Download eTexts (Access Offline - Mobile App)

Download Top Hat eTextbooks for offline access in the mobile app—read anytime, even without WiFi, by saving eTexts to your device from My Library. This guide walks students through downloading, removing, and accessing Top Hat eTexts offline, plus what to expect when reconnecting to the internet.

You’ll also learn about device storage limitations, how to update outdated eTexts, and which features are unavailable in offline mode, such as question submissions and interactive content.

Table of Contents

1. Downloading an eText
2. Removing a Downloaded eText
3. Accessing eTexts Offline
4. Reconnecting to the Internet
5. Outdated eTexts
6. Limitations

Downloading an eText

1. While connected to the internet, log in to your Top Hat account on the mobile app.
2. Go to My Library and tap the download button (downward arrow) next to the eText you want to access offline.
3. Tap Continue on the confirmation prompt.

   

You may stop the download while it's in progress by tapping the square stop button.

Note: If there’s not enough storage on your device, the download will cancel automatically and an alert will appear prompting you to free up space.

When the eText downloads successfully, the button will turn into a check-marked mobile device icon. A banner message will also confirm the successful download at the top of your screen.

Removing a Downloaded eText

To free up space and remove a downloaded eText from your device, tap the downloaded icon (the mobile device with a check mark) and select Continue to confirm the removal.

Accessing eTexts Offline

To read eTexts offline, open the Top Hat mobile app and go to My Library. Tap Read next to the downloaded eText.

Note: Any eTexts that have not been downloaded will appear grayed out. You won’t be able to access these without an internet connection.

A "You are offline" banner will appear at the bottom of the screen to indicate you're not connected. Select the down arrow to minimize the banner.

Reconnecting to the Internet

When your device regains an internet connection, a "You’re now online" banner will appear and automatically dismiss after 5 seconds. You can also manually close it by tapping the X.

Outdated eTexts

If your professor publishes a newer version of your eText, a banner will notify you once you’re back online. You can tap the banner to download the latest version, or dismiss it by selecting the X.

Limitations

The following features are not currently supported in offline mode:

• Question Interactions: You may be able to view questions, but you cannot submit responses while offline.
• You may see a message replacing the question that states it is "Read Only" or "Not available in offline mode."