Guides
Background that applies to any e-reader
The concepts and tools behind the device-specific pages. Start here if you are new to KOReader, Calibre or e-ink in general.
Software
- Calibre basics: managing your own ebook library Calibre is the free desktop program most people use to organise books and get them onto a reader. Here is the mental model and the three tasks that matter. Updated August 2026
- The best Kobo mods: NickelMenu and the toolkit around it Kobo has no official plugin system, but a small, stable set of community mods fixes most of Nickel's annoyances without leaving the stock reader. Here is the toolkit and how to install it. Updated September 2026
KOReader
- What is KOReader, and should you install it? KOReader is a free, open-source reading app that runs on almost every e-reader. Here is what it does, what it does not, and who it is for. Updated September 2026
- Installing KOReader on a Kindle in 2026: the KPM method The Kindle route changed in 2026. Jailbreaks now run in the Kindle's own browser, and KOReader installs through Kindle Package Manager (KPM) instead of KUAL. Here is the current shape of it. Updated September 2026
- KOReader gestures: taps, swipes and multiswipes explained KOReader lets you bind almost any action to almost any tap, swipe or corner. Here is the model, the defaults worth knowing, and the few custom gestures most people end up setting. Updated September 2026
- The best fonts for KOReader, and how to add your own KOReader ships with a decent set, but the reason people install it is control. Here is how fonts work in KOReader, which free ones are worth trying, and the settings that matter more than the typeface. Updated September 2026
- Dictionaries in KOReader: offline lookups, Wikipedia and translation KOReader can look up any word offline against dictionaries you install, or online against Wiktionary and translators. Here is how to add StarDict dictionaries and set the lookup gesture. Updated September 2026
- KOReader PDF settings that make documents readable KOReader is the best PDF reader on most e-ink devices, but only once it is set up. Here is the difference between page mode and reflow, and the crop, zoom and contrast settings that matter. Updated September 2026
- KOReader settings for manga and comics KOReader reads CBZ, CBR and image PDFs well once you set the fit, the page-turn direction and the refresh behaviour. Here is a setup that works for manga and Western comics. Updated September 2026
- KOReader's status bar, and the Bookends plugin KOReader's built-in bottom status bar already shows progress, time and battery, and it is highly configurable. The community Bookends plugin goes further with corner overlays. Here is what each does. Updated September 2026
- Sync your reading position between devices with KOReader KOReader's Progress Sync plugin keeps your place in a book in step across every device running KOReader. Here is how it works, what it does and does not sync, and whether to self-host. Updated September 2026
- KOReader and Calibre: wireless books, and syncing highlights back Two different jobs go under 'KOReader Calibre sync'. One is getting books onto the device over Wi-Fi. The other is pulling your KOReader highlights and progress back into Calibre. Here is how to do each. Updated September 2026
- Read Wallabag articles on your e-reader with KOReader KOReader's built-in Wallabag plugin downloads your saved articles as EPUB and syncs your read status back. Here is what you need from your Wallabag server and how to set it up. Updated September 2026
- KOReader battery drain: causes and fixes KOReader should not noticeably shorten an e-reader's battery life. If it does, it is almost always Wi-Fi, the refresh setting, a plugin, or the frontlight — not the app itself. Updated September 2026
- KOReader vs Nickel: which reader to use on a Kobo Nickel is Kobo's own software. KOReader is the community alternative that runs alongside it. Here is what each does better, and why most Kobo tinkerers end up using both. Updated September 2026
- KOReader vs the Kindle reader: is it worth it? On a Kindle, running KOReader means jailbreaking and managing firmware forever. Here is what you gain over Amazon's reader, what you lose, and who should actually bother. Updated September 2026