Kobo has partnered with iFixit so that if your eReader is damaged and out of warranty, you may be able to replace some parts of the eReader yourself.
By choosing to repair your eReader, you can extend the lifespan of your eReader and its components.
In this article:
- Kobo eReaders that you can repair
- When to repair your eReader
- Parts that you can repair yourself
- Find instructions and order parts to perform your own repair
- Contact iFixit
When should I repair my Kobo eReader?:
- If your Kobo eReader is under warranty coverage, you can choose to send your eReader for warranty replacement. To learn more about warranty replacement, or if you're not sure if your Kobo eReader is under warranty, contact Kobo customer care.
- If you live in one of the following regions, you are eligible to repair your eReader with iFixit: North America, South America, European Union, Asia–Pacific, Middle East, and other countries where iFixit is available.
Note: If you live in Japan, your Kobo eReader cannot be self-repaired due to local laws.
- For U.S customers: If you purchased additional warranty coverage through Clyde, you may still be covered under warranty. To learn more about Clyde, read the article here.
- If your Kobo eReader's warranty has expired, follow the steps on the iFixit Repair Hub to order the part to fix your Kobo eReader.
Things to know before you begin
Kobo encourages you to safely repair your eReader whenever you can. Before you consider a repair, here are a few guidelines.
General safety
- Use only official tools purchased from iFixit to perform repairs on your Kobo eReader. Be aware of the risks of working with batteries and electronics before you attempt any repair.
- When performing repairs near or on the battery, only use the plastic tools that you purchased from iFixit to prevent potential issues. When working near the battery, do not use metal tools to avoid puncturing or shorting the battery. Learn more about battery fire safety.
Warranty considerations
- Verify that your Kobo eReader's warranty has expired. If you're not sure if you're covered under warranty, contact Kobo customer care.
Disclaimer
- Rakuten Kobo shall not be liable for any injury or damage to property arising from any repairs, including but not limited to property damage or personal injury. You assume all risk associated with self-repairs.
- You acknowledge that opening a Kobo eReader for any purpose may compromise the Kobo eReader's waterproofing. Rakuten Kobo disclaims all liability for damage resulting from water exposure to a device whose waterproof seal has been broken.
Kobo eReaders that you can repair
The Kobo eReaders below are designed to be repaired:
Note: If you don't see your eReader in the list, it means that your eReader is not designed to have replaceable parts.
Availability Guarantee (Bill 29)
For Quebec Customer only:
In compliance with Bill 29 and Section 39 of the Consumer Protection Act, Kobo guarantees the availability of Replacement Parts, Repair Services, and Maintenance of Repair Information for each of the above mentioned products. Consumers can obtain spare parts, repair services, or maintenance information of the listed products by contacting iFixit.
If you don't see your product on the list, it means that your product does not have full availability of Replacement Parts or Repair Services. However, in such cases and subject to the terms and conditions of the manufacturer's warranty, Kobo may still offer product exchanges, returns, or refurbished units through our dedicated Help and Customer Support channels. For more information, please contact Kobo customer care.
This notice does not impact product warranties, Please note that certain jurisdictions, such as Quebec's Consumer protection Act, prohibit limitations on implied warranties or conditions, as well as the exclusion of limitation of specific damages.
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When to repair your eReader
If your eReader is no longer under warranty, you can repair your eReader yourself. If you're not sure if your eReader is still covered under warranty, contact Kobo customer care.
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Parts that you can repair yourself
Depending on what the problem is, you can replace most parts in your eReader to solve issues like battery issues or screen issues. To learn more about which parts you can repair, visit iFixit's Repair Hub.
Note: Kobo Stylus and Kobo Stylus 2 are not repairable.
The following are a list of the components of your eReader which are repairable. Please be advised that only repairs to these eReader components are authorized by Kobo:
- Display
- Battery
- Motherboard
- Front and back cover
To determine what you'd most likely need to repair, follow the steps below.
Before you start:
About Motherboard and Display repairs: During the repair process, you may encounter a step that involves changing a 'VCOM' number. Entering the incorrect 'VCOM' number may damage your display or motherboard.
Changing the VCOM number is only recommended during display or motherboard repairs. If the motherboard’s stored VCOM number doesn’t match the VCOM number associated with the connected E-ink display, you might see a fuzzy or unclear picture. If the VCOM numbers stay mismatched for long periods of time, this may result in permanent damage to the E-ink display.
Step 1: Try the basic troubleshooting steps
Before you attempt to repair your eReader, try the following:
Step 2: Determine what you need to repair
If factory resetting your eReader and signing out didn't resolve the issue, replacing a component may solve the issue:
Display
Replace your display if you experience any of the following:
- Your eReader turns on but the touch screen is unresponsive.
- Vertical or horizontal lines across the screen.
Battery
Replace your battery if you experience any of the following:
- Your battery doesn't hold its charge like when it was new.
Motherboard
Replace your eReader's motherboard if you experience any of the following:
- Damage to the USB area (for example, rust, water damage, or a loose USB port).
Find instructions and order parts to perform your own repair
To learn more about identifying which part to repair, visit iFixit's Repair Hub to learn how to diagnose the problem and determine which part you need to replace.
Contact iFixit
Need more help? Visit the links below to get additional support from iFixit:
- Contact iFixit: https://help.ifixit.com/#contact
- Email support: https://help.ifixit.com/article/136-email-support