If you have a non-protected ePub or PDF file, you can add it to your eReader using Google Drive. Google Drive is a service that lets you securely store files online.
You can add any supported file types to Google Drive and it will be added to your eReader after you sync.
- If you have encrypted files such as Digital Rights Management (DRM) protected files, you'll need to use Adobe Digital Editions to add the file to your eReader.
- If you purchase books from the Kobo store, you don’t need to use this method to add books to your eReader. To add books you recently purchased from Kobo, simply sync your eReader.
Note:
This feature only works on Kobo Forma , Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Elipsa 2E, Kobo Libra Colour.
Before you start:
- Sync your eReader so that you have the latest software update. Your Kobo eReader software must be version number 4.37 or higher.
- You can follow the steps in this article to check your eReader's version number.
Step 1 of 5: Create a Google account
To download your eBooks from Google Drive onto your Kobo eReader, you'll need to create a Google account. After you create an account, you can link your Kobo account to your Google account.
If you already have Google account, you can skip this step.
Create a Google account
- Visit account.google.com and follow the onscreen steps to create an account.
Step 2 of 5: Get the Google Drive code from your eReader
To link the Google Drive service to your eReader, you’ll need to get a code and enter it on the Kobo website. Make sure your eReader is connected to a Wi Fi network before you start.
On your eReader:
- Go to your Home screen.
- Tap the
More icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap My Google Drive.
- Tap Get Started.
- You’ll see a Google Drive code.
The next step is to enter the code you see on your eReader into the Kobo website.
Step 3 of 5: Enter the code on the Kobo website
After you enter the code you see on your eReader into the Kobo site, your eReader account will link to your Kobo account. When your eReader and Google accounts are linked, your eReader can access files you upload to Google Drive.
On your computer or phone:
- Go to kobo.com/googledrive
You’ll see a ‘Link with Google Drive’ screen. - Enter the code seen on your eReader.
- Click Continue.
- You'll see the 'Approve Data Sharing' screen. Click Continue.
- Sign in to your Google account:
- If you're already signed in to your Google account, your setup process is complete.
- If you haven't signed in yet, enter your Google email address click Next.
- You'll see a 'Kobo wants to access your Google Account' screen. Click Allow.
- You'll see a success screen after your Google Drive account is linked with your Kobo account. Click Go to Google Drive to start adding files.
Step 4 of 5: Add your files to Google Drive
Once you’ve linked the Google Drive service to your eReader, you can add your non-protected ePub, PDF, and other supported files to Google Drive.
You can add files to Google Drive using:
- The Google Drive app on your computer or smartphone.
- The Google Drive website.
To add files using the Google Drive website on your computer:
- Sign in to your Google Drive account.
- Make sure you're in the Rakuten Kobo folder.
Notes:- All your files must be in the Rakuten Kobo folder so that you can read files you copy into your Google Drive on your eReader. See a list of compatible files that you can load onto your eReader.
- The 'Rakuten Kobo' folder is automatically created for you after you link your Kobo account with your Google account.
- Drag and drop files into the file list.
Step 5 of 5: Sync your eReader
To add books from Google Drive to your eReader, you’ll need to sync your eReader over Wi Fi.
- Go to your Home screen.
- Tap the
Sync icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap Sync now.
Your eReader will download any new books you’ve added to your Google Drive account.
Your Google Drive books and content will appear in the My Books menu.
View Google Drive files on your Kobo eReader
To see items you added to your Google Drive account on your eReader, follow the steps below.
You'll need access to Wi Fi before you start.
- Go to your Home screen.
- Tap the
More icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap My Google Drive.
A list of items you added to the 'Rakuten Kobo' folder will appear. - Tap on the item that you want to read. The file will be copied the My Books menu.
- Click My Books at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on the PDF file to start reading.
If you don't see your content, try one of the following:
- Tap the
Menu icon near the top-right corner of the screen and tap Refresh.
- Tap the
You should see the files you added to your Google Drive. Tap on the file to download and view the file.
If you don't see your files from Google Drive on your eReader after trying the steps above:
- Ensure that your file does not contain special characters such as: | " : ? < >
- Make sure your eReader has access to Wi Fi.
- Sync your eReader over Wi Fi.
Disconnect your Kobo account from your Google account
You can disconnect your Kobo account from your Google Drive account. This means that you won't be able to connect your Google Drive account on your Kobo eReader. This might be useful if you no longer want to share Google Drive files on your eReader or if you lost your eReader.
Your existing Google Drive files will remain on your Kobo eReader even after you disconnect your Kobo account from your Google Drive account.
To disconnect your Kobo account from your Google Drive account:
- Go to https://drive.google.com/drive/settings
- Sign in to your account if required.
- Click Manage Apps on the left side of the screen.
- Find 'Kobo' in the list of apps.
Tip: If you have a lot of apps, you'll need to scroll to the bottom of the list.
-
Next to 'Kobo', click Options.
-
Click Disconnect from Drive.
-
You'll see a dialog to confirm that you want to disconnect your Kobo account with Google. Click Disconnect.
After you disconnect your Kobo account from Google, copies of files downloaded from Google Drive to your eReader will remain, but you'll no longer be connect to Google Drive on your eReader.