Not like Kindles, Kobo e-readers don’t have generic screensavers seem on display when in standby mode. Not by default. Even on extra premium fashions just like the Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Sage, your solely choices are your present e-book’s cowl or a clean display that claims “Sleeping.”
Luckily, should you’re sad with that out-of-the-box expertise, a fast addition to your Kobo’s folder construction adjustments that. You’ll be able to then add your personal photographs, which is able to robotically rotate randomly by means of no matter assortment you copy over to the machine.
You should use certainly one of two strategies to get customized screensavers, assuming your Kobo is working firmware model 4.13 or larger. Under are the directions for the less complicated technique, which is quick to implement however disables exhibiting present e-book covers in favor of your new screensaver photographs. For older Kobo readers or to have extra management over what shows when your newer Kobo is in standby or powered off, you’ll want to move over to the MobileRead forums for an answer created by consumer frostschutz.
Tips on how to add screensaver photographs to your Kobo e-reader
Step 1: Join the Kobo to your PC.
Utilizing the suitable cable in your Kobo (e.g., USB-C), plug it into your pc.
Step 2: Permit your pc to handle your Kobo’s information
Alaina Yee / Foundry
When the immediate seems in your Kobo asking to permit your PC to handle your eReader, click on on the Join button.
Step 3: Open your Kobo’s information
PCWorld
Your Kobo e-reader will develop into accessible as a USB drive. Navigate to it utilizing File Explorer. (The drive letter will fluctuate, relying on how your PC is at present arrange.)
Step 4 (Optionally available): Again up your Kobo
As a precaution, you might wish to create a backup of your Kobo’s storage drive. (Kobo has not printed official documentation on this course of—reasonably, the data lives primarily within the MobileRead user forums.)
The most secure approach to do that is by opening a File Explorer, then navigating to This PC and right-clicking on the Kobo. Choose Copy.
PCWorld
Subsequent, create a folder within the location you wish to retailer the backup. Inside that folder, select Paste. Anticipate the file switch to finish. Earlier than transferring on to the subsequent step, spot test some information to confirm the copy course of was profitable. (You’ll be able to open EPUB information with a free program like Calibre.)
Step 5: Create a “screensaver” folder
PCWorld
Open the folder named .kobo. In case you can’t see it, go to View tab within the File Explorer window’s menu. Click on the field for Hidden gadgets. Then create a brand new folder and identify it screensaver.
Step 6: Add photographs
PCWorld / Unsplash
Now you can begin including photographs to the screensaver folder. Each file you drop into this folder will develop into a part of the set randomly displayed in your standby display. In case you solely need one image to point out, copy simply that single file into the folder.
Each JPG and PNG codecs work. For the very best expertise, crop them to the decision of your Kobo reader’s display (e.g., 1264×1680 for the Libra 2). You will discover the display decision of your Kobo by looking on-line. In any other case, the file will show with correct proportions and never fill the display fully.
Searching for good photographs? Strive royalty free websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay. As for enhancing apps to crop the information, take a look at our suggestions for the top five free alternatives to Photoshop.
Step 7: Eject your machine
From the Home windows system tray or File Explorer, eject your Kobo reader as a drive.
Step 8: Change your machine settings
Alaina Yee / Foundry
In your Kobo’s system menu, head to Settings > Power saving and privateness. To see your screensaver information, the choices for Present present learn and Present e-book covers full display must be checked. Put your machine into standby mode. You must now see certainly one of your customized screensaver photographs.
Further ideas
As talked about above, including customized screensavers on this approach overrides the show of e-book covers in standby mode. With the intention to see your e-book covers once more, rename or delete your screensaver folder.
This trick additionally solely works for standby mode. In case you energy off the Kobo, it’ll present the e-book cowl in your present learn. With the intention to toggle between customized screensavers and e-book covers in standby mode or to set totally different photographs for standby and power-off modes, you’ll must observe these instructions on the MobileRead forums.