Our verdict: Adobe Digital Editions is rarely anyone's favorite reader, but it is often required: many public libraries and e-book stores protect their books with Adobe DRM, and ADE is the official way to open them. For DRM-free books, Thorium Reader or calibre are nicer to use.
About Adobe Digital Editions
Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) is a free desktop e-book reader from Adobe. It opens EPUB, EPUB 3 and PDF publications and handles books protected with Adobe's DRM, which you get as an .acsm file when you borrow a book from a library or buy one from many online stores.
ADE organizes books on custom bookshelves sorted by title, author or publisher, offers full-text search, bookmarks, highlights and notes, and can print where the publisher allows it. Books you get on one device appear automatically on other devices activated with the same Adobe ID. It also transfers protected books to supported e-readers over USB. The current version, 4.5.12, has not changed since 2023.
What it does well
- Adobe DRM support. Opens .acsm downloads of protected EPUB and PDF books from libraries and stores.
- Library borrowing. Borrow e-books from public libraries and return them early.
- EPUB 3 reading. Supports audio, video, right-to-left text and math formulas in EPUB 3 books.
- Bookmarks and notes. Bookmark, highlight and annotate passages; search across the whole book.
- E-reader transfer. Copies protected books to supported e-readers connected over USB.
Who it is for
Good fit
Library patrons and buyers of Adobe DRM-protected e-books who need to read them or move them to an e-reader.
Look elsewhere
People who only read DRM-free books or Kindle books.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and required for many library loans
- Opens Adobe DRM-protected EPUB and PDF
- Transfers books to e-readers
- Works with JAWS and NVDA screen readers
Cons
- Dated interface and slow updates; version 4.5.12 dates from 2023
- Only useful for EPUB and PDF, no Kindle or comic formats
- Closed source
How to install Adobe Digital Editions
Download the Windows installer from Adobe's download page and run it. On first launch, go to Help > Authorize Computer and sign in with a free Adobe ID so your books work on your other devices too. Then open the .acsm file from your library or store with ADE to download the book.
Questions about Adobe Digital Editions
Is Adobe Digital Editions free?
Yes. ADE is a free download from Adobe; an Adobe ID for authorization is also free.
How do I open an .acsm file?
Open it with Adobe Digital Editions. ADE downloads the real EPUB or PDF book and authorizes it for your Adobe ID.
Can I read Kindle books in ADE?
No. Kindle books use Amazon's own formats and need the Kindle app.
