How to Convert Kindle KFX to PDF/EPUB: A Complete Guide
Summary:The guide covers three practical ways and two programs to convert DRM-protected KFX to EPUB or PDF formats, so you can back up your Kindle eBooks and read them freely on other devices.
Table of Contents
"I want to convert kfx file to EPUB or pdf. Can anyone help me please?"
"I've been told that KFX files cannot have the DRM removed, is there really no way to do it?"
KFX is a newer e-book format from Amazon for Kindle. Because it's a closed format and usually protected by Kindle DRM, you can normally only read KFX books on official Kindle devices or apps. This is why many users want to convert KFX to EPUB, PDF, or other common formats for cross-device reading and personal backup.
I've been using Kindle for over ten years, and there are practical ways to handle KFX. In this blog, I'll show you how to convert KFX to PDF or EPUB while removing the built-in protection.
Convert Kindle KFX to PDF/EPUB with BookFab Kindle Converter
BookFab Kindle Converter is a desktop tool designed specifically for converting Kindle eBooks. Without any redundant plugins and programs, it can remove the DRM from Kindle KFX files and quickly convert KFX to EPUB and PDF formats. After conversion, the books keep their original quality and metadata, such as author, cover, publication year, and publisher, which makes it easier to organize and manage your entire eBook library.
Step 1. Install BookFab Kindle Converter
Step 2. Download KFX Books
Install and log in to Kindle for PC. It's recommended to use Kindle for PC 2.4.0 or later so it can work with the latest DRM mechanisms in 2025.
In Kindle for PC, right-click the Kindle book you want to process and choose Download to save it locally. By default, the downloaded KFX books are stored in the "My Kindle Content" folder on your computer.
Step 3. Launch BookFab and Scan for Kindle Books
Open BookFab, then click Kindle Converter in the sidebar to enter the Kindle conversion page.
Click the refresh icon to load the eBooks downloaded from "Kindle for PC". The software will scan your local storage and display your downloaded books.
Step 4. Start Converting KFX files to PDF/EPUB
Click Convert & Decrypt to start the conversion. BookFab Kindle Converter will automatically convert your Kindle KFX books to the format you selected, and the output files will be DRM-free.
Once the process is complete, you can check the results in the Decrypted eBooks.
Convert Kindle KFX to PDF or EPUB with Calibre
Calibre is a free, open-source eBook manager best known for its powerful format conversion features, letting you easily convert between EPUB, MOBI, PDF and many other formats. However, Calibre on its own cannot handle KFX files and convert DRM-protected Kindle books; you need to install additional plugins. In this guide, I'll walk through two options:
1. Use the free KFX and DeDRM plugin to convert KFX to PDF or EPUB format.
2. Use the advanced BookFab Calibre Plugin to convert KFX to EPUB/PDF directly.
Option 1: Convert KFX to PDF/EPUB with KFX + DeDRM Plugin
The DeDRM Calibre plugin is a free tool that helps Calibre decrypt Kindle books. However, for the KFX format, this plugin alone is not enough. You also need to install a KFX plugin, so that Calibre can import KFX files and convert them to .pdf and .epub files.
One important limitation is that this solution is very sensitive to the Kindle for PC version. The Calibre DeDRM plugin cannot decrypt books downloaded with Kindle for PC 2.4.1 or later. If you are using one of these newer versions, you'll need to switch to a different solution such as BookFab Kindle Converter.
Step 1. Install Calibre and Kindle for PC 2.4.0
Install Calibre and Kindle for PC 2.4.0 on your computer.
Step 2. Install the DeDRM and KFX plugins
Download the DeDRM plugin and the KFX plugin.
- DeDRM plugin download: https://github.com/apprenticeharper/DeDRM_tools/releases
- KFX plugin download: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=218897&d=1761570903
Launch Calibre. Go to Preferences > Plugins > Load plugin from file, select the DeDRM_plugin.zip you just downloaded, and follow the prompts to install it. After that, repeat the same steps to install the KFX plugin.
Once both plugins are installed, restart Calibre so the plugins can take effect.
Step 3. Download the Kindle books you want to convert
Open Kindle for PC 2.4.0, sign in with your Amazon account, and download all the Kindle books you want to convert to your local computer.
Step 4. Import KFX books and let DeDRM decrypt them
In Calibre, click Add books, then browse to the Kindle for PC content folder (My Kindle Content folder) and select the KFX or KFX-ZIP files you just downloaded, or drag them into the Calibre main window.
Step 5. Convert KFX to PDF or EPUB in Calibre
In the Calibre library, select and right-click the decrypted Kindle KFX books. Click Convert books, then choose EPUB, PDF, or another target format in the top-right corner. On the left side, you can tweak metadata, cover, font embedding, layout settings, and so on.
After the conversion finishes, you'll see new PDF or EPUB formats under the same book entry. You can right-click the book and choose Save to disk to export the files, then copy them to other devices for reading.
Option 2: Convert KFX to EPUB or PDF with BookFab Calibre Plugin
The BookFab Calibre Plugin is a free add-on that comes bundled with BookFab Kindle Converter. While it's installed inside Calibre, all of the actual decryption is handled by the BookFab desktop application, which supports the latest Kindle KFX books. Once a KFX title has been decrypted, it shows up in your Calibre library as a DRM-free file, and you can then use Calibre to turn it into PDF or EPUB format. This gives you efficient decryption plus fully integrated library management and format conversion within Calibre.
Step 1. Install Calibre and BookFab
Download and install Calibre and BookFab on your computer. The BookFab Calibre Plugin calls this desktop engine when it needs to decrypt your Kindle books, so BookFab must be installed, activated, and working properly first.
Step 2. Install the BookFab Calibre Plugin
Free download BookFab Calibre plugin: Bookfab_Calibre_Plugin_v1.0.0_40db112e.zip.
Open Calibre, then go to Preferences > Plugins > Load plugin from file. Select the BookFab Calibre Plugin zip file you just downloaded and allow Calibre to install it (you may see a security prompt, which you should accept if you trust the source).
Restart Calibre to activate the plugin. After restarting, you should see a "Remove DRM" in the toolbar and context menu, which confirms the plugin is installed and active.
Step 3. Download and Import the KFX Books
Install Kindle for PC, sign in with your Amazon account, and download the Kindle KFX books you want to convert. By default, they are stored in the "My Kindle Content" folder.
In Calibre, click Add books, browse to the My Kindle Content folder, and select the KFX titles you just downloaded, or drag and drop them directly into the Calibre main window.
Step 4. Decrypt the KFX Books via BookFab Plugin
In Calibre, select the Kindle book you want to process. Click the Remove DRM button in the toolbar, or right-click the book and choose Remove DRM.
The BookFab Calibre Plugin will call the BookFab engine in the background, decrypt the book, and automatically attach the DRM-free file back to the same Calibre book entry.
Step 5. Convert KFX to EPUB/PDF in Calibre
Select the decrypted Kindle book in your Calibre library. Right-click it and choose Convert books.
In the conversion window, set the output format in the top-right corner to EPUB or PDF (you can also choose MOBI, AZW3, etc., if needed). On the left panel, you can fine-tune metadata, cover, fonts, and layout options if you want.
Click OK to start the KFX to PDF/EPUB conversion.
Comparison of 3 Ways to Convert KFX to EPUB/PDF
| KFX to EPUB/PDF Converter | Difficulty | Supported Kindle for PC Versions | KFX and DRM Support | Best For |
| BookFab Kindle Converter | Easiest | 2.4.1 and later | Built-in | Beginners, users who want a quick one-click solution |
| Calibre with Bookfab plugin | Medium | 2.4.1 and later | Uses BookFab engine to decrypt | Users who already manage their library in Calibre |
| Calibre with DeDRM Plugin&KFX Plugin | Technical | 2.4.0 or below | Decrypts older KFX files, limited on new DRM | Advanced or power users who like to tweak everything |
FAQ
Strictly speaking, there are almost no reliable pure online free tools that let you upload a KFX file and convert it to EPUB/PDF in one click, because:
- KFX files are usually protected by Kindle DRM, and online sites cannot access your local decryption keys, so they generally cannot properly process protected KFX files.
- Even if a website claims to support KFX uploads, it usually requires a DRM-free KFX file to begin with, so the real success rate and safety are hard to guarantee.
- Uploading original KFX files that may contain account-related information or purchase records to an unknown website also raises privacy and copyright risks.
For your security and to respect copyright, I do not recommend using random online sites for KFX to EPUB/PDF conversion.
You can use Calibre to convert a PDF to EPUB, then send the EPUB to your Kindle:
- Install and open Calibre. Click "Add books" and import your PDF file into Calibre.
- Select the book, then click "Convert books". In the top-right "Output format" menu, choose EPUB (or AZW3 if you prefer Kindle's native format). You can also change font size, margins, line spacing, and structure detection to improve PDF-to-EPUB quality.
- Click OK to start the conversion.
- When done, right-click the book, and select "Save to disk" to export the EPUB/AZW3, then use Send to Device in Calibre, or email the file to your Send-to-Kindle address, or just copy it via USB to your Kindle device.
Tips: If the original PDF is heavily formatted, the EPUB result may require some manual cleanup. Text-heavy PDFs generally convert much better.
Conclusion
Converting Kindle KFX to PDF or EPUB is a very sensible choice. It prevents your eBooks from being locked to a single device or app and makes it much easier to create personal backups.
Among the three methods covered in this guide, BookFab Kindle Converter stands out for its ability to handle the latest KFX encryption while keeping the workflow simple and convenient.
If you prefer Calibre's powerful management features, you can instead use the BookFab Calibre Plugin, which lets you combine BookFab's efficient decryption with Calibre's library management and format conversion in one place.
