# DRM error from Project Gutenberg on (Kindle) Fire 10 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428 "2021-07-01T13:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/1 "2021-07-01T13:38:16Z")
For several years I had downloaded books from Project Gutenberg to my (Kindle) Fire 8. This was particularly useful when I wanted to read something in an environment where direct internet connection was impossible or a hassle. I recently upgraded to a Fire 10 and I am suddenly getting a “DRM” error on the downloaded file, even when I have specifically used the Kindle icon in Project Gutenberg and even though the file has been sent using a “.mobi” extension. I get the same error on attempts to download using EPUB (extension “.epub”). Kindle will open a download using Plain Text UTF-8 (extension “.txt”), but the text can be difficult to follow and tools such as bookmark are not available. (Reading **The Brothers Karamazov** in one pass has been a bit difficult without the ability to note where I left off.) I even tried downloading books that I know had been on my earlier Fire 8 tablet but I get the same error. I have not (yet) found any instructions on my new Fire unit to avoid this problem. The tablet is “vanilla” and I have made no changes to the set-up process. Suggestions (instructions) would be most helpful. Thanks. Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/2 "2021-07-01T17:10:46Z")
I’ve downloaded tons of books from [gutenberg.org](http://gutenberg.org) for my Kindle, and I always had the option to choose the native Kindle file format. Never had a problem. I have a Kindle Paperwhite though, but I can’t imagine that it makes a difference on a Fire. So try downloading those books in Kindle format. ETA: just reread the OP, and I saw that you downloaded .mobi files. That’s as far as I remember also the format you get when you go to the “Download for Kindle” button on Gutenberg. Sorry, in this case I have no solution. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/3 "2021-07-01T18:54:20Z")
As an experiment, I just now tried downloading and opening a book from Project Gutenberg on my Fire 10 (which may not be the latest version), and I experienced no problems. So, I don’t know why you’re having problems. What do you mean by “the Kindle icon in Project Gutenberg”? I’m not seeing icons, just hyperlinks. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/4 "2021-07-01T19:36:45Z")
Sorry. It was not an icon. As you say, just a link. I have been wondering whether I toggled a wrong switch as I set up my new Kindle, but I cannot figure out what it might have been. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/5 "2021-07-01T19:45:22Z")
To the OP, I suggest this forum: [https://www.mobileread.com/](https://www.mobileread.com/) I use a Kobo, so I doubt I can give you any useful advice. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/6 "2021-07-01T19:59:05Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I get the same error on attempts to download using EPUB (extension “.epub”) It’s not surprising that you can’t open EPUB files; as far as I know the Kindle app doesn’t support this format. But I am stumped as to why you can’t open files that are in a proper Kindle format. I didn’t think files from Project Gutenberg _had_ DRM. For what it’s worth, in my experiment just now, I used the Fire’s Silk browser to go to Project Gutenberg’s webpage and downloaded a book from there (and didn’t have any trouble opening it). But it should also be possible to download Project Gutenberg files on a computer and then transfer them to your Fire either by email or USB cable. If you still can’t figure out why things aren’t working for you, you could try, as a last resort, either downloading and using a different e-reader app on your Fire tablet, or obtaining your books from a different source than Project Gutenberg ([manybooks.net](http://manybooks.net) is one other site that offers free public domain ebooks; and on Amazon’s own site some, but not all, public domain books can be found for free). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/8 "2022-09-06T19:00:24Z")
Thank you. As it turned out, I had transposed two letters in one of my parms when setting up a new Fire. I finally found it after doing the ancient programming method of reviewing every single line in all my set-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drm-error-from-project-gutenberg-on-kindle-fire-10/945428/9 "2022-09-06T19:09:51Z")
Update: If I understand correctly, Amazon has recently added EPUB support to its Kindle devices and apps. > **[Everything you need to know about the Amazon Kindle supporting EPUB](https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-amazon-kindle-supporting-epub)** > > Amazon is going to be supporting the EPUB format later this year. Customers will be able to use Send to Kindle to upload EPUB books directly to their e-reader. Amazon is working on the system integration right now and should be rolled out globally in...