Clara BW How to start sideload mode without a Kobo account?

[wizardcat123]

Hello, I bought a used Kobo Clara BW and I want to keep it offline/in sideload mode. However, when setting up the device, the only option is to connect to wifi (check for update) and then sign in with/create a Kobo account. Which is strange since setup videos I've watched shows an option to start without connecting to wifi. I don't have that option.

I read a guide that says I can enable sideload mode by changing the config files when connected to a PC. However, when connected to my PC, the Kobo charges, but does not show up as a device. (Maybe this only works for Kobos that have already been set up?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as the main reason for swapping from Kindle to Kobo was it's offline/sideload-ability and this is quite the bummer for me. Thanks!

[DNSB]

I suspect that option may longer be present so you may have to create a Kobo account to register your device (I'm not up to factory resetting my Libra Colour to check). You do not need a real email address to register so something like wizardcat123@somewhere.net will work. After your Clara BW finishes the setup, you should then be able to use the sideload mode by adding under the [ApplicationPreferences] header: SideloadedMode=true and restarting your Kobo.

If you connect the Clara to your computer and power up, does your computer make a couple of beeps as the USB connection is created and lost? Assumes your computer gives an audible beep when an USB connection is made. Are you using a USB-A to USB-C cable or a USB-C to USB-C cable?

[wizardcat123]

I managed to figure it out. I kept connecting before while turning the Kobo on or on the Languages screen. Despite the other do not connect to wifi option missing, you have to connect to your PC on the following specific screen ("Let's get started..."). Only then does a pop-up for allowing access to PC show up on the Kobo and then connects/beeps to the PC. And for reference I was using a USB-C to USB-A. Thanks!

[gustophersmob]

Its an interesting coincidence you asked this today, as I was going to ask the same question.

I'm new to Kobo, coming over from Kindle. I got a Clara BW on Monday, and was in an area without wifi access when I tried to set it up. There was no option to setup without wifi. I was trying to use my phone hotspot, but kept having issues such that it could not complete the update before activation screen. Eventually, after several failed attempts, I got a pop-up saying something to the effect of, "continue without wifi." I clicked yes and was bale to use the device. This was before I learned that sideload mode was a thing.

Yesterday, I got a second Clara BW (to compare screen and backlight quality) and tried to bypass the activation screen again, but was unable to get that same pop-up. I'm not sure what I did to trigger it the first time, but trying to mimic what I did on the first device was unsuccessful.

I had read in an older article somewhere that you could sign out of your account on the device to enter sideload mode, so I went ahead and created a Kobo account and activated the second device. But when I sign out of the account, it just takes me back to the initial setup screen (select language, connect to wifi, etc).

I'm glad to hear you found a way to make it work, and I will see if I can duplicate your method later, though I would really like to know how I got that pop-up on the first device (which I will be keeping).

[gustophersmob]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I suspect that option may longer be present so you may have to create a Kobo account to register your device (I'm not up to factory resetting my Libra Colour to check). You do not need a real email address to register so something like wizardcat123@somewhere.net will work. After your Clara BW finishes the setup, you should then be able to use the sideload mode by adding under the [ApplicationPreferences] header: SideloadedMode=true and restarting your Kobo.

If you connect the Clara to your computer and power up, does your computer make a couple of beeps as the USB connection is created and lost? Assumes your computer gives an audible beep when an USB connection is made. Are you using a USB-A to USB-C cable or a USB-C to USB-C cable?

When I went to register, you either have to sign into a Kobo account, which requires email verification, or pick from a list of other options like Apple, Walmart, and probably 15 others. I did not see any way to put in a fake email.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by gustophersmob

When I went to register, you either have to sign into a Kobo account, which requires email verification, or pick from a list of other options like Apple, Walmart, and probably 15 others. I did not see any way to put in a fake email.

When you register, all Kobo seems to care about is if the entry has the format of an email address. I just tried with my KLC by backing up the exposed storage and then doing a first level factory reset.

1. selected English
2. tapped on Let's get started
3. connected to my WiFi network
4. got to the Activation Options screen
5. tapped on the Use your eReader to activate your device instead at the bottom of the screen
6. tapped on Create a new account
7. entered username@erewhon.net as the email address, repeated on the next line
8. entered a password that met the requirements
9. hit Go
10. got the Kobo Plus blurb and closed it
11. the KLC was now on the home page

I then went to kobo.com in Firefox in a Linux VM. Logged in with the username and password I created on the KLC and no issues with logging it.

I repeated the above except for going to kobo.com/activate when I had the Activation Options page open. Entered the 6 character code and was taken to the Rakuten Kobo Sign In page. Selected Create Account in upper right corner of the box. Added another fake email address and password. Clicked on Sign In. My KLC then went to the Kobo Plus blurb. Closed that and went to the home page.

[gustophersmob]

Originally Posted by DNSB

When you register, all Kobo seems to care about is if the entry has the format of an email address. I just tried with my KLC by backing up the exposed storage and then doing a first level factory reset.

1. selected English
2. tapped on Let's get started
3. connected to my WiFi network
4. got to the Activation Options screen
5. tapped on the Use your eReader to activate your device instead at the bottom of the screen
6. tapped on Create a new account
7. entered username@erewhon.net as the email address, repeated on the next line
8. entered a password that met the requirements
9. hit Go
10. got the Kobo Plus blurb and closed it
11. the KLC was now on the home page

I then went to kobo.com in Firefox in a Linux VM. Logged in with the username and password I created on the KLC and no issues with logging it.

I repeated the above except for going to kobo.com/activate when I had the Activation Options page open. Entered the 6 character code and was taken to the Rakuten Kobo Sign In page. Selected Create Account in upper right corner of the box. Added another fake email address and password. Clicked on Sign In. My KLC then went to the Kobo Plus blurb. Closed that and went to the home page.

Now that I think about it, I may have registered the account on my computer. I was trying so many things yesterday I dont recall. But I was unsuccessful using a fake email because it required me to click an activation link they emailed to me.

[gustophersmob]

I was able to duplicate the skip WiFi setup screen on the second Clara.

I selected language, connected to WiFi, let it update, and then at the activation screen, I selected activate using ereader at the bottom. After I selected that, I turned off WiFi. It then gave me the attached screen.

[gustophersmob]

Originally Posted by gustophersmob

I was able to duplicate the skip WiFi setup screen on the second Clara.

I selected language, connected to WiFi, let it update, and then at the activation screen, I selected activate using ereader at the bottom. After I selected that, I turned off WiFi. It then gave me the attached screen.

Hmm, I guess image tags don’t work and I can’t edit.

Let’s try this:

[wizardcat123]

Originally Posted by gustophersmob

Its an interesting coincidence you asked this today, as I was going to ask the same question.

I'm new to Kobo, coming over from Kindle. I got a Clara BW on Monday, and was in an area without wifi access when I tried to set it up. There was no option to setup without wifi. I was trying to use my phone hotspot, but kept having issues such that it could not complete the update before activation screen. Eventually, after several failed attempts, I got a pop-up saying something to the effect of, "continue without wifi." I clicked yes and was bale to use the device. This was before I learned that sideload mode was a thing.

Yesterday, I got a second Clara BW (to compare screen and backlight quality) and tried to bypass the activation screen again, but was unable to get that same pop-up. I'm not sure what I did to trigger it the first time, but trying to mimic what I did on the first device was unsuccessful.

I had read in an older article somewhere that you could sign out of your account on the device to enter sideload mode, so I went ahead and created a Kobo account and activated the second device. But when I sign out of the account, it just takes me back to the initial setup screen (select language, connect to wifi, etc).

I'm glad to hear you found a way to make it work, and I will see if I can duplicate your method later, though I would really like to know how I got that pop-up on the first device (which I will be keeping).

Interesting. I bought my Kobo used, so it could be it had the most recent firmware update that doesn't give the continue without Wifi option? But it's more likely that the continue without Wifi only pops up with a failed update download like you said. After connecting to Wifi once (it checked and verified latest update) to see if I could continue without an account, I backed out and didn't try again. I didn't attempt to register an account at all on the Kobo or my computer.

I just did a factory reset to try it again, and yes I was still able to connect to PC at the "Let's get started" screen and configure sideloaded mode (Kobo eReader.conf > adding SideloadedMode:true under [ApplicationPreferences]". Hope it works for you!

Something that is strange is that the factory reset downgraded the 4.40.23081 (8/19/24) firmware to 4.39.22427 (11/6/23) firmware, despite the prompt saying software update is preserved. It's just strange since the Kobo Clara BW was released in 2024 and the listed firmware isn't even on the list of available firmware over on pgaskin. I forgot I still had my Kobo plugged into my computer when doing this so maybe that enabled some type of factory-factory reset? When it booted back up, it has the illustration of the Kobo in a dotted circle like you receive out of box.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by wizardcat123

Something that is strange is that the factory reset downgraded the 4.40.23081 (8/19/24) firmware to 4.39.22427 (11/6/23) firmware, despite the prompt saying software update is preserved. It's just strange since the Kobo Clara BW was released in 2024 and the listed firmware isn't even on the list of available firmware over on pgaskin. I forgot I still had my Kobo plugged into my computer when doing this so maybe that enabled some type of factory-factory reset? When it booted back up, it has the illustration of the Kobo in a dotted circle like you receive out of box.

There are several factory resets. The one available from Device Information menu should not downgrade the firmware. The one available from the Developer Options menu is like the manual factory reset and wipes back to factory setup including the firmware installed at the factory.

[gbm]

How to Use Kobo’s New Sideloaded Mode

Here is how I would set up a new Kobo for sideload mode.

Plug in to PC using usb
turn on the Kobo
Using the PC file explorer:

Another option for those familiar with editing the “Kobo eReader.conf"file on Kobo ereaders, you can add the following code to the “ApplicationPreferences” section: SideloadedMode=true

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kob...ration_Options


bernie

Originally Posted by DNSB

There are several factory resets. The one available from Device Information menu should not downgrade the firmware. The one available from the Developer Options menu is like the manual factory reset and wipes back to factory setup including the firmware installed at the factory.

[wizardcat123]

Originally Posted by gbm

Here is how I would set up a new Kobo for sideload mode.

Plug in to PC using usb
turn on the Kobo
Using the PC file explorer:

I was getting frustrated because these steps were NOT working for me. My PC would not recognize the new Kobo if I connected prior to turning on or prior to the "Let's get started" screen. It's only on that screen did I get the pop-up to allow access via PC. Just reiterating that info out there in case anyone else had the same problem I did.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by wizardcat123

I was getting frustrated because these steps were NOT working for me. My PC would not recognize the new Kobo if I connected prior to turning on or prior to the "Let's get started" screen. It's only on that screen did I get the pop-up to allow access via PC. Just reiterating that info out there in case anyone else had the same problem I did.

Did you try multiple USB cables and ports before your factory reset? Having the VBUS and GND power pins connected will trigger the USB connect popup. To connect requires the data lines to also be functioning.

On my computer, when I have the Kobo plugged into a USB cable, I get a couple of beeps during the boot process and then when the Kobo has booted far enough, I get the USB connect popup.

[gbm]

This is what I did when received my Clara HD before side load mode was available.

Hacking the Kobo Clara HD – 2: Bypassing registration/sign in

You just have to get acsess from you PC to set side load mode, do not have to do the registration bypass.

bernie

Originally Posted by wizardcat123

I was getting frustrated because these steps were NOT working for me. My PC would not recognize the new Kobo if I connected prior to turning on or prior to the "Let's get started" screen. It's only on that screen did I get the pop-up to allow access via PC. Just reiterating that info out there in case anyone else had the same problem I did.