WHSmith eBookShop - Help - Basics

We are pleased to offer the following types of materials for purchase and download from this website:

To review system requirements and download free software for your preferred format, click below:

'eBook' is short for 'electronic book', a digital version of a print book that has been optimized for on-screen reading. eBooks are available in a variety of different formats:

To review system requirements and instructions for download, choose from the free eBook software below:

A OverDrive WMA Audiobook title is a digitally-protected audiobook that has been optimized for download. OverDrive WMA Audiobook titles are built using the Microsoft® Windows Media® Audio format, which greatly enhances the sound quality for desktop listening, play of CD copies (when allowed by the publisher), and portable device use.

An OverDrive MP3 Audiobook title is an audiobook that has been optimized for download. OverDrive MP3 Audiobook titles are compatible with many different devices including most cell phones, PDAs, and MP3 players.

In order to purchase and use a specific format of digital material, you must download and install the appropriate software.

For Adobe EPUB eBooks, Adobe Digital Editions is available for desktop computers. Click here for more information on this software.

For Adobe PDF eBooks, Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe Reader 7 are available for desktop and laptop computers. Adobe Reader 3.0 is available for PDAs with Palm OS and Adobe Reader 2.0 is available for the Pocket PC. For more information on this software, click here.

Microsoft Reader is available for desktop and laptop computers running a variety Microsoft Windows® operating systems. Microsoft Reader 2.0 is preinstalled on most Pocket PC devices. For more information on this software, click here.

Mobipocket Reader is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows® operating systems, Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and Palm OS PDAs. For more information on this software, click here.

OverDrive Media Console (for OverDrive WMA Audiobooks) is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows operating systems. For more information on this software, click here.

OverDrive Media Console (for OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks) is available for desktop and laptop computers with Microsoft Windows or Mac® operating systems. Click here for more information on this software.

Note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded three times. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a fourth time, please contact support to reactivate the download link. In your email, please provide your Transaction ID number as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.

The steps taken to access Mobipocket eBooks vary by Mobipocket Reader version…

Alternatively, use Windows Explorer to browse to the desired Mobipocket eBook file on your computer (on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP, Mobipocket eBooks are stored in My Documents > My eBooks by default. On Windows Vista, Mobipocket eBooks are stored in Documents > My eBooks by default), and right-click the file. Choose option 'Open With' and select Mobipocket Reader.

Alternatively, open Mobipocket Reader and go to File > Open. Browse to the desired Mobipocket file and double-click it to open it in Mobipocket Reader.

To open an audiobook, open OverDrive Media Console and double-click the desired title in the 'Media Library'.

After finding a title to purchase, click on the 'add to cart' link to add the title to your Shopping Cart. After checkout, you will be directed to a download page where you can click on the 'Download' button to download your purchased item to your computer.

If you would prefer to perform your download at a later time, you can return to the site and click on the 'My Bookshelf' link to display 'Download' links for your previously purchased materials.

If you've misplaced your copy of a downloaded title, this site maintains a history of purchased digital materials called 'My Bookshelf'. You can re-download from the 'My Bookshelf' feature by clicking on the 'My Bookshelf' link in the 'My Account' section. To reach the 'My Account' section, click the 'My Account' link and enter the required login information.

(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded only one time. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a second time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your Transaction ID and Date of Sale as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)

A downloaded title remains on your computer unless you manually delete it. 'My Bookshelf' is a history of purchased titles maintained at this site. Titles can be re-downloaded using the 'My Bookshelf' feature by clicking on the 'My Bookshelf' link.

(Please note that Adobe eBooks can be downloaded three times. If you should need to download an Adobe eBook a fourth time, please contact support to reactivate your download link. In your email, please provide your Transaction ID and Date of Sale as well as the title of the book you wish to download again.)

Adobe eBooks can be used on multiple machines if you are using Adobe Digital Editions or Adobe Reader 6 or 7.

If you have Adobe Digital Editions…

Adobe Digital Editions must be activated using an Adobe ID in order to share purchased eBooks among multiple computers. When you first open Adobe Digital Editions, you are prompted to activate, or authorize, your computer.

If you have Adobe Reader 6 or 7…

To use Adobe eBooks on multiple machines, each machine must first be activated to the same account using Adobe's 'Named Activation' option. To activate Adobe Reader 6 or 7 using the Named Activation option, click here.

Adobe Reader 8 does not offer stand-alone support for Adobe eBooks and does not support the transfer of Adobe eBooks to portable devices or other computers. Note that Adobe Reader 6 or 7 may check for updates and download Adobe Reader 8 automatically depending on your current settings. Click here for information on turning off automatic updates in Adobe Reader 6 and 7.

Please note that Adobe Reader 6 is no longer available for download. If you upgrade to Adobe Digital Editions or Adobe Reader 7 or 8, you will no longer be able to reinstall Adobe Reader 6.

Microsoft Reader eBooks may be moved from computer to computer, as long as each computer has a copy of Microsoft Reader that is activated to the same Passport account as the computer used to download the ebook.

You can read Mobipocket eBooks on 3 machines. You need to install Mobipocket Reader on any machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook. You must then register a Mobipocket PID at this site for each machine on which you intend to read a Mobipocket eBook.

OverDrive WMA Audiobooks can be downloaded to multiple computers, transferred to supported portable devices, and burned to CD (when allowed by the publisher).

OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks can be downloaded to multiple computers, transferred to supported portable devices, and burned to CD.

Enhanced titles are accompanied by supplemental material provided by the publisher. Once you have purchased an enhanced title, you will be able to download the title as well as the supplemental material.

I'm interested in an enhanced title but I really only want one of the files. Do I have to download both?

How can I tell the format of the supplemental file that comes with an enhanced title? How will I know what software I need to use it?

The file format of the supplemental file is indicated at the title details page (click the link '[ENHANCED]'). Additionally, the file format is recapped on the 'My Bookshelf' page. At the 'My Bookshelf' page, you'll also find a link to the download instructions for the software required to use the supplemental file.