Libra Sudden battery

sowadmin · 06-24-2025, 11:59 AM

Hey there!
I have a problem with my Kobo Libra H2O. Since some time the battery is dropping suddenly. I.e. I charged it, the battery idicates 100%, and after few minutes it shows 31%, and after another few minutes(I mean 3-4 minutes) it drops down to 0%. I don't see that battery is draining(i mean gradually), it just drops to around 30% and then to 0%...
The story is annoying and not so simple. I thought that my battery just died after 2 years, so I have replaced it. And it happens with the new one at once.
Can anybody have some solution?

Byrdie · 06-24-2025, 06:08 PM

Same problem here, unfortunately mine won't work at all unless I keep it plugged in. Even though the battery says fully charged, the minute I unplug it the screen goes glitchy and freezes up or shuts off. Plugging it back in always makes it reboot but there's no guarantee the book I'm trying to read will open on the right page or even open at all. I'd thought of hunting up a new battery and having someone help me replace it but since you already tried that without luck I'm thinking it's probably more than just a bad battery issue. My power button now feels kinda funny when it is working and the page orientation which I had locked to portrait mode like a regular book page goes completely haywire if I even breathe too hard on it. Not to mention jumping all over my library on a whim -- sometimes when I turn a page it won't just skip back or ahead too fast in the book, it'll open an entirely different book. Or bounce me right back to the Home or Library pages. If anybody's got an answer I'd love to know. Alas, I'm very much afraid my poor Kobo is kaput and I've only had it maybe 3 years.

JSWolf · 06-24-2025, 06:42 PM

Your batteries are shot. You'll need to replace them if you can.

Here's how to get into the Libra H2O. https://www.reddit.com/r/ereader/com...back/?sort=old

Here's where to get batteries (you'll need two). https://www.eluke.nl/2024/06/04/batt...kobo-libra-h20

sowadmin · 06-25-2025, 01:31 PM

I don't think so. As I wrote - I have changed the battery. With the new one situation was the same, since day 1. The on explanation would be that the new batter was already damaged.

Byrdie · 06-25-2025, 01:38 PM

Thanks for the info, hopefully it will help other posters with this issue. Unfortunately I am unable due to physical disability to even attempt tinkering with any of my devices and do not know anybody in my area who can do this for me even if I did find proper batteries. Right now I am using my just-past-a-year-old Kindle Paperwhite and considering buying a new Kobo. Or is there a similar ereader that can be gotten in Canada with easy replaced batteries even if the user is partly blind and all crippled up with arthritis? Cannot be too heavy or too small a screen.

PeterT · 06-25-2025, 01:47 PM

It's worth knowing that the newest devices (Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour) actually have officially sold parts (batteries, screens, motherboards, usb ports) sold, and that iFixit even have guides on how to tear those devices down and replace those components.

See https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Kobo

sowadmin · 06-25-2025, 02:51 PM

TBH I'm a little disappointed by Kobo. I really enjoyed using it. There was some missing points but after all it was ok. The size, screen quality, performance. The issue with battery really makes me angry. It wasn't cheap and I expected better longevity... For this price I could buy Kindle paperwhite or even 2 cheaper readers.

JSWolf · 06-25-2025, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowadmin

TBH I'm a little disappointed by Kobo. I really enjoyed using it. There was some missing points but after all it was ok. The size, screen quality, performance. The issue with battery really makes me angry. It wasn't cheap and I expected better longevity... For this price I could buy Kindle paperwhite or even 2 cheaper readers.

Even Kindles can have the battery die. So it' not just a Kobo issue. However, if you buy a Reader released after February 18, 2027, it has to have an easily user replaceable battery if it's to be sold in the EU. So if Kobo released a new Reader past Feburary 28, 2027, it will have a replaceable battery because Kobo are sold in the EU.

Quoth · Yesterday, 08:44 AM

Kindle batteries may even have a shorter life on many models as there is no real "off".

JSWolf · Yesterday, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Kindle batteries may even have a shorter life on many models as there is no real "off".

Do any Kindles have an off?

issybird · Yesterday, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowadmin

The story is annoying and not so simple. I thought that my battery just died after 2 years, so I have replaced it. And it happens with the new one at once.
Can anybody have some solution?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowadmin

TBH I'm a little disappointed by Kobo. I really enjoyed using it. There was some missing points but after all it was ok. The size, screen quality, performance. The issue with battery really makes me angry. It wasn't cheap and I expected better longevity...

The Libra H2O came out in 2019 and was discontinued in 2021, so your two-year old device was either old stock or used. In any case, it didn’t have a two-year old battery.

I get that it’s frustrating, but having a four- to six-year old battery die isn’t unprecedented, although I agree that it’s early. I have two Kobos that are over ten years old and they still have adequate battery life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

However, if you buy a Reader released after February 18, 2027, it has to have an easily user replaceable battery if it's to be sold in the EU. So if Kobo released a new Reader past Feburary 28, 2027, it will have a replaceable battery because Kobo are sold in the EU.

Saying that in two years your problem will be solved really isn’t a solution!

rcentros · Yesterday, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Your batteries are shot. You'll need to replace them if you can.

Here's how to get into the Libra H2O. https://www.reddit.com/r/ereader/com...back/?sort=old

Here's where to get batteries (you'll need two). https://www.eluke.nl/2024/06/04/batt...kobo-libra-h20

There's currently a single battery (factory-like) replacement on eBay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40521873344...Bk9SR6jMn9n1ZQ

JSWolf · Yesterday, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Saying that in two years your problem will be solved really isn’t a solution!

If you look at post #3 in this thread, I did post a couple of links. One on a description of how to open the Libra H2O and the other one place to buy a battery.

I'm just saying that this problem will eventually be going away. However, existing devices without user replaceable batteries can still be sold. So there may be a wait for Readers with replaceable batteries.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

There's currently a single battery (factory-like) replacement on eBay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40521873344...Bk9SR6jMn9n1ZQ

That may be better as it's a single battery.

06-24-2025, 11:59 AM	#1
sowadmin Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2021 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Sudden battery Hey there! I have a problem with my Kobo Libra H2O. Since some time the battery is dropping suddenly. I.e. I charged it, the battery idicates 100%, and after few minutes it shows 31%, and after another few minutes(I mean 3-4 minutes) it drops down to 0%. I don't see that battery is draining(i mean gradually), it just drops to around 30% and then to 0%... The story is annoying and not so simple. I thought that my battery just died after 2 years, so I have replaced it. And it happens with the new one at once. Can anybody have some solution?

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06-24-2025, 06:08 PM	#2
Byrdie Walking Library Posts: 253 Karma: 3869938 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle Paperwhite 5, 16 gb version	Same problem here, unfortunately mine won't work at all unless I keep it plugged in. Even though the battery says fully charged, the minute I unplug it the screen goes glitchy and freezes up or shuts off. Plugging it back in always makes it reboot but there's no guarantee the book I'm trying to read will open on the right page or even open at all. I'd thought of hunting up a new battery and having someone help me replace it but since you already tried that without luck I'm thinking it's probably more than just a bad battery issue. My power button now feels kinda funny when it is working and the page orientation which I had locked to portrait mode like a regular book page goes completely haywire if I even breathe too hard on it. Not to mention jumping all over my library on a whim -- sometimes when I turn a page it won't just skip back or ahead too fast in the book, it'll open an entirely different book. Or bounce me right back to the Home or Library pages. If anybody's got an answer I'd love to know. Alas, I'm very much afraid my poor Kobo is kaput and I've only had it maybe 3 years.

06-24-2025, 06:42 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,612 Karma: 145864263 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Your batteries are shot. You'll need to replace them if you can. Here's how to get into the Libra H2O. https://www.reddit.com/r/ereader/com...back/?sort=old Here's where to get batteries (you'll need two). https://www.eluke.nl/2024/06/04/batt...kobo-libra-h20 Last edited by JSWolf; 06-24-2025 at 06:48 PM.

06-25-2025, 01:31 PM	#4
sowadmin Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2021 Device: Kobo Libra H20	I don't think so. As I wrote - I have changed the battery. With the new one situation was the same, since day 1. The on explanation would be that the new batter was already damaged.

06-25-2025, 01:38 PM	#5
Byrdie Walking Library Posts: 253 Karma: 3869938 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle Paperwhite 5, 16 gb version	Thanks for the info, hopefully it will help other posters with this issue. Unfortunately I am unable due to physical disability to even attempt tinkering with any of my devices and do not know anybody in my area who can do this for me even if I did find proper batteries. Right now I am using my just-past-a-year-old Kindle Paperwhite and considering buying a new Kobo. Or is there a similar ereader that can be gotten in Canada with easy replaced batteries even if the user is partly blind and all crippled up with arthritis? Cannot be too heavy or too small a screen.

06-25-2025, 01:47 PM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,446 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	It's worth knowing that the newest devices (Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour) actually have officially sold parts (batteries, screens, motherboards, usb ports) sold, and that iFixit even have guides on how to tear those devices down and replace those components. See https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Kobo

06-25-2025, 02:51 PM	#7
sowadmin Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2021 Device: Kobo Libra H20	TBH I'm a little disappointed by Kobo. I really enjoyed using it. There was some missing points but after all it was ok. The size, screen quality, performance. The issue with battery really makes me angry. It wasn't cheap and I expected better longevity... For this price I could buy Kindle paperwhite or even 2 cheaper readers.

Yesterday, 08:44 AM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,882 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Kindle batteries may even have a shorter life on many models as there is no real "off".