Google is known for its search engine, but it is also a digital giant which owns its business on books, magazines, audiobooks, apps, games and more. Today, we are focusing on the Google Play books which is popular among digital books.

Are Google Play books DRM free?

No, Google Play books are locked by Adobe DRM. Unfortunately, customers can’t simply download Google Play books and read them through any app.

However, you can remove drm from google play books. This guide shows you how to strip adobe drm from Google Play books so you can read your purchased favorites on any e-book reader, not just on Adobe Digital Editions. Even more, you can print your Google Play books easily.

Part 1. How do I download Google Play books to PC/Mac?

There is not Google play books desktop application for Windows or Mac computer. So to download Google play books to PDF, you should visit google play books store in the web browser.

1, Navigate your Google Play books in browser , then click the My books tab at the top of the left panel to go to your library.

2, Then click the three dots icon on the bottom-right corner of a book cover, and a context menu will expand.

3, Next select Export EPUB or Download PDF from the popup menu to start downloading the book.

Note: This will save this book to your computer either as epub, pdf or ACSM file. It is easy for most of readers to understand what is epub and pdf which are common ebook formats.

What if my google play books is downloaded as ACSM? What should I do?

As for ACSM, it is not a real book, but just the download link of this book. To get the real content of this book downloaded, you need install Adobe Digital Editions to help you. Follow the 3 steps below and you should convert ACSM to PDF or EPUB.

Convert ACSM to PDF/EPUB: Step-by-Step

1, Download and install Adobe Digital Editions.

2, Open Adobe Digital Editions and click menu Help > Authorize Computer with Adobe ID. Create one if you don’t have it.

3, Then open the .ACSM file with Adobe Digital Editions.

Your Google Play books will downloaded as PDF or EPUB automatically.

Where does Google Play store its ebooks on Windows/Mac?

Windows: C:\Users{Username}\Documents\My Digital Editions
Mac: /Users/{Username}/Documents/Digital Editions

Now we have downloaded our Google Play books to PC/Mac. It is time for us to remove the DRM from them. There are different ways to handle Google Play drm(Adobe DRM), but I’ve picked up the free drm removal and best paid adobe drm removal for you.

Part 2. Two ways to Remove DRM from Google Books

Free Google DRM Removal–Calibre

Calibre is an effective e-book manager that allows its users to convert ebooks formats and manage ebook library in one place.

Does Calibre remove Google Play DRM?

Calibre tool cannot remove the ebook drm, but it can become one if you add a dedrm plugin to it. Therefore, we can add the drm removal plugin to make it become the free Adobe DRM Removal.

Step 1. First, download the latest version of Calibre and DeDRM Plugin.

Please unzip the DeDRM tool to see the DeDRM_plugin.zip file.

Step 2.Install Calibre and dedrm plugin.

1, click the menu Preferences>>Plugin.

2, Select “Load plugin from file”.

3, Navigate to the DeDRM_calibre_plugin folder and select DeDRM_plugin.zip.

Step 3. Restart the Calibre.

Step 4. Drag and drop the downloaded Google Play books into Calibre’s main interface. DRM gets removed soon after you add it to Calibre library.

Step 5. Then click the “Convert books” button. choose your output format as PDF. Click the “OK” button and it will convert your Google Play books to PDF.

Professional Google DRM Removal–iSummersoft ACSM Converter

Many users may complain the there are two many steps by using Calibre and Dedrm plugin. Is there anyways easier than Calibre? Well for these uses, we recommend iSummersoft ACSM Converter which can finish the DRM removing and ebook converting process.

ACSM Converter integrates functions of eBook DRM removal and file conversion. It supports removing DRM from Adobe Google Play books and Adobe Kobo books, and convert books to PDF, Epub, Mobi, AZW3, TXT, etc, while at the same keeps quality and all metadata.

Though it is paid software, it does offer a free trial version which only convert 3 complete books in total.

Step 1. Run ACSM Converter. All your Google Play books will be automatically detected and displayed in the left panel. Just drag and drop Google Play Books from left to the right main window to remove Adobe DRM.

Step 2. After DRM removed, click the folder icon to locate locate your DRM-free Google Play books (PDF/EPUB).

Now you’re able to read Google Play books on Kobo/Nook/Sony/ eReaders and any epub/pdf reading apps.

Can I read Google Play books on Kindle?

Sure, you can read Google Play books on Kindle eReader. After the DRM removing, click “Convert to Mobi” to convert Google Play books to kindle compatible format. Then transfer the MOBI ebooks to kindle eReader via USB cable or send to kindle service.

Is it legal to remove drm from Google Play Books?

This depends on where you live. The rules differ from country to country, and sometimes the specific use is not allowed. In the US and the UK, there is a law known as DMCA which makes it illegal to remove DRM from ebooks. So, removing DRM from Google Play books is illegal, even if you paid for it. Also, many countries have similar laws.

It is hard to get this question answered because in practice, you’re very unlikely to get into trouble if you only removing DRM for personal reading needs. Even more, most people would argue that if you buy the book and never share it with others, you are on the safer side, ethically speaking.

Now let’s convert Google Play books to PDF now with iSummersoft ACSM Converter.