How to setup Calibre to remove DRM from ebooks on Linux

Published on January 10, 2023 | Updated on June 30, 2025

I'm writing this guide as a note to myself on how to setup Calibre to make backup copies of the ebooks I purchase on my Linux system. If this can help someone else backup their ebooks, well that's good too.

Install Calibre

Per the Download for Linux page on https://calibre-ebook.com/, execute the following command:

sudo -v && wget -nv -O- https://download.calibre-ebook.com/linux-installer.sh | sudo sh /dev/stdin

1/14/2024 Update: I was reinstalling Calibre after a fresh installation of PopOS and received the following error message during the installation process: _You are missing the system library libxcb-cursor.so.0. Try installing packages such as libxcb-cursor0 or xcb-cursor_. Installing libxcb-cursor0 got me sorted:

sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0

Install noDRM / DeDRM_tools plugin for Calibre

Next, install the plug-in that removes Adobe DRM.

Download the .zip file from https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools/releases
Unzip the file downloaded from Github.
Open Calibre and navigate to Preferences -> Plugins.
Select Load plugin from file.
Navigate to the folder created from step 2 and select DeDRM_plugin.zip.
Select Yes on the confirmation dialog box.
Select OK to acknowledge your awesomeness.

Install DeACSM plugin for Calibre

When you purchase an ebook encrypted with Adobe DRM, you're sent an .acsm file when you try to download the ebook from the vendor website. This plugin will allow you to read the .acsm file with Calibre, download the ebook, remove the Adobe DRM and save the book to your computer as an .epub file. Very nice.

Download the .zip file from https://github.com/Leseratte10/acsm-calibre-plugin/releases
Open Calibre and navigate to Preferences -> Plugins.
Select Load plugin from file.
Navigate to and select the file downloaded from step 1. Note: The file doesn't have to be unzipped. Simply select it as it was downloaded.
Select Yes on the confirmation dialog box.
Restart Calibre.
Navigate to Preferences -> Plugins. Open the settings for DeACSM plugin.
Follow the setup instructions to authorize.

That's everything needed to remove DRM from Adobe books. Below are some quick notes to remind myself on how to remove DRM using Calibre.

Remove Adobe DRM

Download the .acsm file.
Open Calibre and select the Add books button.
Select the .ascm file and the file will automatically be de-DRM'd and added to your books library.

Conclusion

I'm now able to save the books I've purchsed, and read them on any device of my choosing and back them up in case my Amazon, Kobo, etc accounts are deleted or I lose access to my books.

If this guide is not working for you or something isn't clear, please send me an email and I'll see if something has changed or improve the guide.

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