Arabic Font Support

xA907x · 10-21-2025, 01:13 PM

Hello everyone,

I would like to share the solution for the Arabic language support (displaying Arabic letters as boxes).

The solution was inspired by fog31 based on his post here.

How to?
1. Plug your Kobo eReader to your PC.
2. Allow the connection from your Kobo eReader.
3. Copy the KoboRoot file to .kobo (hidden folder)
4. Eject your eReader and wait until it fully boot.

https://github.com/xA907x/Kobo-Arabic-Language-Support

PeterT · 10-21-2025, 01:51 PM

You might like to state WHAT files your koboroot.tgz contains. I know that if I wanted Arabic support I'd be very hesitant in installing a totally unknown koboroot.tgz where (as far as I can see) all that the GitHub contains for code is the tgz file.

DNSB · 10-21-2025, 09:05 PM

I took a look at the KoboRoot.tgz file and as near as I can tell, it is a collection of modified font files. In the root of the exposed storage, there is a modified Courier mono file with Arabic glyphs added. In the Linux partition, there are versions of Avenir, Georgia, RakutenSansUIApp and RakutenSerifApp with Arabic glyphs added. One note is that 4.38.23429 has the Avenir and georgia fonts in the firmware update while 4.43.23418 lacks those 2 fonts.

Semwize · 10-21-2025, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

modified font files

I could be wrong, but in my opinion the files were just renamed. There were no modifications

Click image for larger version

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DNSB · 10-22-2025, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semwize

I could be wrong, but in my opinion the files were just renamed. There were no modifications

I had not looked at the internals of the fonts other than the added Arabic glyphs. Now that I looked at them more closely, despite the names, there are no serif versions and the mono version is not a mono font. Given that the internal font names do not match the file names, there are liable to be issues with using these fonts since Kobo's firmware is rather fussy about font naming.

Semwize · 10-22-2025, 05:52 AM

@DNSB
I doubt that such a replacement would be of any use... But the person probably checked, and I didn't.

Semwize · 10-22-2025, 11:03 AM

Please confirm that it works. Otherwise, I would recommend deleting this topic as harmful. I didn't check it, I'm too lazy.

xA907x · 10-22-2025, 02:15 PM

Hello everyone,

I wasn't expecting much of traffic here, so as DNSB highlighted I've replaced the initial fonts with Arabic supported ones and it's working as expected. I modified version 1 due to some font comparability and the current version tested.

Here is couple of images from my eReader (The title font is not included in the KoboRoot file)

Today I noticed that the KoboRoot adds an extra keyboard layout, that I'll have to look at.

DNSB · 10-22-2025, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xA907x

Today I noticed that the KoboRoot adds an extra keyboard layout, that I'll have to look at.

The extra keyboard layout is a bit strange. The only way I've seen to modify keyboard layouts is using the KoboPatch tool. There were some patches to replace the extended Latin keyboard on a Kobo ereader with Arabic characters but I haven't seen a patch for it on current firmware. I've copied an older Arabic keyboard patch in the spoiler/code tags below:

Spoiler:

Code:

#
## Replaces keys on the Extended Latin keypad with Arabic alternatives.
## Note that after the device boots, the keypad will just show blank squares
## until the first book has been opened.
#  
# Replace layout sign
find_base_address = `ÉÀÇ`
replace_string = 0000, `ÉÀÇ`, `ع`
# Change keyboard layout
find_base_address = `æ\0\0à\0\0è\0\0ì\0\0`
# Second row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, first column.)
replace_string = 0000, `æ\0`, `ذ`
replace_string = 0004, `à\0`, `ص`
replace_string = 0008, `è\0`, `ث`
replace_string = 000C, `ì\0`, `ق`
replace_string = 0010, `ò\0`, `ف`
replace_string = 0014, `ù\0`, `غ`
replace_string = 0018, `á\0`, `ع`
replace_string = 001C, `é\0`, `ه`
replace_string = 0020, `í\0`, `خ`
replace_string = 0024, `ó\0`, `ح`
replace_string = 0028, `ú\0`, `ج`
replace_string = 002C, `ý\0`, `د`
# Third row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, second column.)
replace_string = 0030, `œ\0`, `ض`
replace_string = 0034, `â\0`, `ش`
replace_string = 0038, `ê\0`, `س`
replace_string = 003C, `î\0`, `ي`
replace_string = 0040, `ô\0`, `ب`
replace_string = 0044, `û\0`, `ل`
replace_string = 0048, `ä\0`, `ا`
replace_string = 004C, `ë\0`, `ت`
replace_string = 0050, `ï\0`, `ن`
replace_string = 0054, `ö\0`, `م`
replace_string = 0058, `ü\0`, `ك`
replace_string = 005C, `ÿ\0`, `ط`
# Bottom row, left to right:
replace_string = 0060, `ã\0`, `ئ`
replace_string = 0064, `ñ\0`, `ء`
replace_string = 0068, `õ\0`, `ؤ`
replace_string = 006C, `å\0`, `ر`
replace_string = 0070, `ß\0`, `ى`
replace_string = 0074, `ç\0`, `ة`
replace_string = 0078, `đ\0`, `و`
replace_string = 007C, `ø\0`, `ز`
replace_string = 0080, `ĳ\0`, `ظ`
replace_string = 0084, `ł\0`, `.`
#
# Top row: Extra keys for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura only.
# (This patch cannot change the top row of the AuraHD/H2O/GloHD keypad.)
find_base_address = `ƒ\0\0þ\0\0š\0\0ž\0\0`
# Top row: columns 1-2 (see first key of second/third rows above.)
# Top row: columns 3-5
replace_string = 0004, `þ\0`, `أ`
replace_string = 0008, `š\0`, `إ`
replace_string = 000C, `ž\0`, `آ`
# Top row: column 6 is a duplicate of the last key on the bottom row.
# Top row: columns 7-10
replace_string = 0000, `ƒ\0`, `,`
replace_string = 0010, `μ\0`, `(`
replace_string = 0014, `ª\0`, `)`
replace_string = 0018, `º\0`, `-`

Semwize · 10-22-2025, 06:54 PM

It is interesting. Previously, this would not have worked by 146%. You didn't change the fonts, you just renamed them. Have you tried just putting what you need in the Fonts folder?
And the most interesting thing is that you have an epub, which reads right to left, right? Kobo has changed the firmware a lot.

JSWolf · 10-22-2025, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

The extra keyboard layout is a bit strange. The only way I've seen to modify keyboard layouts is using the KoboPatch tool. There were some patches to replace the extended Latin keyboard on a Kobo ereader with Arabic characters but I haven't seen a patch for it on current firmware. I've copied an older Arabic keyboard patch in the spoiler/code tags below:

Spoiler:

Code:

#
## Replaces keys on the Extended Latin keypad with Arabic alternatives.
## Note that after the device boots, the keypad will just show blank squares
## until the first book has been opened.
#  
# Replace layout sign
find_base_address = `ÉÀÇ`
replace_string = 0000, `ÉÀÇ`, `ع`
# Change keyboard layout
find_base_address = `æ\0\0à\0\0è\0\0ì\0\0`
# Second row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, first column.)
replace_string = 0000, `æ\0`, `ذ`
replace_string = 0004, `à\0`, `ص`
replace_string = 0008, `è\0`, `ث`
replace_string = 000C, `ì\0`, `ق`
replace_string = 0010, `ò\0`, `ف`
replace_string = 0014, `ù\0`, `غ`
replace_string = 0018, `á\0`, `ع`
replace_string = 001C, `é\0`, `ه`
replace_string = 0020, `í\0`, `خ`
replace_string = 0024, `ó\0`, `ح`
replace_string = 0028, `ú\0`, `ج`
replace_string = 002C, `ý\0`, `د`
# Third row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, second column.)
replace_string = 0030, `œ\0`, `ض`
replace_string = 0034, `â\0`, `ش`
replace_string = 0038, `ê\0`, `س`
replace_string = 003C, `î\0`, `ي`
replace_string = 0040, `ô\0`, `ب`
replace_string = 0044, `û\0`, `ل`
replace_string = 0048, `ä\0`, `ا`
replace_string = 004C, `ë\0`, `ت`
replace_string = 0050, `ï\0`, `ن`
replace_string = 0054, `ö\0`, `م`
replace_string = 0058, `ü\0`, `ك`
replace_string = 005C, `ÿ\0`, `ط`
# Bottom row, left to right:
replace_string = 0060, `ã\0`, `ئ`
replace_string = 0064, `ñ\0`, `ء`
replace_string = 0068, `õ\0`, `ؤ`
replace_string = 006C, `å\0`, `ر`
replace_string = 0070, `ß\0`, `ى`
replace_string = 0074, `ç\0`, `ة`
replace_string = 0078, `đ\0`, `و`
replace_string = 007C, `ø\0`, `ز`
replace_string = 0080, `ĳ\0`, `ظ`
replace_string = 0084, `ł\0`, `.`
#
# Top row: Extra keys for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura only.
# (This patch cannot change the top row of the AuraHD/H2O/GloHD keypad.)
find_base_address = `ƒ\0\0þ\0\0š\0\0ž\0\0`
# Top row: columns 1-2 (see first key of second/third rows above.)
# Top row: columns 3-5
replace_string = 0004, `þ\0`, `أ`
replace_string = 0008, `š\0`, `إ`
replace_string = 000C, `ž\0`, `آ`
# Top row: column 6 is a duplicate of the last key on the bottom row.
# Top row: columns 7-10
replace_string = 0000, `ƒ\0`, `,`
replace_string = 0010, `μ\0`, `(`
replace_string = 0014, `ª\0`, `)`
replace_string = 0018, `º\0`, `-`

The thing is, we don't know the firmware the OP is running because he's listed his Kobo incorrectly. There is no Kobo Clara 2e.

JSWolf · 10-22-2025, 07:53 PM

@xA907x, what Kobo do you have? What you've listed is incorrect as there is no such Kobo as a Kobo Clara 2e.

Semwize · 10-23-2025, 02:53 AM

JSWolf, you wrote nonsense, the topic starter firmware is one of the existing ones, most likely 4.38. 2E exists, but it writes interesting things, that is, now according to its version it is enough just to add system fonts without modifying them, and Kobo recognizes them.
It's interesting and worth checking out, but I'm too lazy) You're not lazy, check it out

DNSB · 10-23-2025, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The thing is, we don't know the firmware the OP is running because he's listed his Kobo incorrectly. There is no Kobo Clara 2e.

Jon, I seem to have sent out quite a few PMs with links to the Kobo N506 Clara 2E µSD card image. Was I just hallucinating? Or are you insisting that it must be 2E instead of 2e? If so, taking nitpicking to the point of insanity.

To quote from the Wikipedia listing:

Quote:

Kobo Clara 2E
The Clara 2E was released in September 2022. It has a 6-inch E-Ink display with 1448 x 1072 resolution and 300 ppi, and the exterior is made with 85% recycled plastics

Moderator Notice
Please try to avoid posting factual errors in the future

xA907x · 10-26-2025, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

The extra keyboard layout is a bit strange. The only way I've seen to modify keyboard layouts is using the KoboPatch tool. There were some patches to replace the extended Latin keyboard on a Kobo ereader with Arabic characters but I haven't seen a patch for it on current firmware. I've copied an older Arabic keyboard patch in the spoiler/code tags below:

Spoiler:

Code:

#
## Replaces keys on the Extended Latin keypad with Arabic alternatives.
## Note that after the device boots, the keypad will just show blank squares
## until the first book has been opened.
#  
# Replace layout sign
find_base_address = `ÉÀÇ`
replace_string = 0000, `ÉÀÇ`, `ع`
# Change keyboard layout
find_base_address = `æ\0\0à\0\0è\0\0ì\0\0`
# Second row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, first column.)
replace_string = 0000, `æ\0`, `ذ`
replace_string = 0004, `à\0`, `ص`
replace_string = 0008, `è\0`, `ث`
replace_string = 000C, `ì\0`, `ق`
replace_string = 0010, `ò\0`, `ف`
replace_string = 0014, `ù\0`, `غ`
replace_string = 0018, `á\0`, `ع`
replace_string = 001C, `é\0`, `ه`
replace_string = 0020, `í\0`, `خ`
replace_string = 0024, `ó\0`, `ح`
replace_string = 0028, `ú\0`, `ج`
replace_string = 002C, `ý\0`, `د`
# Third row, left to right:
# (for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura the first key moves to top row, second column.)
replace_string = 0030, `œ\0`, `ض`
replace_string = 0034, `â\0`, `ش`
replace_string = 0038, `ê\0`, `س`
replace_string = 003C, `î\0`, `ي`
replace_string = 0040, `ô\0`, `ب`
replace_string = 0044, `û\0`, `ل`
replace_string = 0048, `ä\0`, `ا`
replace_string = 004C, `ë\0`, `ت`
replace_string = 0050, `ï\0`, `ن`
replace_string = 0054, `ö\0`, `م`
replace_string = 0058, `ü\0`, `ك`
replace_string = 005C, `ÿ\0`, `ط`
# Bottom row, left to right:
replace_string = 0060, `ã\0`, `ئ`
replace_string = 0064, `ñ\0`, `ء`
replace_string = 0068, `õ\0`, `ؤ`
replace_string = 006C, `å\0`, `ر`
replace_string = 0070, `ß\0`, `ى`
replace_string = 0074, `ç\0`, `ة`
replace_string = 0078, `đ\0`, `و`
replace_string = 007C, `ø\0`, `ز`
replace_string = 0080, `ĳ\0`, `ظ`
replace_string = 0084, `ł\0`, `.`
#
# Top row: Extra keys for Touch/Mini/Glo/Aura only.
# (This patch cannot change the top row of the AuraHD/H2O/GloHD keypad.)
find_base_address = `ƒ\0\0þ\0\0š\0\0ž\0\0`
# Top row: columns 1-2 (see first key of second/third rows above.)
# Top row: columns 3-5
replace_string = 0004, `þ\0`, `أ`
replace_string = 0008, `š\0`, `إ`
replace_string = 000C, `ž\0`, `آ`
# Top row: column 6 is a duplicate of the last key on the bottom row.
# Top row: columns 7-10
replace_string = 0000, `ƒ\0`, `,`
replace_string = 0010, `μ\0`, `(`
replace_string = 0014, `ª\0`, `)`
replace_string = 0018, `º\0`, `-`

Thank you DNSB, I'll have to spare some time to search for this tool and look for the Latin version.

10-21-2025, 01:13 PM	#1
xA907x Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2025 Device: Kobo Clara 2e	Arabic Font Support Hello everyone, I would like to share the solution for the Arabic language support (displaying Arabic letters as boxes). The solution was inspired by fog31 based on his post here. How to? 1. Plug your Kobo eReader to your PC. 2. Allow the connection from your Kobo eReader. 3. Copy the KoboRoot file to .kobo (hidden folder) 4. Eject your eReader and wait until it fully boot. https://github.com/xA907x/Kobo-Arabic-Language-Support

10-21-2025, 09:05 PM	#3
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,175 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I took a look at the KoboRoot.tgz file and as near as I can tell, it is a collection of modified font files. In the root of the exposed storage, there is a modified Courier mono file with Arabic glyphs added. In the Linux partition, there are versions of Avenir, Georgia, RakutenSansUIApp and RakutenSerifApp with Arabic glyphs added. One note is that 4.38.23429 has the Avenir and georgia fonts in the firmware update while 4.43.23418 lacks those 2 fonts. Attached Thumbnails

10-22-2025, 06:54 PM	#10
Semwize Guru Posts: 920 Karma: 275656 Join Date: Jun 2016 Device: Kobo	It is interesting. Previously, this would not have worked by 146%. You didn't change the fonts, you just renamed them. Have you tried just putting what you need in the Fonts folder? And the most interesting thing is that you have an epub, which reads right to left, right? Kobo has changed the firmware a lot. Last edited by Semwize; 10-22-2025 at 07:09 PM.

10-23-2025, 02:53 AM	#13
Semwize Guru Posts: 920 Karma: 275656 Join Date: Jun 2016 Device: Kobo	JSWolf, you wrote nonsense, the topic starter firmware is one of the existing ones, most likely 4.38. 2E exists, but it writes interesting things, that is, now according to its version it is enough just to add system fonts without modifying them, and Kobo recognizes them. It's interesting and worth checking out, but I'm too lazy) You're not lazy, check it out Last edited by Semwize; 10-23-2025 at 03:18 AM.

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10-21-2025, 01:51 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,698 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	You might like to state WHAT files your koboroot.tgz contains. I know that if I wanted Arabic support I'd be very hesitant in installing a totally unknown koboroot.tgz where (as far as I can see) all that the GitHub contains for code is the tgz file.

10-22-2025, 05:52 AM	#6
Semwize Guru Posts: 920 Karma: 275656 Join Date: Jun 2016 Device: Kobo	@DNSB I doubt that such a replacement would be of any use... But the person probably checked, and I didn't.

10-22-2025, 11:03 AM	#7
Semwize Guru Posts: 920 Karma: 275656 Join Date: Jun 2016 Device: Kobo	Please confirm that it works. Otherwise, I would recommend deleting this topic as harmful. I didn't check it, I'm too lazy.

10-22-2025, 02:15 PM	#8
xA907x Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2025 Device: Kobo Clara 2e	Hello everyone, I wasn't expecting much of traffic here, so as DNSB highlighted I've replaced the initial fonts with Arabic supported ones and it's working as expected. I modified version 1 due to some font comparability and the current version tested. Here is couple of images from my eReader (The title font is not included in the KoboRoot file) Today I noticed that the KoboRoot adds an extra keyboard layout, that I'll have to look at.

10-22-2025, 07:53 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	@xA907x, what Kobo do you have? What you've listed is incorrect as there is no such Kobo as a Kobo Clara 2e.