Why do I need to activate my computer with my Adobe ID?
Some digital publications that you purchase online or check out from a library may contain digital rights management (DRM) protection that restricts the items from being shared with others. Digital Editions helps ensure that your eBooks and other digital publications are not "locked" on one computer. They are assigned to you through an ID and can be viewed on any compatible device you own that you activate with that ID.
What are the requirements to get an Adobe ID?
An Adobe ID is a free and a nonintrusive way of identifying users. You need only provide a name, country and email address. You can create your Adobe ID when prompted within Adobe Digital Editions or go directly to the Adobe.com, select "My Adobe" in the top-right corner, then click “My Adobe ID” and follow the instructions for creating an Adobe ID.
Note that you create an Adobe ID from a web browser. Once you’ve received confirmation the Adobe ID is created, then you may close the browser and return to Adobe Digital Editions and enter the Adobe ID and password you created.
Your privacy is important to us. Please read our Privacy Policy.
Can I transfer eBooks that I have already purchased or downloaded to another computer?
- If you activate your computer with Digital Editions anonymously, all the purchased or borrowed books afterwards belong to that computer.
- If you activate your computer with Digital Editions with an ID, all the purchased or borrowed books afterwards belong to that ID.
- The books downloaded before activation will not be converted.
- Books can be copied from one device to another device. If two devices are activated with the same ID, purchased books can be opened on the other device. If the other device is not activated or if it is activated with another ID, a pop up window will appear to ask for ID when opening the purchased books. Borrowed books cannot be opened on another computer regardless its activation status. It is because that the loan token is not copied.
- Borrowed books and their loan tokens will be copied when transfer (not copy, this is an ADE feature) them between computer and device (e-reader).
- If the permission limits the books to be viewed on only one device, the copied books will not be able to be opened.
Do I need to activate my computer?
Digital Editions does not require you to activate your computer with an Adobe ID.
Can I activate my computer at a later time?
Digital Editions has an "Authorise this computer" menu item that you can use after initial installation.
What is the maximum number of computers and devices that I can activate?
You can activate up to six computers and devices. If you reach the limit, contact Customer Service to reset your activations.
Can I use an alternate ID to access eBooks?
With Digital Editions 4.5.12, you may use other IDs to access an eBook. You may, for example, access a book from Google with a Google ID (referred to as a Vendor ID) or a book from Barnes & Noble (referred to as Bookseller ID). This is further described in the Getting Started eBook install with Adobe Digital Editions.
Note that you can both authorise your computer with an Adobe ID and selectively access individual books with alternate Ids, such as Vendor ID. Adobe Digital Editions will keep the two separate: if you download an eBook protected using a Vendor ID or Bookseller ID, then you’ll be prompted to access using that ID. Otherwise, it will either access to the Adobe ID you’ve authorised your computer with, or (if you chose not to authorise the computer with an Adobe ID) will authorise just for use on your computer.