Audible's content is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM), which limits the usage of copyrighted digital audiobooks. It is applied through encryption, which writes the data in a code that can only be accessed by software with the key to decrypt or unlock the code. Audible's AA/AAX Files contain digital media and DRM protection to allow playback on its app only.
Can DRM be removed from Audible? Yes, it is possible! Some free open-source tools can read AA/AAX media, and you can convert Audible's files to MP3 format. Or you can use some third-party or online converters to remove DRM from Audible. This article will provide you with all the details on how to remove Audible DRM.
Contents Guide Part 1. Remove DRM from Audible [Through Professional Converter]Part 2. Remove DRM from Audible [With Online Converter]Part 3. Remove DRM from Audible [By Burning CD]Part 4. Conclusion
When talking about removing DRM from Audible, there are many ways now, but the first one that we recommend to you is to use professional converters. A convenient and functional option would be a converter tool, which is professional in removing Audible DRM and efficiently customizing the output format.
DumpMedia Audible Converter is the highly recommended tool for this job. It decrypts your DRM-protected audiobooks and much more - like converting Audible files to MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC. You can even set the sample rate or bitrate. These options are easily set in the preferences window. Suppose you have several collections of audiobooks, factor in the size and number of your files. A seemingly tedious task will be a breeze with DumpMedia Audible Converter's processing speed.
What's more, the audiobook's information will be retained in the converted file. So, the ID3 tags are included for your convenience. This software has a straightforward interface, too. You only need a few clicks to remove DRM from Audible altogether (any skill level):
Step 1. Install and register the software. The installer is free to download, and available in Windows or Mac. This step will take only a few minutes.
Step 2. Run the converter. Then, click on the interface to browse your files or drag and drop to add the Audible files.
Step 3. Once your files are listed on the interface, select which audio files you want to remove DRM and convert. You can also select the output folder for the converted files.
Step 4. Optional: If you want to customize default settings, open preferences (3-line symbol) to set your preferred output format. You can even split your audiobook into multiple files.
Step 5. Click on the 'Convert' button. Wait for the conversion process. The software will prompt you when its Audible DRM removal procedure is done. Then find the converted files in the 'Completed' tab.
There you go, DRM-free converted audiobooks ready for playback on any device, any time, even without the Audible App.
Aside from using professional converters to remove DRM from Audible, some online converters could be chosen. In this part, we are going to introduce you to two of them. The first one that we recommend is using AAX Checksum Resolver. And the second one is using FFmpeg. Below, we will talk about them one by one.
The AAX checksum resolver is a tool used to resolve issues related to the loss of or missing checksums in AAX files. AAX files contain embedded media and metadata files that are crucial for playback on audio devices.
If the checksum of any of these files becomes corrupted or missing, it can cause playback issues. The AAX checksum resolver can scan the affected files, verify the checksums, and repair any issues that are found. This tool is typically used by professional audio engineers and can be found as a plugin or separate application.
Here are steps about how to use the AAX checksum resolver to remove DRM from Audible:
Step 1. Download Your AAX Audiobook from Audible
Step 2. Go to audible-converter.ml
Step 3. Generate Activation Bytes
Drag and drop or upload your AAX audiobook file to the website. Your 8-character (4-byte) activation code will appear or click on "Request activation bytes" if not. Note that this key will work for all of your AAX files.
Step 4. Setup Conversion
Click on the "Command and Convert" button. Options for output will appear, as well as the command for FFmpeg conversion. We will be converting in your browser, so the FFmpeg command has no use for this procedure of removing DRM from Audible. Choose the output format between AAC, FLAC, or MP3 and select your operating system.
Step 5. Convert Your AAX Files
Click on the "CONVERT IN BROWSER" button. Wait for the transcoding to finish by checking on the status just below the button. Your converted file will appear in your computer's Downloads folder.
If you want to use the FFmpeg command, check out the following procedure. This option allows you to set more options to FFmpeg, although the sample here only shows the basic command for demonstration purposes.
FFmpeg is a command-line tool used to decode and encode any video/audio format to another. It supports almost all file formats and video/audio codecs. Many applications use FFmpeg, like Google Chrome, VLC, Audacity, and many more.
Aside from conversion, FFmpeg can also decrypt Audible AAX files. It can remove DRM from Audible with an encryption key, a 4-byte "activation code ". This article will present two methods that use the FFmpeg command. FFmpeg can be intimidating for some. Check your skill level with the corresponding method.
Step 1. Download Your AAX Audiobook
Step 2. Install FFmpeg on Your Computer
Refer to ffmpeg.org for download or installation instructions. This article assumes you're using a Linux machine. you'll need to install FFmpeg for Ubuntu.
Step 3. Get the 4-byte Activation Code
Upload or drag and drop your AAX audiobook file to the online AAX Checksum Resolver to get your activation code.
Step 4. Convert with FFmpeg.
Your basic command will look like this:
FFmpeg -activation_bytes EE781835 -i input_audiobook.tax output_audiobook.mp3
The output file will be one big MP3 file without the metadata. With one command, you can remove DRM from Audible, convert and add options keeping the metadata, extracting the album cover, converting multiple files simultaneously, etc. See FFmpeg documentation on how to set these additional options.
Except for the previous methods, burning a CD is another way to remove DRM from an Audible audiobook. This surprising feature allows you to burn protected files without the need for additional tools or plugins. Best of all, it's free.
To burn Audible audiobooks to a CD, you can:
Audible’s library is not only massive but also diverse, and it is usually the first to release new and bestselling books. When you buy the audiobook, it’s yours to keep but it’s still inseparable from the Audible app. You can remove DRM from Audible; we have provided some ways to do this.
FFmpeg is an important tool for audio and video processing including conversion, and you have learned how to use it with the AAX format. It might cost you nothing but could be a time bandit. Your practical choice would be the DumpMedia Audible Converter. This software was developed for DRM removal and much more for you to enjoy your Audible audiobooks without limitation.
