Skip to main content
tmw5795
tmw5795
Participant
April 7, 2018
Answered

Kobo won't open library book because eReader was previously deauthorized [2018]

  • April 7, 2018
  • 22 replies
  • 65684 views

I have a Kobo Glo and I am now getting the following error message "Your eReader is not authorized to open this book. Because you previously deauthorized your eReader, you need to reimport the book using ADE". I have tried reimporting the book, and even returning the book and then reborrowing it before reimporting it to my Kobo. I have tried deauthorizing the reader and then reauthorizing it before reimporting it to my Kobo. Deauthorizing and reauthorizing my Kobo worked a couple of times, but not any longer. I have uninstalled my version of ADE and downloaded and installed the latest version. I have contacted Adobe and they checked my Adobe account and authorizations and was told that I still have unused activations and my authorizations appear to be in order. I can read my books on my MacBook using ADE, and I can even read them using ADE when I click on my Kobo icon in ADE sidebar and open the book. ADE seems to be working as advertised, but my Kobo is not cooperating. I have contacted Kobo as well and they say it's an ADE issue and will not discuss it further. I have not done a factory reset on my Kobo as I don't want to lose all my purchased eBooks. I have checked out a few threads regarding similar issues, but none with my particular error message. Any suggestions are appreciated as I feel I have tried everything, save a Kobo reset, or trashing the Kobo altogether. Thanks

      Correct answer TOJenX

      https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

      Adobe only has ADE 4.511 and 3.0 on this page. I was using 3.0 then had problems with ADE opening/getting  the library ebook I borrowed from Overdrive. Then I used 4.511 with some success but the authorization problem started. Being able to open the borrowed ebook via ADE on the computer and kobo (via ADE) doesn't necessarily mean that when kobo is unplugged from the computer, kobo will be able to open said ebook. That's what has been happening to me before I found this forum. I tried to go back to ADE 3.0 but it won't worked on my Windows 7 anymore. It keeps crashing.

       

      https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

      This is where I found 2.0. I de-authorized both computer and kobo. Downloaded again from the library the problem ebook. Before download started, I was prompted to authorize my computer. Re-authorized kobo. It worked! Kobo can open a borrowed library ebook without being plugged in to the computer.

       

      Good luck!


      Hi,

      I spent hours trying to get my Kobo Aura HD to open a library book I borrowed through Overdrive and I can confirm that the issue is with Adobe Digital Editions (in particular v. 4.5) and indirectly with Kobo and Overdrive because none of them care enough to create a long-term solution. I'm running Windows 10. After trying and failing to get a number of the posted solutions to work I stumbled across something that worked for me and my ancient Kobo. I hope these steps will work for others, and will assume anyone trying them has a basic understanding of how to authorize/deauthorize and install/uninstall on both Windows OS and the Kobo.

       

      To start, the Kobo should not be connected to your computer.

      1) Delete the books that you can't open off your Kobo.

      2) Via Settings on Kobo:

        2a) Ensure your date and time are correct on your Kobo and you have wifi turned on.

        2b) Open Accounts and deauthorize your Kobo from the Adobe account.

      3) Delete the books you downloaded from your computer. You can do this within the Adobe Digital Editions app on your computer by hovering over the book with your cursor and right clicking then selecting "Remove from Library". Also delete the .acsm file from the Downloads folder.

      4) This step probably doesn't matter, but it doesn't hurt either. With the ADE app open, press Ctrl + Shift + D. A window pops up with Erase Computer Authorization. Go ahead and Erase Authorization.

      5) Uninstall ADE version 4.5 from your computer.

      6) Go to this third-party website and download version 3.0 of ADE. https://adobe-digital-editions.software.informer.com/3.0/

      7) Install ADE version 3.0 on your computer and login using your Adobe account and password.

      😎 Within the ADE app, authorize your computer under the Help menu or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + U.

      9) Open a web browser, go to your Overdrive library page, go to Loans, redownload the book you originally had trouble with.

      10) Once downloaded, double click on the .acsm file and it will open in ADE version 3.0. Close the book by returning to ADE's main Library page.

      11) Connect your Kobo to your computer. It will appear on the left panel of ADE.

      12) Drag and drop the book from your open Bookshelves folder onto the Kobo.

      13) Eject your Kobo from your computer and wait until Kobo updates content before unplugging the USB cable.

      14) Open the book on your Kobo and enjoy.

       

      As I said, this solution may not work for everyone but it did work for me on my old school Kobo Aura HD. I really hope it helps and prevents someone from using their Kobo as a Frisbee.

       

      22 replies

      Show previous replies
      K
      KaraMoose
      Participant
      May 23, 2020

      Things I tried which eventually worked (I'm not sure what the key bit was!): Deleting the book files from ADE and my kobo, and then looking for any more within file explorer - I found old files within the kobo folder as well as within the Adobe Digital Editions Folder. I deauthorised everything and then unplugged the ereader/closed ADE. Then plugged in the ereader and reauthroized the ereader, which automatically did the computer. I then downloaded an entirely new non-DRM book (one picked at random) from my library - I'm wondering if the non-protected nature was important? - and added it to ADE and then the ereader. I then re-downloaded the problem DRM books, and added those to ADE, then the ereader. It's worth noting I decided against flicking through the pages within ADE, just in case this had been causing problems (sometimes this has caused ADE to freeze for me). I then safely-removed the ereader, and voila! Even though the DRM books displayed black covers, the non-DRM was visible, and when I clicked, they opened, much to my surprise! Good luck!

        F
        Flamboyant_hearted98C6
        Participant
        July 29, 2020

        Thank you for sharing - I had authorized/de-authorized my devices multiple times, deleted and downloaded books to no avail until I saw your point about a non-DRM book. I tried this and for some reason it works. Every time I want to copy a book onto my bookshelf, I copy this non-DRM book as well. Otherwise, it does not work.  It is not perfect but I am so happy to have this function working. Thank you so much! 

          C
          Catherine5DC1
          Participant
          July 14, 2021

          I tried everything here, and your solution is what worked for me! I piggybacked the problematic DRM book with a non-DRM book, and voilà! Thank goodness for the reader community!

           

          shannons23551127
          shannons23551127
          Participant
          June 4, 2018

          I had the same problem, but was able to solve it using a response from etherworkon this thread:

          Digital Editions to kobo

          The key to this is to download a completely NEW book. I tried without downloading a NEW book and it didn't work until I did this with a NEW book.

          Good luck!

          Please note that you don't have to downgrade to get kobo to work again. Maureen outlined how to fix it here:

          Re: Not able to open library books on my Kobo Glo: "Oops! This document couldn't be opened"

          With the following list, I am paraphrasing Maureen's excellent advice that finally released me from my anguish:

          1. Delete the problem book(s) from your ereader.
          2. Open Adobe Digital Editions on the computer. Check to see if you can read the problem book(s) in ADE. Connect your e-reader.  Erase authorization on ADE (Go to the Help Menu at the top). Erase the authorization for the ereader (go to the side menu of ADE). Keep the e-reader connected to the computer.
          3. Go to your public library website and get a NEW book. Upload the new book to ADE. Adobe will then PROMPT YOU for the authorization. If it doesn't, go back to "help" at the top and reauthorize ADE. Go to the side menu of ADE to re-authorize your ereader.
          4. Drag the new book into your e-reader. Select "ereader" (ie: NOT all items, or borrowed items, or...). Try opening the book in the ereader area. If it opens there, it's likely that it will open in your e-reader.
          5. Re-upload what were the problem book(s) to your e-reader. Again, select "ereader" in ADE and check that the book(s) can be read there.
          6. Disconnect your e-reader from the computer. Be able to read your book(s) at last!
            D
            dihon
            Participant
            February 6, 2020

            This is happening to my Kobo Glo HD. I have followed the instruction yet the message, "Your eReader is not authorized to open this book. Because you previously deauthorized your eReader, you need to reimport the book using ADE" pops up again. What other ways I can try? I have already tried reset the Kobo to factory setting. 

            Thank you!

            betsyd40367793
            betsyd40367793
            Participant
            March 31, 2021

            I've been stuck with this issue for quite a while now and have tried to do everything as explained all over the forum. So basically I combined a couple of the things of everyone and wrote down what I did that helped me in what I believe are clear words. I had to make these guidelines for my wife anyway so I might as well post them here. If you miss a step, it likely won't work so follow the guidelines carefully. I hope it helps.

            1. Delete the problem book(s) from your E-reader.
            2. Connect your e-reader to the computer and keep it connected until step 8.
            3. Open Adobe Digital Editions on the computer
              1. Delete the problem book(s) in ADE. (really delete, you’ll have to redownload it with the “.acsm” file from the public library websites later)
              2. Erase authorization on ADE (Go to the Help Menu at the top).
              3. Erase the authorization for the E-reader (Go to the side menu of ADE).
            4. Go to your public library website and get a NEW book (it has to be a New one!).
              1. Upload the new book to ADE.
              2. Adobe should prompt you for the authorization. If it doesn't, reauthorize ADE by going to "help" at the top.
            5. Re-authorize your E-reader. By going to the side menu of ADE
            6. Import the new book into your e-reader by right-clicking it and copying it to the E-reader.
            7. Select " E-reader" and try opening it there (ie: NOT via the directories “all items”, or “borrowed items”, or...).
              1. Try opening the book in the E-reader area. If it opens there, it's likely that it will open in your e-reader.
            8. Re-upload what were the problem book(s) to your e-reader.
              1. Again, select " E-reader" in ADE and check that the book(s) can be read there.
            9. Disconnect your e-reader from the computer. Be able to read your book(s) at last!

            It worked for me too. This has been frustrating me for so long, it's terrific to have this workaround. Thank you!!!

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
              Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices