EpubCCRead a PDF on a Kobo as a real e-book
Kobo e-readers open EPUB files natively, so converting a PDF to EPUB gives you text that re-flows to the screen instead of fixed pages. Convert the PDF here, then copy the EPUB to the Kobo over USB.
Try five pages from your PDF before converting the full book.
Updated:
Private files. Never used for training. Deleted automatically, or right away when you press Delete now.
See the difference in reading.
Why convert instead of opening the PDF
A Kobo can open a PDF, but only as fixed pages: on a 6- or 7-inch screen that means zooming into every page. An EPUB is laid out by the reader itself, with your font, size and margins.
EPUB or KEPUB?
Kobo lists EPUB, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 among the book formats its e-readers support, so the EPUB 3 file EpubCC makes opens as it is. Only the first Kobo Original and Kobo Wi-Fi models can't open EPUB 3.
KEPUB is Kobo's own enhanced form of EPUB, used by books from the Kobo store. You don't need it to read your book; if you want it, the free tool kepubify converts an EPUB to KEPUB on your computer.
Copy the EPUB to a Kobo over USB
- Convert the PDF here, check the free sample and download the EPUB.
- Connect the Kobo to your computer with its USB cable and tap Connect when the e-reader says “Computer detected”.
- Open the drive called KOBOeReader on your computer and drag the EPUB into it.
- Eject the drive, then unplug the cable. The Kobo imports the book and lists it under My Books.
Without a cable: Dropbox or Google Drive
On the models Kobo lists (Kobo Forma, Sage, Elipsa, Elipsa 2E and Libra Colour), you can link Dropbox at kobo.com/dropbox or Google Drive at kobo.com/googledrive, put the EPUB in the Rakuten Kobo folder, and sync the e-reader over Wi-Fi. Both work only with files without DRM, which is what EpubCC makes.
Fix a specific problem
PDFs with selectable text only. Scanned PDFs are not supported yet.
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- Rakuten Kobo Help: File formats your Kobo eReader and Kobo Books app support · read
- Rakuten Kobo Help: Add non-protected PDF and ePub files to your Kobo eReader using your computer · read
- Rakuten Kobo Help: Add books to your eReader using Dropbox · read
- Rakuten Kobo Help: Add books to your eReader using Google Drive · read
- kepubify: converts EPUBs to Kobo's enhanced KEPUB format · read
FAQ
Does a Kobo read EPUB files?
Yes. Kobo lists EPUB, EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 among the formats its e-readers support; only the first Kobo Original and Kobo Wi-Fi can't open EPUB 3.
Do I need to convert the EPUB to KEPUB?
No. A Kobo reads the EPUB as it is. KEPUB is optional; the free tool kepubify makes one from an EPUB if you want Kobo's enhanced format.
Why doesn't the book appear after I copy it?
Eject the Kobo before unplugging the cable: the e-reader imports new books after it is disconnected and then lists them under My Books.
Can I add the book without a cable?
Yes, on models that support it: link Dropbox or Google Drive to the Kobo, put the EPUB in the Rakuten Kobo folder and sync over Wi-Fi.