new devices - how to remove default authors and series

psy65 · 03-21-2026, 08:13 AM

Hi,

I have the same issue on 2 devices(libra2 and elipsa 2e) and I can't find an easy way to solve my problem.

When you first turn on a new device, it is already populated with some authors and series. Only the authors and series, no actual books are linked to those. And I want to remove those entries as they are useless and 'pollute' my devices.

Other than going into the database and deleting rows. Is there a way to remove those entries from the device? or maybe I can remove those entries by using calibre?

I hope I am clear enough

thank you

Aleron Ives · 03-21-2026, 09:50 PM

IIRC the fastest way is to just delete the database and reboot, and then you'll force the device to generate a fresh database containing only your own books. Ideally you want to do this before you've started using the device, since it will wipe all your reading stats, of course.

DJUNGELSKOG · Yesterday, 03:53 PM

There is a sqlite database file on your device and the books that you are seeing are coming from that database. If you search this forum you should be able to find the exact query that you need to run against this database to get rid of these books. Don’t forget to backup your data before doing it!

If you are not comfortable with CLI you can use DBeaver Community Edition to browse the database and run queries: https://dbeaver.io/download/

I don’t think there is any other way to remove these books.

DNSB · Yesterday, 03:56 PM

I've only noticed those books showing up when a Kobo is immediately put into sideloaded mode.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 04:16 PM

I've never seen these mysterious books on my Aura H2O or Libra 2.

DNSB · Yesterday, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've never seen these mysterious books on my Aura H2O or Libra 2.

As I mentioned, I've only seen them appear when the Kobo ereader is placed into sideloaded mode without first registering it. Since the books are in multiple languages, I suspect they are used for some in-house testing.

DJUNGELSKOG · Yesterday, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

As I mentioned, I've only seen them appear when the Kobo ereader is placed into sideloaded mode without first registering it. Since the books are in multiple languages, I suspect they are used for some in-house testing.

I can confirm this, I’ve seen these books on my Libra 2 which was never registered but not on my MIL’s KCL that she has registered before I put it into sideloaded mode and taught her how to borrow ebooks from the public library and upload them to her device with ADE.

03-21-2026, 08:13 AM	#1
psy65 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 110 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: kobo touch	new devices - how to remove default authors and series Hi, I have the same issue on 2 devices(libra2 and elipsa 2e) and I can't find an easy way to solve my problem. When you first turn on a new device, it is already populated with some authors and series. Only the authors and series, no actual books are linked to those. And I want to remove those entries as they are useless and 'pollute' my devices. Other than going into the database and deleting rows. Is there a way to remove those entries from the device? or maybe I can remove those entries by using calibre? I hope I am clear enough thank you

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03-21-2026, 09:50 PM	#2
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,863 Karma: 17565272 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	IIRC the fastest way is to just delete the database and reboot, and then you'll force the device to generate a fresh database containing only your own books. Ideally you want to do this before you've started using the device, since it will wipe all your reading stats, of course.

Yesterday, 03:53 PM	#3
DJUNGELSKOG Zealot Posts: 134 Karma: 585486 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Belgium / Vlaanderen Device: Kobo Libra 2 + Vivlio Light HD + (ancient) iPad Pro	There is a sqlite database file on your device and the books that you are seeing are coming from that database. If you search this forum you should be able to find the exact query that you need to run against this database to get rid of these books. Don’t forget to backup your data before doing it! If you are not comfortable with CLI you can use DBeaver Community Edition to browse the database and run queries: https://dbeaver.io/download/ I don’t think there is any other way to remove these books.

Yesterday, 03:56 PM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 50,850 Karma: 178402710 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I've only noticed those books showing up when a Kobo is immediately put into sideloaded mode.

Yesterday, 04:16 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 82,589 Karma: 151278869 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've never seen these mysterious books on my Aura H2O or Libra 2.

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