Now you have made a purchase with eBooks.com, or redeemed a voucher gifted to you, your ebook will be visible on your "My Bookshelf" page in your eBooks.com account.

Depending on the formats that your ebook is available in (check the formats guide), and the device that you want to read it on (check the device guide), you can read your ebook in different ways.

How to read online, without downloading

1. Simply log in to your eBooks.com account and click the "Read Now" button next to the ebook in your online bookshelf.
2. Then click the big green "Read Online" button to launch our Online Reader. On mobile, scroll down and tap "Read Online" then the blue "Read Online" button.

For more information on our Online Reader please see Using Online Reader. A user guide is also available here.

How to download an ebook to a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer

1. Install Thorium Reader: Download and install this free software on your computer to unlock your ebook. (More info about installing Thorium Reader)
2. Download your ebook: Log in to eBooks.com, go to your bookshelf, and click Download next to your chosen ebook. Download the lcpl file and open it in Thorium Reader.
3. Enter your Reading Key: When Thorium Reader asks for an LCP Passphrase or Reading Key, copy the key from the eBooks.com download page and paste it into the app.

Note: You only need to perform Steps 1&3 the first time you download an ebook. For future ebooks, you can simply click Download.

For more information please see our Thorium download guide.

If you have an e-reader device that is compatible with Readium LCP (lcpl files), you can then transfer the ebooks to your e-reader from your computer. (More about transferring ebooks via Thorium Reader)

How to download an ebook to a phone or tablet

1. Install the eBooks.com app: Install our eBooks.com app on your device (Click here for an eBooks.com app user guide). There are three versions available. Depending on the type of device you have, install one of these:
   • iOS (for iPhone or iPad)
   • Android
   • Kindle FIRE tablet (uses our legacy Ebook Reader app for now)
2. Sign in to the app: With the app open, login using the same credentials you used for your eBooks.com account.
3. Download your ebook: Tap on the cover of the ebook you’d like to read.

Note: You only need to perform Steps 1&2 the first time you download an ebook. For future ebooks, you can simply open the app and tap the cover to download.

For more information please see our app download guide.

How to transfer an ebook from a computer to an Adobe compatible e-reader device

You’ll need to have an app called Adobe Digital Editions (“ADE”) installed on your computer and device. Most of the ebooks we sell are locked (encrypted) by their publishers, and this ADE software unlocks ebooks.

It’s likely that ADE is already installed on your device, but that’s not true of all devices, so you should check here to make sure your device is compatible.

If your device is compatible with ADE…

First download the ebook to your computer

1. Install Adobe Digital Editions: Download and install this free software in order to unlock and read your ebook. (More info about installing ADE.)
2. “Authorize” the software: With the ADE open on your computer:
   • click Help >
   • Authorize >
   • select Adobe ID as your eBook vendor and then >
   • type in your ByteBooks user name and password, or create a ByteBooks account if you don’t have one. (More info about authorizing ADE.)
3. Download your ebook: Log in to eBooks.com, go to your bookshelf and select your ebook, then on the download page select "Some e-readers" under "Other ways to read", then click Download next to the format you want to download.

Note: You only need to perform Steps 1&2 the first time you download an ebook. For future ebooks, you can simply select "Some e-readers" under "Other ways to read", then click Download.

Then transfer the ebook from the computer to the e-reader

1. Connect the e-reader device via USB to your computer. Do this step before opening ADE. (Otherwise, the application can’t see the device.)
2. Then launch ADE on your computer.
3. ADE will detect the device and it will be listed on the left side of the ADE window.
4. Click on the ebook that you want to transfer and drag it across to the image of your device on the left.

The eBook is now transferred, and you can read it on your e-reader device.

Having trouble?

If you are having technical difficulties at any point please use our troubleshooter, or search the Reading Devices section of Help Centre. And of course you can always contact our support team, who will be happy to help.