Kobo Libra Colour

KOReader

Installing and living with the KOReader reading app.

KOReader is a separate reading application that runs on the Libra Colour without removing anything. When you install it, the Kobo home screen gains a “KOReader” icon; tapping it starts KOReader, and closing KOReader returns you to the normal Kobo interface (often called Nickel, the name of Kobo’s own software).

Why put it on the Libra Colour

  • Typography. KOReader exposes margin, line-spacing, font-weight and hyphenation controls that Nickel keeps hidden. On a 7-inch screen that is the difference between a comfortable page and a cramped one.
  • Formats. It opens CBZ and CBR comic archives, FB2, DjVu and plain-text files that Nickel either handles poorly or not at all.
  • The colour screen. KOReader’s image handling and its comic-book mode make better use of the Libra Colour’s colour panel than the stock reader does.
  • One setup everywhere. If you also read on a phone or another e-reader, KOReader can be the same on all of them, including a synced reading position.

Why you might leave it off

  • Nickel’s Kobo store, OverDrive library borrowing and Pocket integration do not work inside KOReader. If you rely on those, you will be switching back and forth.
  • The interface is dense. Expect to spend an evening learning where things are.

Start here

  1. Install KOReader on the Kobo Libra Colour — the safe method that keeps Nickel intact.
  2. If KOReader will not open after installing, see KOReader won’t launch on the Kobo Libra Colour.