Concise guide for setting up KOReader
KOReader is an e-ink-optimized ebook reader app for Android that allows a lot of customization and supports multiple formats: epub, mobi, PDF, djvu and more. This is a concise guide for setting it up. Depending on your comfort with Android, you could do all of this in <1 hour.
Get KOReader
- Install the F-droid app store on your device.
- Search for koreader and install it.
The basics
- KOReader opens in its file browser. You should populate the “books” directory with your books.
- Browse pages with thumbnails: tap top of screen / bookmark icon / page browser (if you are coming from the kindle world: this is what happens when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen in a book, then tap the small grid at the bottom-left).
- Add bookmarks: tap top-right corner.
Basic setup
(1) Define a home folder
- In KOReader’s file browser, go to the selected directory (suggestion:
internal storage/Books) - Long press the desired folder
- Select “default”.
- Copy your ebooks there.
(2) Download dictionaries
Tap top of screen / magnifier / settings▶︎ / dictionary settings▶︎ / download dictionaries▶︎ / select the ones you want.
(3) Book cover view in library
Open the file browser (if reading a book, tap top /cabinet icon, top-right) / tap top of screen / cabinet icon again (first one) / Display mode▶︎ / mosaic with cover images
(4) App opens with last book
Open the file browser / tap top of screen / cabinet icon (first one) / start with / last file
Customize the font
(1) Get the Literata font.
This is the same font used in Google Play Books.
- Google for Literata font
- Download the zip file / unpack it
- Copy all files inside the
staticdirectory from the zip file toInternal Storage/koreader/fonts. Iffontsdoesn't exist, create it. - Restart KOReader.
- tap top of screen / page icon (2nd icon) / font / long press Literata and set it as default
(2) Font size.
Define the font size that works best for you.
- open a book / tap bottom of screen (but not the absolute bottom otherwise it will switch progress meter) / “Aa” icon (4th one)
- experiment with different font sizes
- once you find the one you feel comfortable, make it the default by long pressing it / set default
I personally like 28 pts on the BOOX Palma 2.
Back up settings, books and highlights
The solution I found was to use Syncthing and sync the following directories with my desktop computer:
internal storage/koreader(app settings)internal storage/Books(ebooks, highlights and notes)
This has the added bonus that I can simply copy a new book to the Books folder on my PC, and it shows up automatically on my Palma. Of course, getting Syncthing to work is a more advanced topic and deserves by itself a guide. There should be plenty of such guides on youtube. There are other options as well.