How to Remove Audible DRM Easily and Safely on Windows/Mac
Summary:The guide details four effective methods to remove Audible DRM for legal and personal use, including high-speed desktop converters and free alternatives. Keep reading and enjoy your journey of free listening.
What is the best, free way to strip DRM from Audible audiobooks? — A Quora User.
Audible audiobooks are typically encrypted with Digital Rights Management (DRM) in the proprietary .aax format. Audible DRM blocks playback on many universal players, and keeps the audiobook from showing up as a normal, movable audio file. So you can't copy it to other devices or keep a straightforward personal backup.
In this article, I will introduce four feasible and safe methods to remove Audible DRM, allowing you to enjoy your audiobooks and access the knowledge within them on various devices.
- Wider Device Compatibility: After converting the files to DRM-free formats like MP3 or M4B, they can be played on common players, car stereo systems, and standalone MP3 players.
- Personal Backup: You retain a readable local copy, ensuring you are not affected if your account region changes or the application becomes unavailable.
- Easier Management: You can rename files by album or chapter, customize covers and tags, and organize your library in bulk more efficiently.
How to Remove Audible DRM on Windows [Hot]
- Available on: windows 10/11
BookFab Audible Converter is specifically designed to overcome the DRM protection on Audible books. It features a built-in browser that automatically monitors Audible titles. Without needing to download the .aax file, it quickly downloads the encrypted Audible books directly within the software into common high-definition formats such as MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, and more, allowing you to listen freely on any device.
It also supports retaining metadata like chapter information and book covers, and it can handle multiple tasks simultaneously. For me, it integrates the entire workflow into a single process, completing these tasks with one click.
Below is the best and easiest way to remove DRM from Audible books.
Step 1: Download BookFab
BookFab Audible Converter is a built-in module of BookFab software. First, download and install the BookFab program on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Choose Audible Converter Module
Launch BookFab. On the main interface, select "Audible Converter". Click the Audible icon in the interface to open the built-in browser and log in using your Audible account.
Step 3: Locate the Audible Book for DRM Removal
After logging into your Audible account, open your Library. Find the book you want to process. Once you open the book's details page, the BookFab program will automatically analyze the book and display a blue "Download" button.
Step 4: Set Output Format and Parameters
Click the "Download" button, and a new dialogue box will pop up. Here, you can set the output format and adjust the bitrate. Available formats include M4A, MP3, FLAC, WAV (lossless file), or OPUS.
Tip: For better compatibility, M4A or MP3 is recommended. For clear, lossless audio quality, choose FLAC or WAV.
Step 5: Start Audible DRM Removal
After setting the output format and quality, click "Download Now". BookFab will directly download the selected book to your local machine, saving it in the format you specified. Once the process is complete, you can find the organized, DRM-free Audible audio files in the output directory.
How to Remove Audible DRM on Mac
- Available on: macOS 11-15, macOS 26
Similar to BookFab, Macsome Audiobook Converter allows you to sign in to your Audible account using a built-in browser and download your Audible books and podcasts as DRM-free MP3/M4A/M4B files. This enables you to transfer your Audible audiobooks for listening on more devices and players. The output files will also preserve ID3 tags (including Title, Artist, Author, Year, Genre, Comments, etc.).
Below are the detailed steps for using Macsome Audiobook Converter to remove Audible DRM and convert files on macOS.
Step 1: Download Macsome Audiobook Converter for Mac
Visit the Macsome official website to download the Macsome Audiobook Converter for Mac installation package. After installation, launch Macsome Audiobook Converter.
Step 2: Add Audiobooks
There are two methods to add files:
Method 1: Add by logging in with the built-in browser
- Open Audible within Macsome's built-in webpage and Sign in to your account.
- Go to your Library, select the books or podcasts you wish to process, and click the Add button to include the selected items in the conversion list.
- The list will display all the titles you have selected, and you can continue to add or remove items.
Method 2: Upload downloaded .aax files directly from local storage
If you have already downloaded the .aax files locally, you can drag and drop the local .aax files to the main window.
Step 3: Adjust Output Parameters
Click the "Settings" icon. In the pop-up settings window, you can adjust the output settings according to your needs, including Output Format, Output Quality, and Output Folder.
Step 4: Start Audible DRM Removal
After adding all the books from which you want to remove DRM, click the "Convert" button in the bottom right corner of the program. The program will begin performing the batch task of DRM removal and format conversion. Once the conversion is complete, open the save path to find your Audible DRM-free files.
How to Remove DRM from Audible With Online Tools [Free]
If you don't want to install software to remove Audible DRM, you can try the web tool audible-tools.kamsker.at. It converts the .aax files you've downloaded from Audible into M4B or MP3, so it works on Mac, Windows, and Linux alike. Web tools do have limits though—for example, files larger than about 900 MB aren't supported, and there's no chapter splitting, which means the whole book becomes a single file and may be less convenient to navigate. If you care about those features, you should use desktop software to eliminate Audible DRM, such as BookFab Audible Converter.
Using audible-tools.kamsker.at to remove DRM from Audible is very straightforward. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download the Audible Book to Your Local Folder
Go to the official Audible website and log in to your account. Then, download the purchased audiobook as an .aax file to your local computer.
Step 2: Add the Audible File to the DRM Removal Tool
Open the website: audible-tools.kamsker.at. Then, drag and drop your downloaded .aax file onto the website panel. The aax to m4b converter will automatically analyze the file's metadata and chapters.
Step 3: Select the Output Format and Start Conversion
Choose your desired output format (e.g., M4B or MP3). Click the "Convert" button. The tool will begin to strip the DRM and save the resulting file to your local drive.
Backup Method: Record Audible as DRM-Free Files
I'd like to say this is a very old-school approach: you don't necessarily need a dedicated tool to strip Audible DRM; you can play the audiobook in real time and let your computer record the system audio. For example, you can use the free recorder Audacity to capture desktop audio and save it locally. Of course, there are trade-offs: real-time recording takes as long as the book plays, audio quality can suffer, and you must avoid any system notification sounds while recording. Still, if the other three methods don't fit or fail for you, this is a solid fallback.
Here's a quick Windows walkthrough:
1. Open Audacity, set Host to Windows WASAPI, then set the Recording Device to the (loopback) option for your speakers or headphones. This lets Audacity capture what your computer is playing.
2. Switch to your browser or the Audible app and start playing the audiobook you want to record. If Audacity's meters are moving, it's hearing the sound. Then, click Record to start, and Stop when you're done.
3. Go to File > Export, choose the output format you prefer (MP3/WAV/M4A), and save it locally. You'll now have a recorded copy of the audiobook without DRM.
Comparison of 4 Ways to Remove DRM from Audible
| Tool | OS | Requires .aax File | Output Format | Speed | Audio Quality | Best Suited For |
| BookFab Audible Converter | Windows | No | M4A, MP3, FLAC, WAV, OPUS | Supports batch conversion; High-speed conversion | lossless or high-bitrate conversion | Users who want the easiest, all-in-one download + Audible DRM removal solution. |
| Macsome Audiobook Converter | macOS | No | MP3 / M4A / M4B | Supports batch conversion; High-speed conversion | Selectable high quality or low quality | Mac users seeking to remove Audible DRM. |
| Kamsker Audible Tools | Online Tool | Yes | M4B / MP3 | Speed depends on network condition | Lower | Users who prefer an online tool. |
| Audacity (Backup Recording Method) | Windows/macOS | No | MP3 / M4A / WAV, etc. | Real-time recording | Lower | Use as a last resort when other methods are unavailable. |
FAQ
The legality of DRM removal varies by jurisdiction. Removal for commercial purposes (like distributing and selling) is a copyright infringement and is illegal. However, for personal use, such as making backup copies of legally purchased Audible books or ebooks for listening on your other personal devices, it may be permitted in certain regions as a legal exemption. Always read the local copyright laws thoroughly before attempting Audible DRM removal.
No, DRM generally cannot be manually turned off by the user. If you do not want content with DRM, you should purchase content that is sold as DRM-free.
Bottom line
Audible DRM removal is a technical step, but it pays off. Whether you go for a one-click desktop route like BookFab or Macsome, the lightweight Kamsker web tool, or the old-school Audacity recording fallback, you end up in control. You can back them up, play them across devices, and keep your library tidy without hoops. But remember, any DRM stripping must be for lawful use only.
