Rakuten Kobo Inc. is a global leader in digital reading, serving millions of users across 190 countries with a library of over 5 million eBooks. Beyond its vast content, Kobo designs a premium range of E Ink eReaders—including the Kobo Aura, Aura H2O, and Aura One—tailored to every reader's lifestyle. To maximize your device's potential, it is essential to understand the file formats Kobo supports.
What Format does Kobo Support?
Apart from ePub and PDF books, Kobo also supports TXT, HTML, and RTF formats for texts and JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF and GIF formats for images and CBZ and CBR for comic books. Although Kobo supports a broad range of file formats, ePub and PDF stands out from the rest regarding features and the user compatibility.
Why can’t You Open Kobo Files on Other Devices?
The majority of Kobo files are under DRM protection. Generally, EPUB or PDF books with an ACSM file extension are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM protects books from unauthorized copying, therefore, you can only view Kobo books on Kobo App or an eReader that supports Adobe Digital Editions.
How to Read Kobo Books on any Device?
If you’d like to read Kobo books on Kindle or other non-ADE supported devices, it’s a must to remove the DRM from your Kobo books and sometimes you’ll need to convert your Kobo books to other formats supported by reading apps or devices as well.
1Remove DRM from Kobo Books
Step 1Download and Install Epubor Kobo Mate.
Step 2Sign in Kobo.com.
1. Launch Epubor Kobo Mate: Click the "Log in" button in the top-left corner to generate your unique activation code.
2. Navigate to kobo.com/activate in your web browser and copy the activation code.
3. Enter the code into the web page to link your device.
4. When prompted, enter your Kobo credentials to sign in and synchronize your Kobo library.
Step 3Remove DRM from Kobo eBooks and Audiobooks.
Once logged in, your Kobo library will automatically sync and display in the left panel. Simply move your desired titles to the conversion area on the right and click "Start Conversion" to remove DRM and save your library locally.
Step 4Access Your Output Files.
Click the "Open" button at the top of the interface to launch the output folder. Here, you will find your DRM-free Kobo eBooks in EPUB format and audiobooks as high-quality MP3s.
2Convert Kobo Books to Formats Supported by Other Devices
To convert Kobo books into other formats, you must first remove the DRM encryption. Once decrypted, you can use free tools like Calibre to convert your files into formats compatible with any eReader or app.
Conclusion
Due to DRM protection, you don’t actually own the books. You just have the right to access to your Kobo books whenever you want. Only when you remove DRM from Kobo books and back them up to your computer, they are totally yours.
Amy Lopez crafts informative articles on eBooks and eReaders, uncovering optimal methods to enhance your eBook reading experience, and eagerly shares her findings with you.
