Q. What is Adobe Digital Editions and why do I need it?

NOTE: The Library provides very limited technical support for Adobe Digital Editions. It is recommended for advanced ebook users. If you are new to ebooks and/or have limited experience with computers, mobile devices, and technology, please consider using the user-friendly Libby app instead.

EPUB/PDF eBooks from Libby

Libby by OverDrive offers EPUB and PDF-formatted ebooks that can be accessed in Adobe Digital Editions. When borrowing ebooks from the main catalog, choose the EPUB option. An .ACSM file will download to your device. Open this file in Adobe Digital Editions.

If you have a compatible eReader (like a Kobo or NOOK), you can plug it into your computer and transfer the eBook from Adobe Digital Editions to your eReader.

Unfortunately, Libby does not support the mobile version of Adobe Digital Editions.

EPUB eBooks from Boundless by Baker & Taylor

Boundless offers EPUB ebooks that can be accessed in Adobe Digital Editions. When checking out ebooks from Boundless, click on Download (EPUB format). An .ACSM file will download to your device. Open this file in Adobe Digital Editions.

The Boundless app, however, is not compatible with EPUB ebooks.

Authorizing Adobe Digital Editions without an ID

You have the option of authorizing Adobe Digital Editions with or without an ID. We recommend that you authorize without an ID to access your EPUB ebooks in the quickest way. Please note that if you choose this option you will only be able to access your downloaded ebook on one computer or device. 

Note: If you want to access your EPUB on more than one device with Adobe Digital Edition, the following instructions will not work. You will need to create an Adobe ID instead and use that ID to sign into Adobe Digital Editions on each device.

Here are the steps to authorize Adobe Digital Editions without an ID:

STEP 1: Open Adobe Digital Editions and click on Help and then Authorize Computer. 

(If this option is grayed out, select Erase Authorization to clear the existing authorization.)

STEP 2: In the lower left corner, check the box "I want to authorize my computer without an ID."

STEP 3: Click on the Authorize button.

STEP 4: Your computer has been authorized. Click on OK. 

STEP 5: Now locate the downloaded EPUB ebook (this will be a file with an .ACSM extension) and open it in Adobe Digital Editions.

If you are having trouble with Adobe Digital Editions version 4.+, try using an earlier version.

Reauthorizing Adobe Digital Editions

If Adobe Digital Editions has stopped working, try reauthorizing it.

1. Open Adobe Digital Editions.
2. Press Control+Shift+D to deauthorize Adobe Digital Editions.
3. Select Erase Authorization.
4. Click OK and quit Adobe Digital Editions.
5. Open Adobe Digital Editions and reauthorize. [Help->Authorize Computer]

1. Open Adobe Digital Editions.
2. Press Command+Shift+D to deauthorize Adobe Digital Editions.
3. Select Erase Authorization.
4. Click OK and quit Adobe Digital Editions.
5. Open Adobe Digital Editions and reauthorize. [Help->Authorize Computer]