diff --git a/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/action.py b/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/action.py
index e82e29b..cfa164d 100644
--- a/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/action.py
+++ b/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/action.py
@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@ from calibre_plugins.obok_dedrm.utilities import (
 from calibre_plugins.obok_dedrm.obok.obok import KoboLibrary
 from calibre_plugins.obok_dedrm.obok.legacy_obok import legacy_obok
 
+can_parse_xml = True
+try:
+  from xml.etree import ElementTree as ET
+  debug_print("using xml.etree for xml parsing")
+except ImportError:
+  can_parse_xml = False
+  debug_print("Cannot find xml.etree, disabling extraction of serial numbers")
+
+
 PLUGIN_ICONS = ['images/obok.png']
 
 try:
@@ -80,21 +89,37 @@ class InterfacePluginAction(InterfaceAction):
         print ('Running {}'.format(PLUGIN_NAME + ' v' + PLUGIN_VERSION))
         #
         # search for connected device in case serials are saved
+        tmpserials = cfg['kobo_serials']
         device = self.parent().device_manager.connected_device
         device_path = None
         if (device):
-            device_path = self.parent().device_manager.connected_device._main_prefix
+            device_path = device._main_prefix
             debug_print("get_device_settings - device_path=", device_path)
+            # get serial from device_path/.adobe-digital-editions/device.xml
+            if can_parse_xml:
+                devicexml = os.path.join(device_path, '.adobe-digital-editions', 'device.xml')
+                debug_print("trying to load %s" % devicexml)
+                if (os.path.exists(devicexml)):
+                    debug_print("trying to parse %s" % devicexml)
+                    xmltree = ET.parse(devicexml)
+                    for node in xmltree.iter():
+                        if "deviceSerial" in node.tag:
+                            serial = node.text
+                            debug_print ("found serial %s" % serial)
+                            tmpserials.append(serial)
+                            break
+
+
         else:
             debug_print("didn't find device")
 
         # Get the Kobo Library object (obok v3.01)
-        self.library = KoboLibrary(cfg['kobo_serials'], device_path)
+        self.library = KoboLibrary(tmpserials, device_path)
         debug_print ("got kobodir %s" % self.library.kobodir)
         if (self.library.kobodir == ''):
             # linux and no device connected, but could be extended
             # to the case where on Windows/Mac the prog is not installed
-            msg = _('<p>Could not find Kobo Library\n<p>Windows/Mac: do you have Kobo Desktop installed?\n<p>Windows/Mac/Linux: In case you have an Kobo eInk device, configure the serial number and connect the device.')
+            msg = _('<p>Could not find Kobo Library\n<p>Windows/Mac: do you have Kobo Desktop installed?\n<p>Windows/Mac/Linux: In case you have an Kobo eInk device, connect the device.')
             showErrorDlg(msg, None)
             return
 
diff --git a/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/obok/obok.py b/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/obok/obok.py
index f845185..ca74284 100644
--- a/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/obok/obok.py
+++ b/Obok_calibre_plugin/obok_plugin/obok/obok.py
@@ -248,29 +248,31 @@ class KoboLibrary(object):
         print u"Obok v{0}\nCopyright © 2012-2015 Physisticated et al.".format(__version__)
         self.kobodir = ''
         kobodb = ''
-        if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
-            if sys.getwindowsversion().major > 5:
-                self.kobodir = os.environ['LOCALAPPDATA']
-            else:
-                self.kobodir = os.path.join(os.environ['USERPROFILE'], 'Local Settings', 'Application Data')
-            self.kobodir = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'Kobo', 'Kobo Desktop Edition')
-        elif sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):
-            self.kobodir = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], 'Library', 'Application Support', 'Kobo', 'Kobo Desktop Edition')
-        # desktop versions use Kobo.sqlite
-        kobodb = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'Kobo.sqlite')
-        if (self.kobodir == '' or not(os.path.exists(kobodb))):
-            # kobodb is either not set or not an existing file, that means that either:
-            # . windows or mac: desktop app is not installed
-            # . linux
-            # we check for a connected device and try to set up kobodir and kobodb from there
-            if (device_path):
-                self.kobodir = os.path.join(device_path, '.kobo')
-                # devices use KoboReader.sqlite
-                kobodb  = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'KoboReader.sqlite')
-                if (not(os.path.exists(kobodb))):
-                    # give up here, we haven't found anything useful
-                    self.kobodir = ''
-                    kobodb  = ''
+
+        # - first check whether serials have been found or are provided 
+        #   and a device is connected. In this case, use the device
+        # - otherwise fall back to Kobo Desktop Application for Windows and Mac
+        if (device_path and (len(serials) > 0)):
+            self.kobodir = os.path.join(device_path, '.kobo')
+            # devices use KoboReader.sqlite
+            kobodb  = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'KoboReader.sqlite')
+            if (not(os.path.exists(kobodb))):
+                # give up here, we haven't found anything useful
+                self.kobodir = ''
+                kobodb  = ''
+
+        if (self.kobodir == ''):
+            # we haven't found a device with serials, so try desktop apps
+            if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
+                if sys.getwindowsversion().major > 5:
+                    self.kobodir = os.environ['LOCALAPPDATA']
+                else:
+                    self.kobodir = os.path.join(os.environ['USERPROFILE'], 'Local Settings', 'Application Data')
+                self.kobodir = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'Kobo', 'Kobo Desktop Edition')
+            elif sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):
+                self.kobodir = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], 'Library', 'Application Support', 'Kobo', 'Kobo Desktop Edition')
+            # desktop versions use Kobo.sqlite
+            kobodb = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'Kobo.sqlite')
         
         if (self.kobodir != ''):
             self.bookdir = os.path.join(self.kobodir, 'kepub')