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Add eBooks with Adobe Digital Editions

  1. Rakuten Kobo
  2. My eBooks & Audiobooks
  3. Public Library: Adobe Digital Editions and Libby

Add eBooks with Adobe Digital Editions

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Adobe Digital Editions, also called ADE, is free software that lets you add eBooks from other sources to your Kobo eReader.

Note: Please be advised that Adobe Digital Editions is a third-party application. We cannot guarantee its accessibility features or overall performance.  

You may need Adobe Digital Editions if you want to:

  • Read an eBook borrowed from a library
  • Read a DRM-protected eBook from another store
  • Add protected PDF files to your Kobo eReader

Important: 
Adobe is changing how customers sign in to Adobe Digital Editions for DRM-protected eBooks. You’ll need to use a ByteBooks ID instead of an Adobe ID when signing in to Adobe Digital Editions. If Adobe Digital Editions is already authorized on your computer or Kobo eReader, you can continue reading your eBooks until you’re asked to sign in again. When Adobe Digital Editions asks for your Adobe ID and password, sign in using your ByteBooks ID and ByteBooks password instead. To help keep access to your existing eBooks, create your ByteBooks ID using the same email address as your Adobe ID.

 

Add eBooks using Adobe Digital Editions

To add eBooks to your Kobo eReader using Adobe Digital Editions:

  1. Install Adobe Digital Editions
  2. Create a ByteBooks Account
  3. Authorize your computer and Kobo eReader
  4. Add books to your Kobo eReader

What is DRM?

Digital Rights Management, also called DRM, helps protect eBooks from unauthorized sharing.

If your book is protected by DRM, you’ll usually download a file that ends in .acsm. Open the .acsm file in Adobe Digital Editions to download and access your eBook.

 

Step 1 of 4: Install Adobe Digital Editions

Install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer.

  1. Go to the Adobe Digital Editions download page:
    https://www.adobe.com/support/digitaleditions/downloads.html
  2. Download the version for your computer: Windows or Mac.
  3. Open the downloaded file.
  4. Follow the on-screen steps to install Adobe Digital Editions.

Note: Some computers may have compatibility issues. Make sure you’re using a supported version of Adobe Digital Editions.

Step 2 of 4: Create or transition to a ByteBooks ID

You’ll need a ByteBooks ID to authorize Adobe Digital Editions and read DRM-protected eBooks.

  1. Go to the ByteBooks transition help page: https://dtsbytebooks.com/transition-help
  2. Choose the option that applies to you:
    • If you already used Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID, select Already have an Adobe ID account.
    • If you don’t have an Adobe ID, select Create Your ByteBooks Account.
  3. Follow the on-screen steps to create your ByteBooks ID.

Important: If you already have an Adobe ID, use the same email address when creating your ByteBooks ID. This helps keep access to your existing DRM-protected eBooks. If you use a different email address, you may need to download your books again from the store or library where you got them.

Step 3 of 4: Authorize your computer and Kobo eReader

Before you can add DRM-protected books to your Kobo eReader, you need to authorize your computer and your eReader in Adobe Digital Editions.

Authorize your computer

  1. Open Adobe Digital Editions.
  2. Click Help.
  3. Click Authorize Computer.
  4. Sign in using your ByteBooks ID and ByteBooks password.

Authorize your Kobo eReader

  1. Connect your Kobo eReader to your computer using a USB cable.
  2. Tap Connect on your Kobo eReader, if prompted.
  3. In Adobe Digital Editions, look for your Kobo eReader under Devices.
  4. Click the options menu or gear icon beside your device.
  5. Click Authorize Device.

Step 4 of 4: Add books to your Kobo eReader

  1. Download your eBook to your computer. The file may end in .acsm.
  2. Open the file in Adobe Digital Editions.
  3. Connect your Kobo eReader to your computer using a USB cable.
  4. In Adobe Digital Editions, drag the book to your Kobo eReader under Devices.
  5. Safely eject your Kobo eReader from your computer.
  6. Disconnect your Kobo eReader.

Your book should appear in your Kobo eReader’s Library.

 

Having trouble signing in?

If Adobe Digital Editions asks for your Adobe ID and password, sign in using your ByteBooks ID and ByteBooks password instead.

If you see this error in Adobe Digital Editions:

E_ADEPT_RESET_PW_REQUIRED

ADEErrorDetected.png

You need to switch from an Adobe ID to a ByteBooks ID.

 

To fix this:

  1. Go to the ByteBooks transition help page: https://dtsbytebooks.com/transition-help
  2. Select Already have an Adobe ID account if you already used Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID.
  3. Use the same email address as your Adobe ID.
  4. Follow the on-screen steps to create your ByteBooks ID.
  5. Try signing in to Adobe Digital Editions again using your ByteBooks ID and ByteBooks password.

 

Important: Use the same email address as your Adobe ID. If you use a different email address, you may need to download your books again from the store or library where you got them.

If you don’t have an Adobe ID, select Create Your ByteBooks Account and follow the on-screen steps.

 

Notes

  • You may not need Adobe Digital Editions for most books bought from the Kobo Store.
  • Many newer Kobo eReaders let you borrow library books directly, without using Adobe Digital Editions.
  • If your eBook came from a library or another store, contact that provider if you need to download the book again.

Need more help? Here are more resources

You can also read more about the supported file types that work with Kobo eReaders.

 







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