How To Sync Apps For Kobo With Other Reading Devices?

As a long time Kobo user, I have gone through the “ trial and error” process of syncing apps across devices. One of the features that Kobo offers is a built-in sync that connects to your Kobo account. If you have all of your devices logged into the same account, syncing books purchased through Kobo as well as books from Kobo’s store will occur automatically whenever you open a book on a different device. However, when it comes to sideloaded content (EPUBs and PDFs), Kobo devices that support sync with cloud storage (such as Dropbox or Google Drive) can sync these files as well. For me, this means that I upload files to my Dropbox account and they automatically sync to my Kobo once the device has connected to Wi-Fi. Although highlights and notes do sync for Kobo-purchased books as well as for books from Kobo’s store, they do not sync for sideloaded content. Third-party apps such as Pocket for saving articles will link to your Kobo account in the settings and sync saved articles across all of your devices. All of this syncs seamlessly once you have set up your accounts etc.

Note that synchronizing Kobo apps between reading devices can have its limitations, especially when you’re using multiple e-readers, tablets and smartphones. For the most seamless experience, however, it is best to stick to within Kobo’s own reading eco-system. Books bought through Kobo’s own store instantly synchronize between all your reading devices, meaning that you can start reading on your Kobo eReader and pick up where you left off on your smartphone or tablet and vice versa.

Sideloaded ebooks are a little more tricky to sync, although there are a few ways round this. I manage my sideloaded ebooks using Calibre, a free ebook management tool for ebooks. This doesn’t automatically sync between devices but does ensure that I have a fully managed library of ebooks on all of my reading devices. Some Kobo ebook readers – including the new Kobo Sage and Kobo Libra 2 – are able to link to your Dropbox account, and sync any new EPUBs added to that account while the Kobo is connected to Wi-Fi. I also use the Pocket integration with my Kobo ebook readers. Articles that I save in Pocket on my phone are automatically added to my Kobo ebook reader – as long as the Kobo account is linked to the Pocket account in the Kobo settings.

If you have audiobooks, be aware that as of now the syncing does not extend to those. But you can always manually upload new audiobooks, or even mark the ones you already have as to be transferred and they will be next time you connect your Kobo to your computer. It’s not perfect but it does work. If you use Audible then you can also sync those as well but you’d have to set that up separately as well.

As an avid user of Kobo eReaders and an iPad, I rely on syncing my apps and books across devices. Kobo’s native syncing of Kobo Store books is seamless. All of your books, highlights and notes are up-to-date on all of your other devices. As for sideloaded books, I tend to use a number of different syncing methods and tools. For my EPUB books, I sync them via Dropbox.

Articles from Pocket also get synced perfectly from my phone to my e-reader. I was even able to get manga and comics for my Kobo through Kobo’s built-in OverDrive integration – my local library supports the following through OverDrive: e-books, magazines, comics and manga.

Note that the Kobo syncing doesn’t appear to be as seamless as Amazon has made with their Kindle (even for non-purchased content). However, the content mentioned here can be synced with the appropriate setup (Dropbox, etc…). Just be sure to keep the Kobo connected to Wi-Fi to sync the content.