Kobo devices allow tons of customization, some easy, some that require more advanced tinkering. This is a list of tools, hacks, and add-ons for Kobo eReaders that I use, with either links to a guide, or a small explanation below.

Basic Modifications

• Modifying your eReader.conf:

  • After connecting your eReader to a device for file transfer, and head to the /.kobo/Kobo/ folder (the .kobo folder will be hidden by default on unix systems). This folder should contain a file called Kobo eReader.conf
  • This file can be edited to modify the behavior of Nickel, the stock operating system. I use SideloadedMode=true on my Clara HD to use the device without an account. More information is available here.

• Adding a custom screensaver:

  • Connect your device for file transfer once more, create the folder /.kobo/screensaver/ and add any number of .JPG or .PNG images to the folder. For best results, search for the screen resolution of your device, and crop images to the same dimensions (eg. 1404×1872 for the Elipsa 2E). An image will be selected randomly every time the device goes to sleep.
  • Eject your eReader and ensure the Show Current Read and Show Book Covers Full Screen settings are both enabled. Additionally, due to the screensaver being linked to the cover display feature, you must also have a book that is being currently read for the screensaver to display.
  • The next time your device goes to sleep, the screensaver should display! If it isn’t, ensure you followed the instructions properly and/or reboot your device.

Add-Ons

• NickelMenu, KFMon, Koreader, and Plato:

  • These are four of the most popular add-ons for kobo devices.
    • KFMon is an application launcher that works by launching items when you click on a specific book or image in your Kobo library.
    • NickelMenu allows you to add custom menu items to stock Nickel menus or to an additional tab on the bottom bar labeled NickelMenu Anything compatible with KFMon is also launchable with NickelMenu, and NickelMenu can provide more functionality, so NickelMenu is generally preferred.
    • Koreader and Plato are alternative readers for Kobo devices. They both can be launched with NickelMenu or KFMon. If you are looking for a faster, more responsive replacement for Nickel with a clean interface, use Plato. If you are looking for extreme customizability and more functionality, use Koreader. Koreader also has support for other operating systems other than Nickel, and can sync across platforms. These one click install packages allow an easy install by simply unzipping the folder to your device’s root directory. More information available here.

• RMKit:

  • RMKit is an application framework that allows you to add custom applications to your device, such as harmony, a sketching app.
  • See my guide here for help with installation

• NickelClock:

  • NickelClock is a mod that creates a clock / battery widget in the book header, so that it is visible while reading.

Advanced Customization and Patching

• Kobopatch:
  • Kobopatch allows you to directly patch and modify the Nickel operating system. KoboPatchFan provides a GUI for kobopatch on Linux and Windows.
• Note: Be careful when modifying your device’s firmware. Kobopatch has automated checks that make sure the patches are available for each release, but there it always a risk of bricking or otherwise rendering your device unusable. If your device has an internal SD card, it may be prudent to make a backup of your device. If your device has eMMC storage (soldered to the mainboard) be even more careful! If your system gets bricked, recovery is incredibly difficult / not possible.