Skip to main content

How to Add a Nook DRM-Removal Plugin to calibre

8100562371_a1014c551e_bUpdated: 11 July 2015

What with B&N giving up on the international Nook Store and having trouble getting their new site to function properly, I’ve decided to dust off this two-year-old post and update the instructions so that they are applicable to users who find the post in July 2015.

It’s easier than ever before to strip the DRM from your legally purchased ebooks, but it does still take some work to rescue your purchases.

TL;DR

The short-short version is that you need to get the DeDRM plugin from Apprentice Alf and install it in calibre (and reboot calibre). Once you’ve installed the plugin, all you have to do is find where NookStudy or Nook4PC put the ebooks on your computer and drag each ebook into calibre (everything else is automatic).

Luckily for you, you only have to go through the set up process once in order to remove Kindle, Nook, and Adobe DE DRM. (Kobo is a separate process.) If you’ve followed my instructions for removing Kindle DRM then you’ve already finished setting up to strip Nook DRM, and you can skip to the end of this post.

Warnings

But if you’re finding this post for the first time, let me start with the standard warning:

  • These instructions are written in order to assist the average user in protecting their purchases. I did not write it to assist in committing piracy; I believe in buying content, when possible. But I also believe in controlling the content I buy and that is why I strip the DRM.
  • Note that these instructions are Windows only, and some details will be different between the various versions of Windows. They were also written without the permission or participation of Kovid Goyal, the creator of calibre.

First Things First

You need to download and install these apps on your computer. If you have either of them then you do not need to install them again:

Calibre is of course the ebook library management tool. I’ve mentioned it once or twice, and that’s what you’re going to use to remove the DRM.

And NookStudy is one of the PC apps that B&N released to read Nook ebooks. B&N no longer supports NookStudy, but it still works and you can use it to download your Nook ebooks (You can also use Nook for PC).

Set up NookStudy, and make sure you download the ebooks you bought. Install calibre. While it’s being installed, go to the Apprentice Alf website and download this ZIP file full of plugins

  1. UnZip the ZIP file you just downloaded.
  2. Launch calibre. When it’s open, look at the icons on the top row. There’s one on the far right called "Preferences". Click on it. See Pic 1.
  3. It will bring up a new window with a bunch of icons.  Look on the bottom row for the one that says "plugins". Click it. See Pic 2.
  4. And now you’ll get another new window. Look at the buttons on the bottom row. Click on the one that says "load plugin from file". See Pic 3.
  5. Use the file browser window to find the folder you downloaded. Open it, and then open the DeDRM_calibre_plugin folder.
  6. There should only be a single ZIP file in that folder, and it should be called "DeDRM_plugin". Double click to select it.

Tell calibre to install the plugin, and once it is down shut down calibre and restart it.

And that’s it. You’re done. At this point the plugin should be working, but we won’t know until you try it for the first time.

How to Remove the DRM

The DRM removal process is simple in practice. You just need to find where NookStudy put the ebooks on your computer, and copy+paste them into calibre. On Windows 7, the ebooks are stored in a folder with a location similar to:

  • C:\Users\username\Documents\My Barnes & Noble eBooks\email

You can tell that the process worked by using calibre to open one of the ebooks.

Addendum: Just so you know, there are files which NookStudy won’t download. That app doesn’t support everything B&N sells, so for some ebooks you will need to get the files off your smartphone of tablet and then copy them into calibre.  (I’m still working on a process to get those ebooks.)

images by Svadilfari,  Son of Groucho

Similar Articles


Comments


Smoley September 27, 2012 um 12:06 pm

Who wrote the software (plug-in?) that I’m giving my credit card info to in order to decrypt the DRM? How do I know that my CC account won’t be compromised by using this software?

Also, isn’t this plug-in in direct violation of the DMCA? How are they getting around that?

Nate Hoffelder September 27, 2012 um 3:20 pm

Good point. This is definitely a reason to not use this plugin – if not for the fact that it has been used by thousands of other users without repercussion.

Smoley September 27, 2012 um 6:02 pm

I would just be wary that you’re using a piece of software that is probably illegal (not illegal to use – illegal to produce and distribute according to DMCA), and you don’t know who wrote it (or possibly modified the version you’re about to use somewhere along the way), and then you’re blindly handing it your credit card info.

As a software engineer, that’s just a bit too spooky for me. If the source is available and you can audit and build it yourself, that would go a long way toward putting a mind at ease, or if the software was produced by a company that could be sued if they were caught selling valid CC accounts on the black market. That would be another indication that the software was somewhat legitimate. But apparently there are neither of these assurances with this particular plug-in, so who knows what it’s doing with your CC number or any other personal info on your machine.

Besides, let’s be honest here – you actually have no idea if those "thousands of other users" had their CC numbers stuffed away in a Russian database of stolen credit cards somewhere. What you probably meant to say was, "…except for the fact that I haven’t heard of anyone getting their CC account compromised by using what appears to be a popular plug-in."

Nate Hoffelder September 27, 2012 um 6:10 pm

The source _is_ available. The plugin is a ZIP file wrapped around a php script. You can look at the php any time you want.

And I do know of the person who developed this one originally as well as indirectly know the person maintaining it.

lingam November 7, 2014 um 6:16 pm

This is the primary reason engineers just talk with other engineers and aren’t very much fun.

Stop DRM November 25, 2012 um 9:54 pm

Anyone who is concerned about using the Calibre DRM-removal software can limit their potential risk from their credit card number being illegitimately used. Simply buy ebooks using only Visa gift cards with a low starting balance. Gift cards are often available at banks and grocery stores, and can be acquired without any fee for just the cash value of the starting balance.

Kat July 2, 2013 um 9:44 pm

I tried the credit card thing with a prepaid card I don’t use much (put the CC on my account to see if worked). Not only did it not work, but then it wouldn’t let me log into the plugin to delete the info. I had to delete the plugins. Anything like this that asks your payment info is a scam.

Frank October 18, 2013 um 10:18 am

That’s not true. B&N uses your payment information as a part of the key, the only way for the software to work without that knowledge would be to brute force the key. Or find an outright crack.

What the software does effectively is take the key that you have for your copy and permanently unlocks it.

Calling it a scam just because it asks for that information when that information is essential to the progress isn’t fair.

C baker May 10, 2015 um 2:15 am

It doesn’t ask for your cc info for kindle. Why? Because Kindle books confirm identity – and, thus, licensing – in a different manner. B&N confirms with credit cards.


Gbm September 27, 2012 um 12:06 pm

You do not need Nook for PC . All my B&N ebooks download straight to cabilre using both windows and linux, with the plugin installed.

Nate Hoffelder September 27, 2012 um 12:13 pm

Thanks, but I tried that. The website won’t let me download the ebooks.


Sturmund Drang September 27, 2012 um 7:27 pm

I trust Apprentice Alf, Nate Hoffelder, and Kovid Goyal (I also think Americans will vote smart in November, so take my opinion with a hardy dose of scepticism). It doesn’t change the fact that B&N encoding your credit card information into the DRM scheme was a classically stupid thing to do. This is the single reason I will buy no ebooks from B&N. I’d choose them over Amazon else. It’s only a matter of time before credit card information is cracked from people’s B&N ebooks. That’s just the way the Great Game is played.

Tyler September 27, 2012 um 8:47 pm

I download directly to Calibre too from the Barnes and Noble site. I have to put most Kobo books into Adobe before I can import them to Calibre though.

Jim November 7, 2012 um 10:00 pm

You’re assuming that the card is used in a reversible way. As I recall when I looked at ignoble some time ago, it isn’t – it’s hashed (ie, passed through a one-way algorithm) that uses the name and card number as initialization values.

Short of brute forcing for the two factors, there isn’t/shouldn’t be a way to extract the CC# from the book.


R. Scot Johns September 28, 2012 um 9:41 pm

Will not work with fixed layout ebooks, which Calibre does not yet support.

elpheen June 8, 2013 um 3:17 pm

This is still correct today, and that makes me sad.


Calibre eBook manager hits 0.9, adds better Android phone, tablet support, portable installer – Liliputing October 1, 2012 um 12:43 pm

[…] The Digital Reader (where you can also find tips for using Calibre to strip DRM from NOOK or Kindle books).  If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on […]


GaDo November 23, 2012 um 1:10 pm

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!!

THE METHOD WORKS !!!!!


Ruwed November 27, 2012 um 2:18 am

Thanks again for posting this, I followed the plugin’s instructions (enter B&N account name) and it wasn’t working, it was only after I read your post that the light bulb turned on and I used my mailing address name and everything worked like a charm.

For those paranoid souls (it’s only paranoid until it happens… so understandable) This is a pretty low risk endeavor, the source is all open code, you can poke around and see if there are any malicious links or IP’s hidden in there before you do anything.


William miller December 19, 2012 um 8:15 pm

I have tried this several time and can not get to work in my win 7.followed the instructions
And can’t get it to work.

Tim December 26, 2012 um 9:47 pm

The trick is to get your name and CC info exactly the same as given to B&N.
Yes, I used it on Win7. Followed the instructions as given but I didn’t use nook for PC, I just downloaded the file from B&N to my desktop and them added it to calibre.

WORKS GREAT. THANKS NATE.

Wife happy – books passing between my Nook and her Kobo.


Viv December 31, 2012 um 5:27 pm

I did everything I was suppose to do and nada. The message says, "this plugin no longer uses ".b64 keyfiles stored in calibre’s configuration directory. Do you have any existing key files there or anywhere that you’d like to migrate into the new plugin preferince method?" So no luck for me. Guess everything changed with the new calibre upgrade. Bummer.


Kari January 1, 2013 um 10:24 pm

I am having the same problem as Viv. Is there an updated plugin available?

Kelly January 14, 2013 um 10:21 pm

I’m also having trouble getting this to work – it mentions the bit about .b64 – and I’m certain I entered my info right in the plugin key. I very much would like to know what else to try?


Tollie January 3, 2013 um 11:23 pm

I’ve tried using all combination (full name,only first name, only last name, combined without space, email address) all with the same cc number I used to purchase the ebook. But none is works.

any other idea?


David C January 6, 2013 um 5:46 pm

I am unable to download the Calibre program. I have made no less than 10 attempts in the last hour, and it continues to stall during download, at various points: 65%, 68%, 75%, 98%, etc.

Any ideas?


Maranti January 7, 2013 um 12:54 am

To be more secure, I updated my default BN credit card with one that never has a large balance. But that’s not how it works. Two things I had to pay attention to:
1) use the credit card with which the books were purchased
2) use the name I have under my shipping address (which is the name that is on the credit card, I think)

Then the key worked, using the latest version of Calibre updated today.

I did not understand this instruction: "You’ll need to copy over the ebooks you downloaded, which you should be able to find inside a folder inside the My Documents folder. Copy and paste the files into calibre."

I just imported the epubs from the folder to which I had saved them on my pc.

Thanks a lot!


Alex March 20, 2013 um 2:42 pm

Does the plugin remove DRM from NOOK Comics? I think I have a different DRM removal plugin installed right now, and I recently tried copying the comic files from my tablet and adding them to Calibre, but I still get a DRM popup.


Gary March 30, 2013 um 4:59 pm

Plugin for new calibre v 0.9.5 works nicely – thanks!
Ref step 6 above, I didn’t get to "Ignobleepub.zip" to select. The new version of calibre allows to select "DeDRM_plugin.zip". Then execute the "Pict 4" instruction.
Pict 5 is not valid for the new calibre, which is now menu driven:
– select the appropriate reader format
– then select the green plus sign
I had to delete my previously added book and re-add the title for the DRM to remove.

Jill April 3, 2013 um 2:57 pm

Thanks, Gary. This fixed my problems! =D

Nate Hoffelder April 3, 2013 um 2:58 pm

Thanks, I need to update this post.

Adam December 16, 2013 um 3:32 pm

It’s still not working for me. I bought a B&N ebook with a B&N gift card, so that is the cc info I entered under Pict 5 with the green plus sign. I removed the ebook from Calibre and added it again, and it still gives me an error saying it’s protected by DRM when I hit convert. Am I missing something?

Jamie December 26, 2013 um 2:09 pm

Adam, I bought some with a BN gift card but I also had to put a default credit card before it would let me use it. You may need to enter that default cc info you used when you created the new account. Let me know if that worked for you.

Michael Mitchell December 19, 2013 um 4:54 pm

Thanks Gary! I was about to give up until i saw your comment about removing the book from calibre and RE-ADDING it. That was key!

Michael

Licia August 28, 2014 um 5:05 pm

thanks!!! it wasn’t working for me until I read your comment about deleting my library and re-adding them!! works perfect now. Thanks for the comment!


Gary March 30, 2013 um 7:53 pm

P.S. – Also, note that the "name" for the B&K (Nook) acct when configuring the plug in, needs to be the name on the B&K acct, not the name on the credit card used for purchase.

C baker May 10, 2015 um 2:17 am

So if the account is under Jennifer Smith, and the card was Joe Smith’s, you need to use the Jennifer Smith name?


David June 4, 2013 um 5:24 pm

Hi.
I cannot get this to work. I think it is setup right. The problem is that my nook simple touch glowlight hides the books in a partition (I think) so calibre cannot access it. As I am a UK customer, even though I managed to find a download of nook4pc for my windows7 pc, it defaults to the USA .com site so I cannot download my books to my PC. I am a bit stuck. Finally, there does not seem to be any feature on the UK nook site for downloading a book to a pc. Does anyone know where I can get help or advice?
Thanks
David

Fred Shadow June 9, 2013 um 11:55 am

David:
I am also in the UK and like you have set up Nook for PC; I cannot see any of my UK Nook purchases, though the three free classic novels I downloaded to my Nook are there. The only solution I could find was to install Nook for Android on my phone, copy the epub files to my PC and import into Calibre from there. Do you have an Android device?

Fred

David June 10, 2013 um 9:17 am

Fred:
Thanks for that. Fixed!
David


Craig June 11, 2013 um 9:36 am

David/Fred

I’m having troubles with this, can get the epub on my Android device no problem, but it then fails to allow me to 'import correctly' to Calibre.

Have tried adding the epub to Nook for PC and it keeps asking for name and credit card number – driving me nuts!!

Fred Shadow June 12, 2013 um 9:36 am

Craig:
I’m assuming you have installed Calibre for Windows, and installed the DeDRM plugin; and you’ve configured the plugin for Barnes and Noble ebooks by adding a key with a name (any name will do) your own name, and the credit card number associated with your Nook account.
If it doesn’t work I think it’s most likely that it doesn’t like the formatting of your name. I first tried
fred shadow
all lowercase, as it appears on the B&N account page; that didn’t work.
I then added two more keys with the names
Fred Shadow
Mr Fred Shadow
using the same credit card number, and one of them must have been right, as I could then import the epubs into calibre.

Fred

AndyL August 2, 2013 um 12:55 pm

As Nook.co.uk does not offer Nook for PC at the moment, I tried this…

I have managed to get the books into Android Nook as well….
Calibre 'seems' to import them OK – well there is no error message! But when I try to view, I get File Protected by DRM (or something similar) warning. I have tried all permutations of name and CC number – to no avail..

I also tried to sideload these into Nook for PC (from the B&N.com site) – but again it says locked, and wants name and CC. Again tried all permutations to no avail.

Is Nook for Android using a different DRM??

David August 6, 2013 um 5:27 pm

Hi Andy
I’m no expert, but have you definitely installed the plugin as described by Fred on 12th June (above). If yes, I’ll just summarise what seems to work for me (Thanks to Fred). I download to my Android phone and copy the files across to my pc. The open Calibre and 'Add books'. The book is now in epub format. and saved in my Calibre library ready for me to use.
Sorry if this is repeating what you already know.
David

AndyL August 7, 2013 um 6:57 am

Thanks David,
ALL help gratefully received!
I *think* I am doing it all correctly!
If I use the Nook/PC app – from the (US) B&N Site, I can download just a few of by ebooks (as this is the American site) – and I can open / convert them in Calibre with no problem.
If I down load my UK books (that I can’t see on the PC app) via the Android App, and then try to open / convert them, Calibre seems to open them OK, but if I try to view / convert them, I get the dreaded DRM message,
So…. not sure where to go from here! I am wondering whether having the US PC app loaded is affecting Calibre…
Might try it on another PC without the PC app loaded.
(getting to the stage where I will try anything!!)
Also…. I have tried using different variations of my name / CC on the plug in, but the plug in tells me that John Doe / john doe / JohnDoe all give the same key, which seems strange given earlier posts…
Andy


Daniel August 2, 2013 um 8:27 pm

Hi,

I purchased a book which does not available for Mac/PC Nook app to download but available for Nook mobile apps (iOS, Android). I extract an DRM epub from my iOS device, it is actually a PDF file but ends with .epub extension (PagePerfect Nook book). Any way to remove DRM from this file? Maybe it uses different drm sustem…

Alex January 15, 2014 um 5:50 pm

I’m in the same boat. I added a graphic novel I bought on the NOOK to calibre, but it couldn’t remove the DRM. I think these files have a different type of DRM encryption.


Sherri September 3, 2013 um 4:20 am

ASKING FOR HELP TO STRIP DRM ON B&N PDFs (PagePerfect NOOKBOOKS):

Hi All,
I am completely stuck – I’m trying to remove DRM on a PagePerfect NookBook. I live in Canada and we cannot buy Nooks here, so I use Nook4PC apps to view books I’ve downloaded. I prefer to strip the DRM so I can view them in Calibre, and read them on my e-reader – neither will allow me to view the encrypted PDF. I have tried to download the book using Nook4PC – but the book refuses to download (not available for download on this device, Error 2138 message).

When I used the latest NookStudy (for PC) app (v.2.1.2), the book appeared in my library and downloaded as a PDF file. HOWEVER, I could not remove the DRM!! I tried to use ineptpdf (or the variation, ineptpdf2) – one site mentions that this worked for others (reddit.com). It didn’t work for me. I got an error (error: pdf error error decrypting book session key). I thought perhaps the new NookStudy app uses a different DRM scheme (this was an issue with K4PC books for a while). So with much ado, I finally found an older copy of NookStudy (v 2.0.2 from 2009-2011)- I installed that version of NookStudy onto my PC and tried to download the PDF using that app. Turns out that the older NookStudy won’t even SHOW my new PagePerfect NookBooks!! I can’t download them…I can’t even see them!!

I’m completely stumped.

PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME STRIP DRM ON B&N PDFs?? (PagePerfect NookBooks)


Jamie September 11, 2013 um 2:02 pm

Used the method above. Imported ~80 books from B&N nook4pc. All downloaded from same account and at same time. 50 book came though fine to Calibre and 30 are still locked. How can i get the last 30 unlocked?


Dave November 13, 2013 um 8:42 am

When I download a nook EPUB, with the DRM removal stuff installed, once I open the EPUB, is the DRM permanently gone from the file, or do I have to "convert" my EPUB into another EPUB that would have the DRM removed?

Great tool, seems to work OK for me.

Alex January 15, 2014 um 5:54 pm

From my experience, you just get a DRM stripped copy when you add the NOOK books to calibre. You shouldn’t need to convert anything. Just open it in calibre to be sure. If it opens fine with no DRM notification, you should be good.


Ralph Hummel November 13, 2013 um 9:50 am

I think you need to convert to be sure. You could even convert back to the original format… That way you are sure your Calibre library file of the ebook is definitely DRM free.

Just make sure you use Calibre ONLY to create backups of your purchased ebooks and not to share them with anyone…. 🙂


Sara January 15, 2014 um 4:04 am

Just a small update on this wonderful guide (very successful and satisfied!): if you are trying to do this with a text book from B&N’s NookStudy program, you’ll have to configure the plugin for Adobe Digital Editions.

Eric January 15, 2014 um 7:42 pm

What do you mean by configure? I am trying to do the same thing you are how did you get it to work? Can you explain step by step please? I would appreciate it gratefully!


andrew January 16, 2014 um 4:38 am

thanks so much very easy, i followed your instructions downloading plugins, and bingo, it worked a treat, thanks again

Tom Neal January 17, 2014 um 8:30 pm

Can anyone give me a DEFINITE answer? When the book has been paid for with a GIFT CARD, do you enter the 16-digit default Credit Card number or the 15-digit Gift Card number?

I have not had a problem decrypting until using the gift card for payment. I’ve now tried both numbers and neither one works using the acct name that has always worked prior to this.

Presumably, there is no way to tell whether the name or the cc number is the problem?

THANKS for any ideas…


Remove B&N ebook DRM | Rambling localhost @ 127.0.0.1 April 18, 2014 um 11:59 am

[…] Reference: https://the-digital-reader.com/2013/09/27/how-to-add-a-nook-drm-removal-plugin-to-calibre/#.U1FHm… […]


Baldguy June 1, 2014 um 7:45 am

Thanks! And death to DRM. Plugin worked perfectly with Calibre on Mint.


Dean June 9, 2014 um 4:07 am

It’s not working for me. Like another user asked, how do I remove the DRM from a pageperfect nookbook? This type of book doesn’t open with nook for PC, it only opens with the nookstudy app. It says that it’s a pdf but when I try to open it with Adobe Reader, I get a message saying that the document requires drm features supported by Adobe Digital Editions and gives me the option to open it via ADE. However, ADE can’t open it and all I get is a blank.

Is it even possible to remove drm from a pageperfect nookbook? I would’ve never bought this had I known before!

Nate Hoffelder June 9, 2014 um 7:13 am

Pageperfect is B&N’s own PDF format. It’s not compatible with Adobe DE because B&N changed a lot when they optimized the format for their own internal uses.

Dean June 9, 2014 um 6:07 pm

I tried with the newest ADE version today and it asks for the username and unlock code (which I suppose comes from my cc). Even if the new ADE can’t open it, I wanted to know if the username and unlock code still comes from the cc number I have with B&N? I entered everything correctly and still got invalid username/password. Or is the DRM scheme different or unbreakable with pageperfect books?


Mike July 10, 2014 um 8:47 am

Thanks for what seems to be at least a partial fix to my problem. I have downloaded (purchased) a technical book from B&N, and would like to be able to export it so that I can print it so I have a readily available copy for reference at my desk instead of having to pull out yet another device to look something up. (Sometimes an regular old page turner Is easier to follow lol). Does anyone know of a way I can do this if I get this plugin to work? Thanks in advance!


Liv July 19, 2014 um 10:17 pm

Followed the directions step-by-step, was able to successfully remove the DRM and can now put the Nook books I bought on my Kindle.

Can’t thank you enough for explaining this.


Chuck July 20, 2014 um 7:41 pm

I have installed everything as per the instructions and I guess it kind of does what its supposed to do and that is remove the DRM. My problem, after the DRM is removed is when you go to open the book, parts are missing. Where there are missing chapters it will usually say Limited Demo Version. Am I doing something wrong. Please help.


B&N Says They Took Away the Download Option as a Security Measure – Here's How to Get Around It – The Digital Reader September 19, 2014 um 5:10 pm

[…] example, if you read on a Nook ereader, you can use the DRM-stripping instructions I posted in late 2012 to automatically transfer your ebooks off of your device and on to a computer […]


Dave September 21, 2014 um 11:33 pm

I am not able to get this to work after reading and re-reading your instructions. I am pretty sure that I am using the correct credit card details, but there is a small percentage of me that doubts this. You mentioned in a the following note that you could just update your CC details, then delete and re-download the book (Note: If you cannot find the older CC info, enter a current number into your account at B&N. Delete the older copies of the ebooks bought with the older credit cards and download them again. This will let you use the current cc info to de-DRM the ebooks.). When I choose the Delete option, I am told that it is a permanent action and that I will need to purchase the book again if I want it. Is there a way to refresh the CC information without purchasing the book again?

I am migrating from Nook to Kindle and that is why I would like to take my Nook books and migrate them to Kindle format.

Kris September 25, 2014 um 11:40 pm

Dave, they’re saying delete the older books from Calibre library NOT your BN library. If you delete them from your BN library then you would have to purchase them again. That way you redownload the books from the BN library online to your Calibre library on your computer, and all of those freshly downloaded books have the new CC info attached.


Deborah October 14, 2014 um 8:19 pm

I have been using this plugin successfully for quite some time, but I’m finding now that I cannot covert newly purchased NOOKbooks. I have changed the CC I use to buy them, so I think the problem is that I need to add the new CC number to the plugin, but when I highlight the plugin and click "customize plugin," I get the following:

calibre 2.5 isfrozen: True is64bit: False
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Windows (’32bit', 'WindowsPE')
32bit process running on 64bit windows
('Windows', '7', '6.1.7601')
Python 2.7.8
Windows: ('7', '6.1.7601', 'SP1', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM && Inept Epub DeDRM
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\preferences\plugins.py", line 292, in customize_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\preferences\plugins.py", line 370, in modify_plugin
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\__init__.py", line 152, in do_user_config
File "calibre_plugins.dedrm.__init__", line 495, in config_widget
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'ConfigWidget'

Can anyone help me figure out how to add the new CC information? Thanks.

Deborah October 14, 2014 um 8:21 pm

BTW, in case it matters, I’m running calibre 2.5.0 and DeDRM 6.0.8.


Denise October 22, 2014 um 10:40 am

I cannot successfully remove DRM from B&N books anymore. I tried removing from a file off of Nook PC and have installed plug-in twice and still cannot get it to work. Are tools still valid?


Rich December 9, 2014 um 8:09 pm

I am having the same problem as Denise. I was able to successfully remove drm from books I purchased earlier this year, and still can, but on books I purchased two weeks ago, no dice. I have tried downgrading Calibre from 2.12 to 1.48, and have tried all of the permutations of name and CC#, all with no success. I have also reloaded the plugins multiple times. Has B&N switched to some other DRM scheme?
Thanks

Timothy Wilhoit December 9, 2014 um 11:46 pm

If you’ve recently changed your default credit card at B&N, the encryption key is no longer based on your CC # but if you haven’t done that, this might help.

https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/#comment-49957


Hiya December 30, 2014 um 12:15 pm

Sadly, these instructions don’t work anymore. B&N has changed the way it generates keys. Copying files from a device to the computer to run through the Calibre plug-in doesn’t work, thanks to the new key generation method. Unless you are utterly besotted with B&N devices/apps and you want to spend the rest of your life married to B&N (or the life of the company, anyway, which – based on these utterly lousy business decisions – may last too much longer), I would STRONGLY advise against ever buying any digital material from that company. B&N never see another penny of my money, that’s for f***ing sure!


Michelle January 5, 2015 um 9:40 pm

Tried this multiple times with multiple cards…. no luck. Most were bought with gift cards, and I can’t get any of them to remove the DRM. I followed the directions. Any suggestions?


Mark Ritchie February 23, 2015 um 2:33 pm

I want to add my comment to this old thread. Never had problems till today. A book I purchased last week worked fine, but a book I purchased today, no dice. If B&N is changing, or has changed, their DRM, it is not consistently applied. The same credit card was used for both books.

Agree with the other commenter, that the day I stop being able to remove DRM, is the day I’ll switch vendors. What happens when they all become unbreakable?

Tom February 26, 2015 um 12:07 am

I now have the same problem. Books I previously downloaded work fine-I can load a 2nd copy into Calibre and the DRM is removed. However, if I remove local copy, download, and try to load the new file in calibre, the DRM is not removed. I am using Nook Study for PC and the software did not update, so I am mystified as to how they could have changed the DRM scheme and still have the old version of Nook Study open the files. Anyway, hoping someone out there can figure out what the issue is to help us out.

Tom February 26, 2015 um 12:34 am

I found at this page that B&N did in fact change the DRM:
https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/#comment-50953

If you go into Calibre, Preferences, file type plugins, highlight DeDRM, customize plugin, click on Barnes and Nobles ebooks, click on Help in the upper right, it takes you to a page that explains how it was changed and what you can do about (basically each book will have a unique key)

Tom February 26, 2015 um 12:49 am

I successfully followed the instructions and it worked. Clarification-I don’t know if I need to do this for each book, or it is a one time thing for my computer. I will find out the next time I buy a book from them!


Elsa February 28, 2015 um 6:54 pm

I’m running OSX 10.8, which nook for Mac doesn’t support. I downloaded nook for iOS on my 4S running iOS 8.1.3. I can download books to my phone, but I don’t know how to transfer them from my computer to my phone. Help?

moom February 28, 2015 um 10:34 pm

http://lifehacker.com/skip-itunes-and-add-your-own-books-to-ibooks-with-an-em-1468969494

This works with an iPhone or iPad.


Lou March 19, 2015 um 6:19 pm

As of this week, the plugin no longer works. I thought it was because my credit card expired and I hadn’t updated it, but that wasn’t it either. Then I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the plug in, and now I’m missing the ignoble piece of the plugin and don’t know how to get it back. I cannot customize the main DeDrm plugin as I get an error message:
Importerror: No module named PyQt4.Qt

And I got this error even before I uninstalled it.

I am bummed because this has been working beautifully for quite a while.


Jeremy Wilson May 6, 2015 um 12:31 pm

Barnes & Noble no longer uses Nook Study, and has changed over to Yuzu, which so far as I can tell, doesn’t import your library. The old Nook Study can be found here: http://nookstudy.software.informer.com/2.0/

Nate Hoffelder July 11, 2015 um 11:43 am

Do you have a link to the OSX version?


M. R. Stahl August 9, 2015 um 4:05 am

installed the plugin, restarted calibre, already had my B&N books downloaded and imported. still can’t open B&N books in calibre.


DeAnna August 12, 2015 um 7:38 pm

You, sir, are fantastic. I just found this today, and it worked like a charm. I can’t quite put my finger on what in the past 24 hours has made me realize my HD+ has limited life and support left, but the thought of losing all my ebooks made me very anxious. I am very relieved, and can now happily use my Nook until it, or BN, or both, bite the dust. Salut!


Eric August 29, 2015 um 4:49 pm

Nook study keeps giving me an internal error: Failed to retrieve adobe account

Nate Hoffelder August 29, 2015 um 5:38 pm

Are you on Windows 10?

One user encountered the same problem, and reported that he used the Nook for PC app to download the ebooks before stripping the DRM.


Treeling September 7, 2015 um 6:17 pm

I’m on a Mac running Yosemite 10.10.5 and I’m also getting errors– if I use my bn.com account info, I get the failure to retrieve adobe account message. If I click "create new account," I get "error retrieving remote data. cannot create account at this time". NookStudy is borked, maybe.


Kim April 19, 2016 um 9:59 pm

NookStudy no longer works. So, how are we supposed to go about getting our files onto our PC?

Nate Hoffelder April 19, 2016 um 11:18 pm

I figured out the solution. I’m going to rewrite this post, but here’s the short version.

Nook for PC still works (for me, on Win7). Install it, log in, and download your ebooks.

Install the latest version of the DeDRM plugin. (Restart calibre.) Open the plugin menu again, and choose the "customize" option for the DeDRM plugin. Choose the B&N option.

Click the green plus sign, and you will be prompted to enter the email and password on your Nook account. Type them in, and the plugin will generate the decryption key required to strip the DRM from your Nook ebooks.

P.S. This worked for me on Windows 7 (or at least i think it did). Let me know if it doesn’t work for you.

Chris Meadows April 20, 2016 um 5:32 am

It still works in the Windows 8/10 version, too.


Gordon Freeman April 29, 2016 um 9:17 pm

Do I need to have a CC on file with my account to generate a key? I just decided to try this recently and my cards had all expired so I removed them. Now I don’t have a CC on file w/ my account. When I try and generate the key w/ DeDRM plugin, I get a message that the key could not be retrieved. Verified several times that my account name/password are correct.

Nate Hoffelder April 29, 2016 um 9:22 pm

I can’t say for sure.

I have always had a CC number on my account.


Jeff December 29, 2016 um 9:59 pm

If you’re using the Windows 10 B&N Nook app, the files are hiding in
C:\Users\"my name"\AppData\Local\Packages\BarnesNoble.Nook\LocalState\
as a string of numbers with an .epub


How to Remove the DRM From Your Kindle, Kobo, and Nook eBooks And Rescue Them | The Digital Reader June 19, 2017 um 2:56 pm

[…] A Look at Nook ebooks […]


Leora Hatchwell January 18, 2018 um 9:46 am

Sir,
Thank you for all the help. I successfully unlocked Kindle. However, NookStudy "refuses" to open. I have triple checked the sign-in and password. Have things changed for 2018?


Patrick K ONeil March 10, 2018 um 12:59 pm

No matter what I do, calibre refuses to install your plugins. In every case it comes back as a bad zip file. I’ve tried downloading and re-downloading, I tried previous versions but in every single case, with Calibre 3.18 the plugin zip files come back as badzipfile: not a zip file.

Nate Hoffelder March 10, 2018 um 8:41 pm

I haven’t touched this in a long time so I could be out of date, but –

Are you trying to install a plugin or the the zip folder containing the plugins?


JM July 5, 2019 um 6:10 pm

I have my nook files downloaded to my computer and have moved them into Calibre, and I have installed your plugin to Calibre but I don’t know what to do next. I tried to open a book and I still get the DRM protected message. I have searched the internet but haven’t found anything helpful. I know I’m missing some information I need!


Heather G. July 18, 2019 um 6:22 pm

I am having the same problem as Leora and Gordon. The key retrieval asks for my B&N information, but I keep getting an error that the key can’t be retrieved and to check my username and PW. I’ve verified that they’re correct and even cut & pasted them to be sure. Is there a fix for this?


Write a Comment