Fix problems using Google Play Books

Troubleshoot issues downloading, reading, or listening to ebooks or audiobooks.

Important: If you use a Google account associated with an institution like work or school, some features might not work. Contact your organization's technical staff for more information. Learn how to turn on Google services.

Fix problems loading your book

Fix ebooks or audiobooks that won't open or download.

Step 1: Check your connection and updates

  1. Make sure your Android phone or tablet is connected to Wi-Fi or a 3G/4G mobile network.
  2. Make sure your Play Books app is updated with the latest version.

Step 2:  Reload and re-download

Step 3: Reload the Google Play Books app

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Books app Play Books.
  2. From the top of the homepage, pull down until a spinning arrow appears.
  3. When the spinning arrow goes away, try to load your book again.

Step 4: Check whether the book is hidden

Step 5: Clear your app data

Find a book in your library

Find an ebook or audiobook you've purchased but isn't appearing in your library.

Step 1: Make sure you're signed in to the right account

Step 2: Check whether you bought the book

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, go to the Play Store.
  2. Search for the ebook or audiobook.
  3. Tap the cover.
  4. Find the blue button.
    • If it says 'Read,' you already own it.
    • If it says 'Buy,' you'll need to buy the ebook or audiobook to read or listen to it.

Fix problems with textbook rentals

If the textbook you rented hasn't appeared in your library:

  1. Make sure you're signed in to the Google Account you used to rent the book.
  2. Make sure you've updated the Google Play Books app to the latest version.

If neither of these fix the problem, try these troubleshooting steps.

Fix 'device limit reached' problem

Most books limit how many devices you can download them on at the same time. Remove the e-book or audiobook from one of your devices and download it on another, or turn off Books syncing on devices you don't use often.

Remove a downloaded book

Turn off syncing for Books on Android

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Accounts and then Google.
  3. Turn off Google Play Booksoff.

Fix problems playing audiobooks

Step 1: Check the sound settings on your device

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
  2. TapSounds.
  3. Make sure the media volume is not muted.

Step 2: Check your device storage

 If your audiobook stops playing abruptly, you may not have enough space on your device.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
  2. TapStorage and thenFree Up Space.
  3. Re-download the audiobook.

Step 3:  Disconnect from a Bluetooth or Chromecast device

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected devices and choose an option:
    • To disconnect from a Bluetooth device, tap Bluetooth, then disconnect from the paired device.
    • To disconnect from a Chromecast device, tap Cast , then disconnect from the paired device.

 Fix missing or wrong page numbers

Most e-books on Google Play Books adjust to fit your screen when you change page features like font size or line spacing. This means:

  • The same page number can appear on more than one page
  • The page count you see might be different than the page count on the book's details page.

Fix problems with missing pages

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?