Moving books to a new Kobo

Moody12b · 12-11-2025, 07:24 AM

I want to transfer my books to a new kobo; Clara HD to Clara BW

All my books are sideloaded.

Any suggestions?

Sirtel · 12-11-2025, 07:45 AM

What do you mean, suggestions? Just move them over via USB.

If you want to retain your reading progress, that can be done with the Kobo Utilities plugin in Calibre. After you've transferred the books, you can also transfer the reading progress.

JSWolf · 12-11-2025, 10:25 AM

I actually moved the database from my H2O to the Libra 2 as well as all of the books. It worked perfectly.

mbovenka · 12-11-2025, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I actually moved the database from my H2O to the Libra 2 as well as all of the books. It worked perfectly.

Yeah, he can try that, but success is not guaranteed. It worked for me once (H2O to Aura One, I think), but not other times; the reader crashed and factory reset itself when I tried it.

PeterT · 12-11-2025, 11:00 AM

If one uses calibre I'd do it in a few phases. First of all use Kobo Utilities to save reading location of all books on the old device. Then either using the command line or a graphical file manager copy the folder along with any sub folders where your books are stored on the old device to your computer's hard drive.

Disconnect the old Kobo.

Attach the new Kobo.

Copy the directory structure to the new Kobo. (Note that you do not want to copy the .kobo folder).

Disconnect the new Kobo and let it import all the content. Finally reconnect the Kobo and use Kobo Utilities to restore reading location .

Quoth · 12-11-2025, 11:55 AM

Assuming all ebooks are DRM free?

Moody12b · 12-11-2025, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

If one uses calibre I'd do it in a few phases. First of all use Kobo Utilities to save reading location of all books on the old device. Then either using the command line or a graphical file manager copy the folder along with any sub folders where your books are stored on the old device to your computer's hard drive.

Disconnect the old Kobo.

Attach the new Kobo.

Copy the directory structure to the new Kobo. (Note that you do not want to copy the .kobo folder).

Disconnect the new Kobo and let it import all the content. Finally reconnect the Kobo and use Kobo Utilities to restore reading location .

Thanks, just the details I need.

JSWolf · 12-12-2025, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

If one uses calibre I'd do it in a few phases. First of all use Kobo Utilities to save reading location of all books on the old device. Then either using the command line or a graphical file manager copy the folder along with any sub folders where your books are stored on the old device to your computer's hard drive.

Disconnect the old Kobo.

Attach the new Kobo.

Copy the directory structure to the new Kobo. (Note that you do not want to copy the .kobo folder).

Disconnect the new Kobo and let it import all the content. Finally reconnect the Kobo and use Kobo Utilities to restore reading location .

You should also say to copy the configuration file and any user installed fonts.

PeterT · 12-12-2025, 09:53 AM

I was trying to address just the copying of content, NOT the settings from the conf file or fonts. Also I explicitly ignored add-ons such as NickelMenu.

Add-ons I would advise be reinstalled using their supplied KoboRoot.tgz file. Configuration files for those add-ons can be copied from the old devices .adds folder to the new one.

JSWolf · 12-12-2025, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I was trying to address just the copying of content, NOT the settings from the conf file or fonts. Also I explicitly ignored add-ons such as NickelMenu.

Add-ons I would advise be reinstalled using their supplied KoboRoot.tgz file. Configuration files for those add-ons can be copied from the old devices .adds folder to the new one.

I copied the lot from my H2O to my Libra 2 and it worked. That included KOReader and NickelMenu.

PeterT · 12-12-2025, 08:16 PM

Whatever. I'm just giving what I would consider the safest route. Remember that some TGZs bot only add files to the drive that is shared with the host, they also update system directories on the inaccessible partition(s).

12-11-2025, 07:24 AM	#1
Moody12b Member Posts: 11 Karma: 4212 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Moving books to a new Kobo I want to transfer my books to a new kobo; Clara HD to Clara BW All my books are sideloaded. Any suggestions?

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12-11-2025, 07:45 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,262 Karma: 244407035 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	What do you mean, suggestions? Just move them over via USB. If you want to retain your reading progress, that can be done with the Kobo Utilities plugin in Calibre. After you've transferred the books, you can also transfer the reading progress.

12-11-2025, 10:25 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,282 Karma: 150263711 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I actually moved the database from my H2O to the Libra 2 as well as all of the books. It worked perfectly.

12-11-2025, 11:00 AM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,758 Karma: 80104526 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	If one uses calibre I'd do it in a few phases. First of all use Kobo Utilities to save reading location of all books on the old device. Then either using the command line or a graphical file manager copy the folder along with any sub folders where your books are stored on the old device to your computer's hard drive. Disconnect the old Kobo. Attach the new Kobo. Copy the directory structure to the new Kobo. (Note that you do not want to copy the .kobo folder). Disconnect the new Kobo and let it import all the content. Finally reconnect the Kobo and use Kobo Utilities to restore reading location .

12-11-2025, 11:55 AM	#6
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,259 Karma: 112712961 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Assuming all ebooks are DRM free?

12-12-2025, 09:53 AM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,758 Karma: 80104526 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I was trying to address just the copying of content, NOT the settings from the conf file or fonts. Also I explicitly ignored add-ons such as NickelMenu. Add-ons I would advise be reinstalled using their supplied KoboRoot.tgz file. Configuration files for those add-ons can be copied from the old devices .adds folder to the new one.

12-12-2025, 08:16 PM	#11
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,758 Karma: 80104526 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Whatever. I'm just giving what I would consider the safest route. Remember that some TGZs bot only add files to the drive that is shared with the host, they also update system directories on the inaccessible partition(s).