Amazon account and then right click the book cover to download them again and run Epubor Ultimate to remove kindle DRM.
Note: remember to right click the book cover and then select "Download" to download your kindle books. Also, please don't open the downloaded kindle books before stripping drm.
For the detailed steps, you can read Patch Kindle for Mac on Mac Catalina
Remove Kindle DRM on Mac with Kindle Converter(support kindle books published in 2023)
Since there has been a lot of feedback regarding the inability to download Kindle books published in 2023 on older versions of Kindle for Mac, it has become a challenging time for ebook enthusiasts who have invested a significant amount of money in these newly released Kindle books.
That's why we introduce this new software--Epubor Kindle Converter, the first tool on the market can handle kindle books published in 2023.
To convert the kindle books to drm-free epub or pdf, here is how to do so:
1. Download the android simulator;
2. Install Kindle for Android on Android emulator;
3. Download kindle books via Kindle for Android;
4. Launch Kindle Converter to convert kindle books to pdf, epub or other formats.
Final Words
1 With Epubor Ultimate, you can remove kindle drm and convert kindle books to epub/pdf/azw3/mobi/txt.
2 If you have any kindle device, regardless of kindle eink device or kindle fire, you don't have to downgrade kindle for mac to older version any more. Just download Kindle books via "Download & Transfer via USB".
3 Epubor Ultimate works both on windows and mac so you can use this method to remove kindle drm on Windows 11/10/7/8.
4 Certainly, there are other methods of removing kindle drm on Mac Catalina or later Mac OS, such as using the command to stop kindle from executing the render-test function published by Odamizu. However, if you have no kindle eink devices, follow this guide pacth your kindle for Mac for removing Kindle drm on Mac Catalina.
5 For non-kindle users, to remove drm from the kindle books published in 2023, Epubor Kindle Converter is the best choice. It can help you remove drm from old kindle books and the newly published ones with one-click.
Iris Yan the passionate member of Epubor since 2017. Her mission is to enhance your ebook reading experience by sharing insightful tips and tricks. Join her on a journey towards reading excellence today!
Hi, I would really like to get step 3 to work. I have installed Kindle version 1.26 as you stated and used "chmod". I have downloaded books the way you stated.
I have checked that there is no "kcr" files in my Kindle library. Still Epubor Ultimate writes "Kindle DRM" with big red letters on many books I wanted to convert.
Then login your kindle cloud reader on chrome browser. This time you can download your kindle books.
If you need more support, please contact me via epubor.iris@outlook.com to get further assistance.
Textbook are not supported.
thanks a lot
Please install the kindle cloud extension to your chrome and then try to download and pin the book.
Install the kindle cloud extension here>>https://www.epubor.com/faq.html#e901
But your kindle cloud reader book still can be downloaded. Just click the book cover to open this book and start the downloading. You can see a downloading process at the bottom right corner on your open book.
If your book has been downloaded completely, right click the book and there will be menu include "open book"Remove book".
Then you can use Epubor kcr converter to remove DRM from them.
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us.
Yes I see what you are saying. That works for the other books in my cloud library, but for the specific book I am trying to download it says on the Kindle Cloud Reader, "We're sorry. Kindle Cloud Reader can't open this book, but you can read it with our free kindle app. To receive a download link enter your email or phone number". The download link is for the kindle app (it takes you to the app store). This message pops up the second I click on the book on the cloud reader.
As stated in my first comment, the book on the amazon website posting also says "title is not supported on kindle e-readers", which means it will not open at all on the cloud reader. The moment I click on it I get the error message I copied and pasted above.
The name of the book is rethinking disability by Jan Valle and David J Connor (2013) 3rd. edition. Pink cover https://tinyurl.com/y76vxwh3
Thank you
Hello,
I am facing the same issue regarding converting some books which is showing the same error:
"We're sorry. Kindle Cloud Reader can't open this book".
Is there a work around solution for this problem? I have purchased few books from Amazon and desperately need them in pdf formats to study.
Kindly advice and help.
Br, Amit
I forgot to mention. I am using Catalina 10.15.6 and Kindle version 1.29 (58033)
I also tried all options and help I could find for ePUBOR Ultimate, but I am still seeing the error "Kindle KFX".
But here is a workaround, please use Kcr converter to convert kindle books downloaded via kindle cloud reader to drm free azw3, epub, pdf and mobi format according the instructions in this article.
Kindle cloud reader is showing "Kindle will no longer support downloading books for offline access in the web browser. You can continue to read your existing downloaded books until you sign off from your account." when I had my computer offline. When it is online Kindle Cloud Reader no longer has a Cloud/Downloaded tabs, neither on Chrome, or on the Edge browser I just tried.
Very disappointing. Unless there is a another way to get kindle books into Epubor's KCR Converter it appears my purchase is no longer doing what it promised to do.
But your kindle cloud reader book still can be downloaded. Just click the book cover to open this book and start the downloading. You can see a downloading process at the bottom right corner on your open book.
If your book has been downloaded completely, right click the book and there will be menu include "open book"and "Remove book".
Then you can use Epubor kcr converter to remove DRM from them.
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us.
Let's accept it : Amazon's upped their game, that's what's happened. I spend a whole day of hit & trials, multiple times of installations & uninstallations but it just doesn't seem to work. Basically your software works through Kindle Cloud Reader but amazon seems to have condemned KCR as its not downloading any books anymore and gives a message : We're Sorry, KCR can't open this book, but you can read it with our free kindle app. Please enter your email or mobile number to receive the download link.
Now if you have a valid solution for this then please share. Otherwise you better take this blog off because it doesn't work.
#No Disrespect
Kind Regards
Mo
First of all, thank you for using our kcr converter. I guess I know what happens to this book.
1. Please note some books (etextbooks) are only downloaded via Kindle for pc/mac. This is decided by publisher and the download information clearly lists on the product detailed page. So If this book doesn't support by Kindle cloud reader, you can not download them via Kindle cloud reader. You can now go back to your ebook product to check this point.
2. Kindle cloud reader books are now downloaded automatically that's why Amazon removes the download and pin tab. They think this will improve the user experience.
But your kindle cloud reader still can be downloaded.
3. If your kindle cloud reader ebooks can be downloaded, then KCR Converter will help you convert them.
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us.
Have a nice day.
After opening a book in the Kindle Cloud Reader, it takes a while till the download starts automatically. Approx. 10 secs in my case. So, patience is helpful.
Starting the KCR Converter after the downlad has completed, shows all downloaded books and allows DRM removal and conversion.
Well done. Thanks
What to do ?
I tried every think and every update...
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 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.
For the Mac catalina users, there are two ways:
1. If you have the Kindle e-ink device, just follow this guide: https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove-drm-from-kindle-kfx-ebooks.html#meth4
2. If you don't have any kindle e-ink device, please just follow this guide>> https://www.epubor.com/patch-kindle-for-mac-on-mac-catalina.html
Hi. I'm using macOS Big Sur Version 11.0.1 (20B29).
I purchased a LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION to Epubor Ultimate yesterday. I'am a senior Software Engineer and after trying all of your tutorial on how to remove the DRM from my kindle files, exhaustively, I'am no further forward. I bought the software to remove the DRM from my Kindle books that I have stored on my Mac. Not a device a computer. The Python tutorial, being very familiar with it, sounded promising, but to no avail.
Your software will NOT remove the DRM from Kindle books. I'll apply for a Refund.
Thank You
Steve MacEwan
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us.
Hello there,
I have put off upgrading my MacOS so that I can continue to remove the DRM from my Kindle books. You said that there is a work around if you had pervious converted books before the upgrade to Cat. Does that same work around work for Big Sur and what is it?
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com
Hello there,
I have put off upgrading my MacOS so that I can continue to remove the DRM from my Kindle books. You said that there is a work around if you had pervious converted books before the upgrade to Cat. Does that same work around work for Big Sur and what is it?
Hello,
I have Kindle version 1.32.0 on Mac Big Sur 11.2.3. When I run the command in terminal…
sudo chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test
After entering my password I get this error…
"No such file or directory"
The only files I see in the MacOS folder are
CrashReporter
Kindle
Is there a fix for this problem?
"
Then follow this guide to download kindle books and remove drm.
Any more problem, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Hello,
I have Kindle v1.32.0 on Mac Big Sur 11.5.2. In terminal, I got "No such file or directory" when trying to run the command "sudo chmod -x /Applications/Kindle.app/Contents/MacOS/renderer-test"
Followed your advise to Gary, I downgraded Kindle to version 1.31(deleted the higher version completely, then installed the older version). Tried the command in terminal, still got the same response.
Then I searched the machine, but didn't see any folder named "MacOS". There's a folder "My Kindle Contents", but no file resembles "renderer-test".
What should I do next?
Thank you for using our software and sincerely sorry for this issue. Please delete this kindle 1.32 and then install 1,.31 and then redownload kindle books to remove drm.
If you are still failed, please feel free to contact support@epubor.com to get further assistance.
Will this work with OSX Monterey 12.3.1 ???
32 bit kindle apps will not run on this osx ?
Hello,
Thanks for your comment. Please follow this user guide step by step and try again.
https://www.epubor.com/kindle-converter-user-guide.html
If there are still the same problem, please feel free to contact us via support@epubor.com.
Best regards,
Epubor Team