Google eBooks FAQ

Google eBooks Responses to Customer Questions 

What is Google eBooks?

Thank you for your question. Google eBooks are a new way to discover, buy, and enjoy your favorite digital books, online and offline, powered by Google. You can buy a Google eBook directly from us, and then read your purchased book on your computer, your smartphone, or your electronic reading device.  Google eBooks are kept on the cloud (Google's computer servers), which means you can do more than just read your book. You can buy new and out-of-print books, switch from one reading device to another without losing your place, manage your digital book collection on your digital bookshelf, and write reviews for other readers to see. 

Which devices are compatible with Google eBooks?

Thank you for your question. You can read your Google eBooks using a number of different devices. Google eBooks can be read with any dedicated electronic reader that runs Adobe Content Server 4's ePub DRM, including the Nook and Sony Portable Readers. The full list of Adobe-compatible devices can be found at http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/. At the moment, Google eBooks are not compatible with Amazon Kindle devices.Additionally, for a superior reading experience, you can download and install the Google Books reading app for free on the iPhone or any Android phone. Finally, you can read Google Editions books on any browser with Javascript enabled via the WebReader powered by Google. 

Can I read a Google eBook on a Kindle?

Thank you for your question. Kindle is not a supported Google eBooks device at this moment. Google eBooks can be read with any dedicated eBook reader that runs AdobeContent Server 4's ePub DRM, including the Nook and Sony Portable Readers. The fulllist of Adobe-compatible devices can be found at http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/. Additionally, for a superior reading experience, you can download and install the GoogleBooks reading app for free on the iPhone or any Android phone. Finally, you can read Google Editions books on any browser with Javascript enabled via the WebReader powered by Google. 

How can I view and manage my Google eBooks?

Thank you for your question. Once you have purchased Google eBooks from our website, you can easily access and manage your purchased titles from the eLibrary page. Since the eLibrary page is synced-up with the cloud, you will find all your Google eBooks purchases there. Your most recent purchase will be the one displayed first in the list. To start reading your Google eBook immediately, just click the ebook cover to launch the WebReader. 

How do I read the Google eBooks I bought?

Thank you for your question. Once you have purchased Google eBooks from our website, you can easily access and manage your purchased titles from the eLibrary page. Since the eLibrary page is synced-up with the cloud, you will find all your GoogleeBooks purchases there.Your most recent purchase will be the one displayed first in the list. To start reading your Google eBook immediately, just click the ebook cover to launch the WebReader.You can also read your Google eBooks can in any dedicated eBook reader that runsAdobe Content Server 4's ePub DRM, including the Nook and Sony Portable Readers.The full list of Adobe-compatible devices can be found at http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/. Finally, for a superior reading experience, you can download and install the GoogleBooks reading app for free on the iPhone or any Android phone. 

Do I need to be online to read the Google eBooks I bought?

Thank you for your question. Google eBooks can be read offline in a variety of ways: When you start reading a Google eBook, a full copy of the book is stored on your computer, phone, or eReader. (This ability can be limited if too little space exists on your device to cache the entire book.) If you later go offline, the book is still readable both during short outages of a few minutes, or longer outages of hours, days, and months.  Additionally, every Google eBook can be downloaded in one of two formats, and sometimes both: PDF and ePub (a PDF will be available for books that do not offer anePub). The actual file that you download will have an .acsm extension; these downloads are for use only on devices which run Adobe Content Server 4's DRM (including the Adobe Digital Editions software for your computer, or these devices). Opening the ACSM file will then trigger the download of the actual PDF or ePUB.  Some publishers may opt to provide DRM-free downloads, in which case you can open the file directly. 

What can I do with the Google eBooks I bought?

Thank you for your question. As you may already know, Google eBooks are a new way to discover, buy, and enjoy your favorite digital books, online and offline, powered by Google and offered through our website. Google eBooks are designed to accommodate one book per Google Account. This means that sharing books among multiple users is not currently supported. At this moment it is not possible to buy a Google eBook for someone as a gift. Additionally, please note that you won't be able to print a Google eBook. 

How do I use the Google eBooks app for iPhone and iPad?

Thank you for your question. The Google eBooks app for iPhone and iPad is free and you can download it from the Apple Store. Once the app is downloaded to your phone or tablet, and by the time you first open the app, you'll be asked to sign in to your Google Account. Once you're logged in, you'll be able to view a list of books you've bought.When reading a book, turn pages by using a swiping motion or by touching the margin on either side. Icons on the upper right provide menu options to access the table of contents, change your viewing settings (such as adjusting the font size or toggling 3-Dpage turns), search the book's text, or view information about the title. You can return to the list of your books with the "My eBooks" button on the top left. 

How do I use the Google eBooks app for Android?

Thank you for your question. The Google eBooks app for Android phones is free and you can download it from the Android Market. Once the app is downloaded to your phone or tablet, and by the time you first open the app, you'll be asked to sign in to yourGoogle Account. Once you're logged in, you'll be able to view a list of books you've bought.When reading a book, turn pages by using a swiping motion or by touching the margin on either side. Icons on the upper right provide menu options to access the table ofc ontents, change your viewing settings (such as adjusting the font size or toggling 3-Dpage turns), search the book's text, or view information about the title. You can return to the list of your books with the "My eBooks" button on the top left. 

Questions about books availability

Thank you for your interest to buy Google eBooks. You can purchase electronic accessto more than 70,000 books through Google Editions, including new releases, bestsellers,and recent award winners. Our unique selection draws from many major publishers and includes every genre imaginable: mystery, thriller, romance, travel,science, poetry, politics, religion, literature and more. In addition, another one million Full View books are available through Google at no cost. You can find these books by browsing the Free Google eBooks shelf on GoogleBooks. 

Issues with Book Quality

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We’re sorry to hear that your experience with Google eBooks was not satisfactory.We have forwarded your findings to the Google team. Google is always working to optimize their services and your feedback is very much appreciated. If you’d like to ask for a refund on this purchase, please follow our refund policies on digital books. 

Issues with Google Account

As you may know, all your Google Editions purchases will be listed under the “Purchased” section of your “My Library” page on Google Books (http://books.google.com). To be able to access that page you must sign in to Google Books using your Google Account information. Your Google Account information consists in your username (the full email address you use to access Google products) and password.If you have misplaced or forgotten your username, please visit http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=27443  If you have misplaced or forgotten your password, please visit https://www.google.com/accounts/ForgotPasswd  For more information about your Google Account, please visit http://www.google.com/support/accounts/?hl=en 

Questions about participating in Google Books/Google eBooks

Thank you for your interest in Google eBooks. Only Google Books partners can have their books available for sale as Google eBooks. If you are not a Google Books partner yet, please visit the following page to learn how you can benefit from the Partner Program offered by Google Books:http://books.google.com/support/partner/bin/answer.py?answer=106167 

Questions about the settlement

Thank you for your question. To learn more about the Google Books settlementagreement, please go to http://www.googlebooksettlement.com. If you have specific questions about this matter, you are encouraged to contact the Settlement Administratoror Class Counsel, whose contact information is on the settlement website, for further assistance. If you have questions about the Google Books Partner Program or Google Editions, please contact Google Books directly. 

Why do I need to have a Google Account in order to buy a Google eBook?

Thank you for your question. You need to have a Google Account in order to buy aGoogle eBook because the digital book will "live" in the cloud, or Google servers. All your eBook purchases will be stored in the same place and associated with that specific Google Account. Creating a Google Account is free, and you don't have to have a GMail address for that. For more information, please check the following page: http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=27441 

Is my credit card information shared with Google upon linking accounts?

Thank you for your question. The only reason why you are asked to link your account to a Google account is so you can finish your purchase and access your Google eBooks via our website. There is no information being shared between Google and us. If you're concerned with Security and Privacy of Google Accounts, please check the following page: http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=14146