How to Use the Libby App: Step-by-Step

By the Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team · Updated October 21, 2026

Step 1: Install Libby and add your library card

Get Libby free from the App Store (iPhone/iPad), Google Play (Android) or the Amazon Appstore (newer Fire tablets) — or just use it in a browser at libbyapp.com. On first run, follow the prompts to find your library (or tap Menu → Add Library and search by name, city or ZIP, or use the map). Then tap Library and add your card: your card number is under the barcode, and the PIN is set by your library (often something like the last four digits of your phone number or your birthdate — ask your library if you're unsure). You can add more than one card or library from the same menu.

Step 2: Find and borrow a book

Tap Search to look up a title, author or series, or tap Library to browse (your selection varies by library). On an available title, tap Borrow. On the confirmation screen you can tap the loan period to change it — the available lengths are set by your library, and your choice becomes the default for that format. Borrowed titles appear on your Shelf → Loans, and by default download over Wi-Fi so you can read offline.

Step 3: Place and manage holds

If every copy is out, tap Place Hold to join the wait list; Libby shows your estimated wait and place in line. Manage holds under Shelf → Holds → Manage Hold, where you can suspend a hold (keep your place in line without receiving it yet) or cancel it. For how waitlists, pickup windows and freezing work in detail, see how library holds work.

Step 4: Read and listen your way

Open a title from your Shelf. In an ebook, tap the center of the screen and open reading settings to change the text size (turn on “Include accessibility sizes” for a wider range), switch fonts (including OpenDyslexic) or dark mode. In an audiobook, tap the play-speed control to set the playback speed (anywhere from 0.6× to 3×) and the sleep timer (5–120 minutes, or end-of-chapter).

Step 5: Send a book to your Kindle

If you'd rather read on a Kindle, go to Shelf → Loans → Manage Loan → Read With… → Kindle and finish on Amazon. This works for ebooks from U.S. libraries only (it won't appear for libraries outside the U.S.), and it's not available for audiobooks. For the full walkthrough, see sending library ebooks to a Kindle.

Step 6: Return early or renew

Libby titles return themselves automatically on the due date — there's never a late fee. To return sooner, tap Shelf → Loans → Manage Loan → Return Early. To keep a title longer, the Renew Loan option appears in the same menu a few days before it's due (it's blocked if someone else has a hold). See how to renew a library book for the details.

Troubleshooting: when Libby isn't working

If Libby won't load or sync, the official fixes, in order, are: close the app (or your browser), restart your device, verify your library cards (Menu → tap your card → Verify Card, then sign in again), try a different network or switch off Wi-Fi to use cellular data, and make sure the app is updated and your device has free storage. On Android, also update Android System WebView (or Chrome). If your card “isn't found,” re-check the library, card number and PIN, or contact your library. To move your loans and holds to a new phone, use Menu → Copy To Another Device and enter the setup code on the new one. In-app help lives under Menu → Help & Support.

Frequently Asked Questions