Kobo Clara BW · Guides

Play audiobooks on the Kobo Clara BW over Bluetooth

The Clara BW has no speaker or headphone jack, so audiobooks play only through Bluetooth. Here is how to pair headphones or a speaker and what audio the device can play.

Tested on
Kobo Clara BW
Difficulty
Easy
Estimated time
10 minutes
Last tested
August 2026
Last updated
August 2026

Audio on the Clara BW is Bluetooth-only and Kobo-only: store or library audiobooks through headphones or a speaker you have paired. There is no way to add your own audio files. If audiobooks are a large part of how you listen, that limitation is worth knowing before you rely on this device for them.

  1. Know what audio the Clara BW can and cannot play

    The Clara BW plays Kobo audiobooks bought from the Kobo store, and audiobooks borrowed through the built-in OverDrive or Libby library link. It does not play your own MP3 or M4B audiobook files, and it has no speaker or headphone socket, so Bluetooth is the only output.

  2. Put your headphones into pairing mode

    Most earbuds enter pairing mode when you first open the case or hold a button until a light flashes; a speaker usually has a dedicated Bluetooth button. Check the accessory's own instructions. It must be discoverable, not just switched on.

  3. Open Bluetooth on the Clara BW

    On the home screen, open the menu, then Settings, then "Bluetooth". Turn Bluetooth on if it is not already. The Clara BW scans for nearby devices.

  4. Select your headphones from the list

    Tap your headphones or speaker when they appear. Pairing takes a few seconds. Once connected, the device is remembered and reconnects automatically next time both are on and in range.

  5. Start an audiobook

    Open an audiobook from "My Books". Playback controls, a sleep timer and a playback-speed setting are on the player screen. Volume is controlled from the player or the quick settings panel.

  6. Disconnect or switch devices

    To hand the headphones back to your phone, either turn Bluetooth off on the Clara BW or "Forget" the headphones under Settings, then Bluetooth. Leaving Bluetooth on uses noticeably more battery, so switch it off when you are only reading.