Glo Problems with turn on and turn off Kobo Glo

xenyo · 11-13-2019, 04:40 AM

Hi everyone,

I ask the forum for help because I'm a little desperate!

I'll try to explain my problem. My device has been working well until a few days ago.
When the device is turned off the power button does not work and only turns on if I connect it to the PC or to the electricity. It has a extrange behaviour, it turns on and off by itself, without following a specific pattern, without any interaction of mine. For example, at night it can turn on and off 20 times or more when i'm sleeping.
The strange thing is that sometimes when it has just been turned on I can turn it off using the power button, but not always, the normal thing is that the button does not react when I slide it.
I have chaned the sd card (I have used a new one) with a good Kobo Glo image, i have tried to downgrade the firmaware but the behaviour is the same.
Currently, I can't use my ebook because it's uncontrollable.

Do you think the problem is software or hardware? Has anyone had the same thing and managed to solve it?
Just getting the device did not turn off I would be happy, even if the power button does not work.

I am sorry for the inconvenience and would greatly appreciate any help!

Thank you in advance.

Kraaz · 11-13-2019, 01:45 PM

I repaired 2 days ago my Kobo GLO with similar Problems.

After control i find 2 problems. Old dead battery , and faulty SD card

Changed old kobo battery with new one Galaxy S3 mini battery ( 3.8 volt 1600
mah ) buyed in nearest Phone Repair shop. Soldered it directly to motherboard.

Then i change old sd card with new one and new image. Then i press power buttons. And Kobo become alive.

But i recommend you first of all, try to gently press backside of kobo area power button. And when pressing backside, slide Power button.
Because after using long time power button area becomes loose and then slider of power button simple do not press real button, which is soldered on motherboard.
If this is the problem your klobo will open and close normally.

Sorry for my bad english , i dont speak or writed in english for near 24 years.

xenyo · 11-13-2019, 04:44 PM

Thank you for your response Kraaz.

I have tried a new SD card and it has the same behaviour.
When I press the backside of the power button I can't turn it on either.
The strange thing is that when it turn on by itself i can use the button to turn off without problem which makes me think that it may not be a button problem. Then, it is possible that the problem is the battery, isn't it?

Is it easy to change the battery?
Is the galaxy battery the only that works in Kobo Glo or are there more compatible models?

Thank you for your help!

Kraaz · 11-14-2019, 02:42 AM

Like these photos, i choose galaxy S3 mini battery because of dimesions,
But i think your problem is, faulty power button switch, maybe resolder new one help. Or simple desolder old one, and solder 2 cables there on another switch glued on top of Kobo.

I marked area of power button , power switch is in other side of motherboard.

Changing Battery is not heavy task, i broked orijinal battery connector in motherboard, this is why i solder cables to motherboard , if you decide to change battery, simple cut cables on old one which have battery connector and solder these cables on new one , remember Red cable is always + one.
When you look at Kobo Glo motherboard, right side of connector pin is + .
So you need to solder cable on + side of new battery and - side of battery , then simple solder these cables with old connector from old battery. + side is red one in connector.

xenyo · 11-14-2019, 05:35 PM

Hi Kraaz,

You may be right, because I removed the cover, I pressed in the area you indicated in the photo and the button worked. The problem is that if I close the lid it doesn't work again.
How could I put pressure on that area? Could I put some silicone on it or would it be worse?

Thank you in advance!

Kraaz · 11-14-2019, 11:55 PM

Don not glue button or button area , Just paste some thick tapes inside of back cover in area of button , an then close it, they make pressure to button and then i think your kobo work normally

xenyo · 12-10-2019, 05:18 AM

I found a solution and now it works perfectly.
I pressed the button in many ways but it didn't work and and I kept thinking that the problem was the battery, so I let the battery drain completely and I didn't charge it in a week.
Then I charge it up to 100% and now it works correctly.
I don't know how long it will continue to work well but for the moment it works.

Thanks for your replies.

pghaworth · 12-10-2019, 05:32 AM

glad you figured it out!

11-13-2019, 04:40 AM	#1
xenyo Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: Kobo Glo	Problems with turn on and turn off Kobo Glo Hi everyone, I ask the forum for help because I'm a little desperate! I'll try to explain my problem. My device has been working well until a few days ago. When the device is turned off the power button does not work and only turns on if I connect it to the PC or to the electricity. It has a extrange behaviour, it turns on and off by itself, without following a specific pattern, without any interaction of mine. For example, at night it can turn on and off 20 times or more when i'm sleeping. The strange thing is that sometimes when it has just been turned on I can turn it off using the power button, but not always, the normal thing is that the button does not react when I slide it. I have chaned the sd card (I have used a new one) with a good Kobo Glo image, i have tried to downgrade the firmaware but the behaviour is the same. Currently, I can't use my ebook because it's uncontrollable. Do you think the problem is software or hardware? Has anyone had the same thing and managed to solve it? Just getting the device did not turn off I would be happy, even if the power button does not work. I am sorry for the inconvenience and would greatly appreciate any help! Thank you in advance.

11-14-2019, 02:42 AM	#4
Kraaz Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Planet Earth Device: Kobo GLO	Like these photos, i choose galaxy S3 mini battery because of dimesions, But i think your problem is, faulty power button switch, maybe resolder new one help. Or simple desolder old one, and solder 2 cables there on another switch glued on top of Kobo. I marked area of power button , power switch is in other side of motherboard. Changing Battery is not heavy task, i broked orijinal battery connector in motherboard, this is why i solder cables to motherboard , if you decide to change battery, simple cut cables on old one which have battery connector and solder these cables on new one , remember Red cable is always + one. When you look at Kobo Glo motherboard, right side of connector pin is + . So you need to solder cable on + side of new battery and - side of battery , then simple solder these cables with old connector from old battery. + side is red one in connector. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Kraaz; 11-14-2019 at 02:45 AM.

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11-13-2019, 01:45 PM	#2
Kraaz Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Planet Earth Device: Kobo GLO	I repaired 2 days ago my Kobo GLO with similar Problems. After control i find 2 problems. Old dead battery , and faulty SD card Changed old kobo battery with new one Galaxy S3 mini battery ( 3.8 volt 1600 mah ) buyed in nearest Phone Repair shop. Soldered it directly to motherboard. Then i change old sd card with new one and new image. Then i press power buttons. And Kobo become alive. But i recommend you first of all, try to gently press backside of kobo area power button. And when pressing backside, slide Power button. Because after using long time power button area becomes loose and then slider of power button simple do not press real button, which is soldered on motherboard. If this is the problem your klobo will open and close normally. Sorry for my bad english , i dont speak or writed in english for near 24 years.

11-13-2019, 04:44 PM	#3
xenyo Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: Kobo Glo	Thank you for your response Kraaz. I have tried a new SD card and it has the same behaviour. When I press the backside of the power button I can't turn it on either. The strange thing is that when it turn on by itself i can use the button to turn off without problem which makes me think that it may not be a button problem. Then, it is possible that the problem is the battery, isn't it? Is it easy to change the battery? Is the galaxy battery the only that works in Kobo Glo or are there more compatible models? Thank you for your help!

11-14-2019, 05:35 PM	#5
xenyo Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: Kobo Glo	Hi Kraaz, You may be right, because I removed the cover, I pressed in the area you indicated in the photo and the button worked. The problem is that if I close the lid it doesn't work again. How could I put pressure on that area? Could I put some silicone on it or would it be worse? Thank you in advance!

11-14-2019, 11:55 PM	#6
Kraaz Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Planet Earth Device: Kobo GLO	Don not glue button or button area , Just paste some thick tapes inside of back cover in area of button , an then close it, they make pressure to button and then i think your kobo work normally

12-10-2019, 05:18 AM	#7
xenyo Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: Kobo Glo	I found a solution and now it works perfectly. I pressed the button in many ways but it didn't work and and I kept thinking that the problem was the battery, so I let the battery drain completely and I didn't charge it in a week. Then I charge it up to 100% and now it works correctly. I don't know how long it will continue to work well but for the moment it works. Thanks for your replies.

12-10-2019, 05:32 AM	#8
pghaworth Fervent Pleasure Seeker Posts: 1,220 Karma: 712073 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Windmills of My Mind Device: Clara HD	glad you figured it out!