Kindle Setup for Calibre Users
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likep18179Kindle Setup for Calibre Users
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likep18179Instructions for Android/Kindle PC setup – Other than the YouTube provided, all links are from the
original Mobileread post. These instructions are the process that I used (after about 3.5 hours of back
and forth!) to be able to bring in and upload books to Calibre. I suggest checking out the original
Mobileread post for troubleshooting tips if needed. This process is meant for those who have some
basic ability to use Calibre and other Windows programs, but have never worked with AD Bridge or
DOS/Command Prompt. I also found that the sequence of actions was really critical. I hope you find
this helpful. All thanks and credit to ownedbycats for all the hard work that went into that post on
Mobileread!
1. Download and install Bluestacks Android emulator (just google their site); either version (5 or
10) will do the job. Be sure to go into Advanced Settings and be sure that the Android Debug
Bridge setting is set to On.
2. Use this link to download the Kindle version 4.16.075 APK and install into Bluestacks:
4.16.0.75
3. Run the Kindle app thru Bluestacks and register it with Amazon.
4. Using your PC, go to your Amazon account, check Content & Devices, and find the name of the
Android device that was just registered via Bluestacks (date should be visible). Make a note of
that device name—you'll need it later.
5. For ADBridge, download the SDK Platform Tools via this link: SDK Platform Tools
6. If you need help with actual installation of the Tools onto your PC, this video on YouTube will
walk you thru the process. Be sure to go all the way through timestamp 03:15.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GERlhgCcoBc
7. Shut down and reboot your computer—trust me on this, it will help.
8. Reopen Bluestacks and the Kindle app
9. Open Windows File Explorer and find the path for the locations where your SDK Platform tools
are stored. Copy that Path (Picture 1)
10. Open Command Prompt on your PC; this will give you a DOS prompt (Picture 2); make sure to
size the window small if using one monitor; or move it to the other monitor from Bluestacks if
using two.
11. At Command Prompt, type: CD insert SDK Platform path here and Enter
12. Your prompt should now reflect your SDK storage location (See Picture 3)
13. At the prompt, type: adb backup com.amazon.kindle and Enter
14. Keep your eye on Bluestacks, because it should flash a window asking you to approve to
backup data (See Picture 4). Just click backup my data quickly (you don't need a password!)
and over in Command Prompt you should get the completion message (also Picture 4) in just a
few seconds.
15. Go to File Explorer and check your Platform Tools folder; the new AB file should be there (See
Picture 5)
16. Use this link to get a copy of the DeDRM plugin for Calibre. This is version 7.2.1; there is a
more recent version and it works too, but this one does the job for this process.
17. Install the plugin into Calibre, then customize it by giving it the AB backup file just created as
per ApprenticeHarper's instructions from the original post (starts line 34): ApprenticeHarper
To actually secure a book through Bluestacks/Kindle App:
1. Using your regular PC access to Amazon, select/purchase book(s)
2. Go to Content & Devices, Content and locate the book(s), put a check in the box to the left
3. At the top of the book list, locate Send to Device and select the new Android device created in
Bluestacks (I told you to make a note!)
4. Move back to Bluestacks/Kindle, Sync and let the book file(s) actually download (as opposed to
trying to open it for online reading)
5. Go to the home page of Bluestacks, select the System Apps and open Media Manager
6. Select Explore, click the Android file, click the Data file, click the com.amazon.kindle file, click
Files and you should then see file folders (one or more depending on how many books you
downloaded) with Amazon ID numbers, typically 9/10 characters long, starting with a B
7. There's no way to know which folder is which book. One at a time, open the folders and use
Export to Windows to move any file that ends _EBOK to a folder you have created on your PC
desktop. You don't need any of the others and only one will be the .PRC file that you need to
upload to Calibre; toss the other ones once you can ID them.
8. Once you have the .PRC files, go to Calibre and upload from the desktop folder, convert to
desired file type if needed.
Pictures:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
