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How to Read and Transfer EPUB Files on Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Clara Colour (2026)
The Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Clara Colour are compact 6-inch e-readers with 300 ppi displays and native EPUB support. This guide covers transferring EPUBs via USB, Kobo's desktop app, and sideloading with Calibre — plus reading settings and annotation tips.
Kobo Clara BW vs Clara Colour Comparison
| Feature | Kobo Clara BW | Kobo Clara Colour |
|---|
| Screen size | 6 in | 6 in |
| Display type | E Ink Carta 1300 | E Ink Kaleido 3 |
| Resolution (B&W) | 300 ppi | 300 ppi |
| Resolution (colour) | N/A | 150 ppi |
| Frontlight | ComfortLight PRO (warm/cool) | Warm/cool |
| Storage | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| EPUB support | Yes (native) | Yes (native) |
| OverDrive / Libby | Yes (built-in) | Yes (built-in) |
| Weight | 172 g | 177 g |
| Price (approx.) | ~£109 | ~£129 |
How to Transfer EPUBs to Kobo Clara
Method 1: USB Cable
- Connect your Kobo Clara to your computer with the supplied USB-C cable.
- Tap Connect on the Kobo screen when prompted.
- The Kobo appears as a drive in Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows).
- Drag your EPUB file to the root of the Kobo drive or any subfolder.
- Eject safely. The book appears in your Kobo library within seconds.
Method 2: Calibre (Recommended for Batch Transfers)
- Install Calibre from calibre-ebook.com (free, Mac/Windows/Linux).
- Add your EPUBs to the Calibre library by dragging them in.
- Connect your Kobo Clara via USB — Calibre detects it automatically.
- Right-click any book in Calibre → Send to Device → Send to Main Memory.
- Calibre transfers the file and the book appears on your Kobo.
Kobo Clara Reading Settings for EPUB
| Setting | Options | Recommended for long reading |
|---|
| Font size | Slider (24 steps) | Medium — adjust to comfort |
| Font family | Kobo Nickel, Georgia, Avenir, Gill Sans, etc. | Kobo Nickel or Georgia |
| Line spacing | 100–200% | 130–150% for dense text |
| Margins | Slider | Medium margins |
| Brightness | 0–100 | 30–50 indoors, lower at night |
| Warm light | 0–100 (amber tint) | 50–70 for evening reading |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Kobo Clara BW and Clara Colour support EPUB natively?
- Yes. Both Kobo Clara models support EPUB and EPUB3 natively — no conversion required. You can sideload any DRM-free EPUB via USB cable or Calibre. The Clara BW offers a greyscale 300 ppi display; the Clara Colour uses E Ink Kaleido 3 for colour rendering at 150 ppi for colour content (with 300 ppi for black text). Both support Kobo's full typography and frontlight settings.
- How do I transfer an EPUB to my Kobo Clara?
- Two methods: (1) USB — connect with the supplied USB-C cable, the Kobo appears as a drive in Finder or File Explorer; drag your EPUB to the root folder or any subfolder; eject and the book appears in your library; (2) Calibre — install Calibre (calibre-ebook.com), connect your Kobo, right-click your EPUB in the Calibre library and choose 'Send to Device'. Calibre also lets you manage collections and batch-transfer multiple files.
- What is the difference between Kobo Clara BW and Clara Colour?
- Kobo Clara BW: 6-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display, 300 ppi (black and white only), warm/cool ComfortLight PRO, 16 GB storage, ~£109. Kobo Clara Colour: 6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display, 300 ppi for black text / 150 ppi for colour, warm/cool frontlight, 16 GB storage, ~£129. For reading black-and-white text (novels, academic papers, guidelines) the BW has the sharper greyscale image; the Colour adds value for colour-coded diagrams, charts, and annotated EPUBs.
- Can I borrow library EPUBs on Kobo Clara?
- Yes. Kobo Clara supports OverDrive and Libby for library borrowing. Link your Kobo to your library card via Kobo's built-in OverDrive integration: go to Kobo Store → Get Books → OverDrive → sign in with your library card. Borrowed EPUBs download directly to your Clara and expire automatically at the end of the loan period — no manual returns needed.
- How do I annotate EPUBs on Kobo Clara?
- Long-press on any word to begin a text selection, drag to extend, then tap Highlight. Choose from five highlight colours. To add a note, tap Note after highlighting. View all highlights and notes via the chapter menu → Annotations. Export annotations to the Kobo app on your phone or via the My Kobo website at kobo.com/mynotes.
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