Clara BW Unable to Downgrade Firmware

Waylander · 02-15-2025, 10:18 AM

I'm trying to downgrade the FW of my Clara BW to 4.10.11655, so I can go back to having the fullscreen feature work properly again. However, when I put the update file in the .kobo folder, eject and the device updates, for some reason it goes right back to the set-up process and I have to go through that all over again. This means that when I have to connect it to WiFi, it then downloads the latest FW again. What can I do about this? I would really like to have the proper fullscreen capability again.

Sirtel · 02-15-2025, 10:40 AM

You can only downgrade your Kobo to the firmware version it originally shipped with, not to any older version.

And what do you mean by proper fullscreen?

Waylander · 02-15-2025, 11:08 AM

Thanks. I didn't know that about not going back beyond the firmware the device originally shipped with. As for what "proper fullscreen" means, on my Clara HD, when I downgraded its firmware to 4.10.11655, this meant that enabling fullscreen in the config file in the .kobo folder enabled the removal of the header/footer, but after this firmware, this functionality didn't work the same way and there were bigger margins at the top and bottom of the screen.

Sirtel · 02-15-2025, 11:15 AM

There is a patch for decreasing top and bottom margins.

Edit: and the config option is no longer necessary, you can disable the header and footer in the device settings.

John F · 02-15-2025, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

Thanks. I didn't know that about not going back beyond the firmware the device originally shipped with. As for what "proper fullscreen" means, on my Clara HD, when I downgraded its firmware to 4.10.11655, this meant that enabling fullscreen in the config file in the .kobo folder enabled the removal of the header/footer, but after this firmware, this functionality didn't work the same way and there were bigger margins at the top and bottom of the screen.

What was the section and entry for "proper fullscreen"?

Waylander · 02-16-2025, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

There is a patch for decreasing top and bottom margins.

Edit: and the config option is no longer necessary, you can disable the header and footer in the device settings.

Good to know. Is this in the patch for the latest firmware?

Sirtel · 02-16-2025, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

Good to know. Is this in the patch for the latest firmware?

There are no patches officially released for the latest firmware. If you mean those that were adjusted by various members of MR, then yes, it should be in there. I have no idea where the link to them is, though (I'm not on the latest firmware myself).

Waylander · 02-16-2025, 10:56 AM

What's the earliest firmware a Clara BW can be downgraded to? The patches I've found on here don't seem to go higher than 3.38etc.

Quoth · 02-16-2025, 12:33 PM

Scroll down to Version matrix
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html
The links are to Kobo server.

So earliest is 4.39.22801 which must be what the original had.

Waylander · 02-17-2025, 11:08 AM

I haven't been able to find a patch for this firmware or any of the newer versions for the Clara BW on here. I'm aware that the person behind most of the work has been busy and it's now more difficult since the new devices were released, but where can I look on here for more information about patching my Clara BW? Apologies for being slow about this.

Sirtel · 02-17-2025, 11:30 AM

Maybe here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=364639

Waylander · 02-17-2025, 11:38 AM

Thanks. I found that after my post above, so it's reassuring you suggested it as well. I'll bookmark that page, as well as the patch installation page for the most recent release on here (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=356106), and from these together I should be able to do it.

JSWolf · 02-20-2025, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

Thanks. I found that after my post above, so it's reassuring you suggested it as well. I'll bookmark that page, as well as the patch installation page for the most recent release on here (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=356106), and from these together I should be able to do it.

You may want to find the patches for 4.38.23171 instead.

They can be downloaded here.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...69#post4466269

02-15-2025, 10:18 AM	#1
Waylander Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	Unable to Downgrade Firmware I'm trying to downgrade the FW of my Clara BW to 4.10.11655, so I can go back to having the fullscreen feature work properly again. However, when I put the update file in the .kobo folder, eject and the device updates, for some reason it goes right back to the set-up process and I have to go through that all over again. This means that when I have to connect it to WiFi, it then downloads the latest FW again. What can I do about this? I would really like to have the proper fullscreen capability again.

02-17-2025, 11:08 AM	#10
Waylander Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	I haven't been able to find a patch for this firmware or any of the newer versions for the Clara BW on here. I'm aware that the person behind most of the work has been busy and it's now more difficult since the new devices were released, but where can I look on here for more information about patching my Clara BW? Apologies for being slow about this. Last edited by Waylander; 02-17-2025 at 11:16 AM.

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02-15-2025, 10:40 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,757 Karma: 236462758 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	You can only downgrade your Kobo to the firmware version it originally shipped with, not to any older version. And what do you mean by proper fullscreen?

02-15-2025, 11:08 AM	#3
Waylander Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	Thanks. I didn't know that about not going back beyond the firmware the device originally shipped with. As for what "proper fullscreen" means, on my Clara HD, when I downgraded its firmware to 4.10.11655, this meant that enabling fullscreen in the config file in the .kobo folder enabled the removal of the header/footer, but after this firmware, this functionality didn't work the same way and there were bigger margins at the top and bottom of the screen.

02-15-2025, 11:15 AM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,757 Karma: 236462758 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	There is a patch for decreasing top and bottom margins. Edit: and the config option is no longer necessary, you can disable the header and footer in the device settings.

02-16-2025, 10:56 AM	#8
Waylander Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	What's the earliest firmware a Clara BW can be downgraded to? The patches I've found on here don't seem to go higher than 3.38etc.

02-16-2025, 12:33 PM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,401 Karma: 102739835 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Scroll down to Version matrix https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html The links are to Kobo server. So earliest is 4.39.22801 which must be what the original had.

02-17-2025, 11:30 AM	#11
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,757 Karma: 236462758 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Maybe here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=364639

02-17-2025, 11:38 AM	#12
Waylander Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	Thanks. I found that after my post above, so it's reassuring you suggested it as well. I'll bookmark that page, as well as the patch installation page for the most recent release on here (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=356106), and from these together I should be able to do it.

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