Old sluggish Clara HD

Desertway · 09-20-2025, 02:52 PM

I bought a refurbished Clara HD on eBay, really cheap. It is updated to the latest firmware and works perfectly fine, except for the speed. It is super slow to respond, which is not surprising given its age.

I'm considering doing a factory reset back to whatever original firmware it had. Is this a bad idea? Would it help? I suppose I would have to keep wifi off forever if I did?

Also, I use NickleMenu so that I have screen inversion available. Would I be able to make that happen with the older firmware?

I would appreciate any advice before I make a mess.

Apollyon202 · 09-20-2025, 03:15 PM

I also have a Clara HD, with the last firmware version before Instapaper. Yes, it is slow, as all ereaders with a Freescale CPU. You cannot really do anything about that, but the speed is quite enough (should be) for book reading.
It has dark mode (not the inverted mode, but that one is also an option) through Nickelmenu. I doubt that an older firmware version would be faster.

But if you decide to experiment with it, make sure you don’t install firmware older than the version it came with from the factory.

Desertway · 09-20-2025, 03:21 PM

Thanks for your thoughts. If the speed improvement is likely to be negligible, I won't bother.

Are you saying that your Clara HD has dark mode natively? Mine doesn't seem to. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding.

Desertway · 09-20-2025, 03:23 PM

Rereading your post, I see that I did misunderstand. You have proper dark mode with NickleMenu? Not screen inversion? I didn't think the Clara HD supported that. I'll try it.

Sirtel · 09-20-2025, 03:23 PM

Compared to the Oasis 3, all older Kobos are slow. My Sage is comparable in speed (but has truly dismal battery life); my Libra 2 is a snail compared to the Oasis. I believe newer Kobos are faster, but I haven't tried any in real life.

The slowness of the Libra bothers me a bit, but the screen is gorgeous (much better than my Oasis 3 was - it had a yellowish tint), sharp and clear, so I put up with the lack of speed.

Desertway · 09-20-2025, 03:31 PM

Thanks. Even the Clara HD has a more crisp screen than my Oasis 3. I assume it's because of that extra screen layer on the Oasis.

Apollyon202 · 09-20-2025, 04:52 PM

I think every model can do dark mode, if I'm not mistaken, even my Kobo Touch has it, but only through Nickelmenu, because the native setting is hidden in some models. Newer and flagship models definitely have it.
But with Nickelmenu all of them.

Would be nice, if they would give us more options with the dark mode. Because only the book content gets it, but not the UI. Inverted mode changes the UI as well, but the book covers also become inverted, which is meh.

Desertway · 09-20-2025, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apollyon202

I think every model can do dark mode, if I'm not mistaken, even my Kobo Touch has it, but only through Nickelmenu, because the native setting is hidden in some models. Newer and flagship models definitely have it.
But with Nickelmenu all of them.

Would be nice, if they would give us more options with the dark mode. Because only the book content gets it, but not the UI. Inverted mode changes the UI as well, but the book covers also become inverted, which is meh.

Thanks so much for mentioning it! It works perfectly and, unlike "invert", I don't have to reboot every time I switch.

rcentros · 09-21-2025, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desertway

I'm considering doing a factory reset back to whatever original firmware it had. Is this a bad idea? Would it help? I suppose I would have to keep wifi off forever if I did?

I can't speak for the Clara HD (I had one but I recently sold it) but I do know that the (relatively) recent updates slowed my old Aura HD to a crawl. So I installed firmware from a few version back and it's back to its regular speed. So, if it is a firmware issue, you shouldn't have to go back to the original, try downloading and installing a firmware version from a year or two back. I don't know if the Clara HD had similar issues to the Aura HD, but it might have.

meeera · Yesterday, 10:19 AM

I would always factory reset a secondhand device while setting it up anyway. I can't see any drawbacks.

rcentros · Yesterday, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

I would always factory reset a secondhand device while setting it up anyway. I can't see any drawbacks.

I believe the "new" factory reset retains the current firmware version, doesn't it? Not like it used to be (going back to the original firmware).

DNSB · Yesterday, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I believe the "new" factory reset retains the current firmware version, doesn't it? Not like it used to be (going back to the original firmware).

It depends. A factory setup from More => Settings => Device information will retain the current firmeware revision, If Developer Mode (do a search for devmodeon) has been enable, the Factory reset from More => Settings => Device information => Developer Options will revert to the factory firmware version. A manual factory reset will always revert to the factory firmware version.

For the Clara HD, the manual factory reset procedure is:

Before starting the factory reset, charge your Clara HD for a least an hour and make sure you have access to a WiFi network.

Leave your Clara HD connected to the power source you were using to charge it whether your computer or a wall wart.
Press and hold the power button until you see the words “Powered off” on the screen or 30 seconds have passed, whichever comes first. The power light should also be off.
Release the power button.
Press and hold down the power button. The power light should turn on and then turn off.
After the power light turns off, release the power button.
Your Clara HD should start the factory reset process. You should see a black screen that tells you the eReader is resetting. Do not turn off your eReader during this process.

julian67 · Yesterday, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desertway

I bought a refurbished Clara HD on eBay, really cheap. It is updated to the latest firmware and works perfectly fine, except for the speed. It is super slow to respond, which is not surprising given its age. ...

I have a Clara HD and recently upgraded the storage. Internally it uses a microSD card and it's on this that the Kobo's operating system lives, as well as this being where your books and documents are stored. The case is very easy to open, then you simply remove the card, clone it to your new card (and maybe expand the filesystem if the new card is bigger), and put that new card in, close the case and boot it. My new card is a 64GB Sandisk Extreme Pro. The Clara is distinctly snappier now. No more lagging on page turns.

p.s. it is running the latest firmware. I have kept it up to date and not needed to factory reset it since I bought it a little over 4 years ago. It's fine.

Desertway · Yesterday, 06:01 PM

Thanks everyone. I probably won't open to the device - I'm a danger to myself and others when I tinker with hardware, even simple jobs. But maybe I will jump back on the firmware. Appreciate all the help.

lumping-sugar66 · Yesterday, 06:53 PM

Hello,

As an owner of a Clara HD myself, if you’re willing to tinker with the firmware, I’d recommend getting KOreader installed. It’s highly performant and is very comparable performance-wise between an 2E and HD. It’s also not a permanent move so you can opt out if you don’t like it.

09-20-2025, 02:52 PM	#1
Desertway Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Old sluggish Clara HD I bought a refurbished Clara HD on eBay, really cheap. It is updated to the latest firmware and works perfectly fine, except for the speed. It is super slow to respond, which is not surprising given its age. I'm considering doing a factory reset back to whatever original firmware it had. Is this a bad idea? Would it help? I suppose I would have to keep wifi off forever if I did? Also, I use NickleMenu so that I have screen inversion available. Would I be able to make that happen with the older firmware? I would appreciate any advice before I make a mess.

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09-20-2025, 03:15 PM	#2
Apollyon202 Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 251718 Join Date: May 2018 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara HD, Aura, Touch	I also have a Clara HD, with the last firmware version before Instapaper. Yes, it is slow, as all ereaders with a Freescale CPU. You cannot really do anything about that, but the speed is quite enough (should be) for book reading. It has dark mode (not the inverted mode, but that one is also an option) through Nickelmenu. I doubt that an older firmware version would be faster. But if you decide to experiment with it, make sure you don’t install firmware older than the version it came with from the factory.

09-20-2025, 03:21 PM	#3
Desertway Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Thanks for your thoughts. If the speed improvement is likely to be negligible, I won't bother. Are you saying that your Clara HD has dark mode natively? Mine doesn't seem to. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding.

09-20-2025, 03:23 PM	#4
Desertway Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Rereading your post, I see that I did misunderstand. You have proper dark mode with NickleMenu? Not screen inversion? I didn't think the Clara HD supported that. I'll try it.

09-20-2025, 03:23 PM	#5
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,775 Karma: 243276973 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Compared to the Oasis 3, all older Kobos are slow. My Sage is comparable in speed (but has truly dismal battery life); my Libra 2 is a snail compared to the Oasis. I believe newer Kobos are faster, but I haven't tried any in real life. The slowness of the Libra bothers me a bit, but the screen is gorgeous (much better than my Oasis 3 was - it had a yellowish tint), sharp and clear, so I put up with the lack of speed.

09-20-2025, 03:31 PM	#6
Desertway Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Thanks. Even the Clara HD has a more crisp screen than my Oasis 3. I assume it's because of that extra screen layer on the Oasis.

09-20-2025, 04:52 PM	#7
Apollyon202 Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 251718 Join Date: May 2018 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara HD, Aura, Touch	I think every model can do dark mode, if I'm not mistaken, even my Kobo Touch has it, but only through Nickelmenu, because the native setting is hidden in some models. Newer and flagship models definitely have it. But with Nickelmenu all of them. Would be nice, if they would give us more options with the dark mode. Because only the book content gets it, but not the UI. Inverted mode changes the UI as well, but the book covers also become inverted, which is meh.

Yesterday, 10:19 AM	#10
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,841 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I would always factory reset a secondhand device while setting it up anyway. I can't see any drawbacks.

Yesterday, 06:01 PM	#14
Desertway Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Thanks everyone. I probably won't open to the device - I'm a danger to myself and others when I tinker with hardware, even simple jobs. But maybe I will jump back on the firmware. Appreciate all the help.

Yesterday, 06:53 PM	#15
lumping-sugar66 Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 81981 Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura Edition 2, Kobo Clara 2E	Hello, As an owner of a Clara HD myself, if you’re willing to tinker with the firmware, I’d recommend getting KOreader installed. It’s highly performant and is very comparable performance-wise between an 2E and HD. It’s also not a permanent move so you can opt out if you don’t like it.