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These may be the only way you can get your Kobo working again. Backup your books, if you can, before proceeding:
Note: for newer Kobo devices (including the Aura and AuraHD), see the link at the bottom of this article. Also, for Kobo Glo, see the reset method at the bottom of this page discovered by JK via facebook.com/kobo private message.
Basic reset:
A basic reset will force your Kobo Glo to restart properly. In many cases, this is enough to restore your eReader to normal.
Note: Please be advised, you will not lose anything from the eReader.
1. If possible, turn your eReader off.
2. Locate the small hole on the bottom of the eReader.
3. Unfold a paperclip and slide an end into the hole.
4. Press gently until you feel a click. Your eReader should restart
If the basic reset does not work, please to perform an external factory reset on your device using the following steps:
A factory reset deletes all content on your eReader. This means that it:
• Deletes any books you’ve added to your eReader.
• Deletes your bookmarks and annotations.
• Deletes your account information.
• Resets all your settings (for example, Reading Life and text settings).
• Returns the eReader to its original settings.
1. Power device off.
2. Slide the power button to the right and hold down the light button simultaneously.
3. The power light will start blinking.
4. Let go of the power and the light button when you see restoring on the screen
For the Kobo Glo:
1.Ensure that the device is powered off
2.Press and hold the Light button
3.Slide the power switch to the right, hold for one second, let go of the switch
4.Continue to hold the Light button until the small light to the left of the power switch flashes
5.Let go of the Light button
In my case the time between letting go of the power switch (step 3) and the light flashing (step 4) was only about half a second. After that the ‘restoring’ message came up on the screen and this time it didn’t freeze but just carried on and let me then connect and set up the Glo again as normal.
Newer Kobo device resets:
http://gedakc.users.sourceforge.net/display-doc.php?name=kobo-ereader-not-responding
Kobo Problems 
and if your Kobo goes from an icon that seems to say “I’m happy, plug me in” (though why, when it’s been plugged in for days, I don’t know) then when I hold power button down it blinks through red, green, then flashing white, and sits on the ‘restoring’ screen until it goes back to the ‘plug me in’ screen (while plugged in, of course). This is a Kobo Glo that’s about 6 mos old, and has 98% memory available. This makes me crazy! I’ve been trying for 3 days to read a 7 day loan library book. This is a crap product, not worth $10 let alone $100.
Should read help first before you complain, after factory reset you need to set up your ereader again because it has been reseted, with all your details deleted. Go to kobo desktop and choose setup ereader
after factory reset do you need anything other than your plug in and computer and are all your books still available that you have purchased
Once you do a factory reset, it is as if you just bought it. You will need to step through the setup again, and then everything associates with your account will be loaded back on the reader.
I’ve got the answer! First of all I did the factory reset. Then went to my desktop where I brought up the Kobo program. Then I plugged in my Kobo reader to my computer and everything went as smooth as could be. Basically had to reinstall the kobo software and then all my books were downloaded from my library . . then just followed the instructions.
Before I took this step, I probably synced my Kobo reader about 3 times and when I turned it off . . showed NO books in my library.
This was a last resort for me thinking I need to buy a new reader. All is well!
Good luck and good reading!
Awesome, thanks for letting everyone know!
Reading the help is always important in trying to solve a problem. Unfortunately, if the problem is the device is a piece of crap, not amount reading will help you 😦
Brilliant – a great help. The “factory reset” on the Kobo website needs you to have the menu on the Kobo display. You really need a factory reset when the display is not available! After competing “your” factory reset plugged it into my computer, ran Kobo desktop which updated the Kobo unit (software and content) and we are away with the mixer again. 🙂
Glad it helped! This is the kind of info Kobo lost when the decided to close the user support forum, rather then just address their problems.
that is quite true, kobo support section is one of the most unhelpful design I have seen for a big company, kudo for them to have live chat, although the girl gave me wrong info last time lol!
thank you all. I’ve been trying for days to get my “white screen only” Kobo back to life. You are wonderful !! Patricia
I have recently had a problem with my Glo and I am hoping someone here can help me. I have had the ereader for over a year now and have loved it until this past Saturday when it decided to “restore” itself for no apparent reason. The issue I am having is the home page is not the same and I have no idea why or how to use it now. The settings are very different than prior to the ‘restore”. Can anyone help me with this issue?? As stated by another person on here Kobo support system is horrible.
Sorry, I don’t have anything specific. I would try connecting to the software on a computer and updating to the most recent version for you kobo. There was probably some help on the old forums, you could try searching via google and look at the cache. Any one else have any ideas?
Maybe you updated its software after system restoration? If so just go check out some videos on Aura review, basically it is the same interface; or maybe you can link us a pic on how it looks?
I’ve reset my kobo glo in all ways I could find on the internet, I’m in hospital and I’m losing my mind of boredom. Any other suggestions?
Sorry, no. That’s it for the Kobo. If you have another device (iPad, Android, PlayBook, etc) you can download the Kobo app to access your books. If not, probably better to cut your losses with Kobo and get someone to get pick up a Sony eReader for you.
My wife has an older (non-touch) Kobo which has just lost everything. Using the file manager in Windows, there are no files or directories in the device (and no hidden files). The menus are still available. Does the Kobo have the original factory settings stored in firmware that can somehow be loaded back onto the device? Is there any way to re-load externally? Factory reset through the menu and also holding the power and home keys does not work. Otherwise I think we have a new paperweight.
Thanks for any help.
Hi
You can try the full/factory reset. If that doesn’t work, then you have a paperweight, like everyone else
Cheers, James
Note that this is the older Kobo (non-touch). It does not have a light button. I presume that you hold the “Home” button along with Power?
I need to reset my Kobo. It is not a Kobo Glo just the normal one.
Full Factory reset fixed the signup problem and the kobo works like a charm. Thanks
Glad to hear it!
uhh mine went to update something and now the light flashes the meter runs but its stuck on the ereader anytime anyplace and will not let me reset anything i have pluged it in and charged it even if it was full i have turned it off waited and turned it on i have hit all the factory rest stuff and the paper clip on in the back and still getting the flashing light and same screen
Unfortunately I had the same ‘frozen screen’ problem on one of my Kobos. I was not able to find any way to fix it. By the way the lights went, I think it running, but there was a fault between the cpu board and the epaper display. If it is in warranty, try and return it.
hi y kobo has gone on the blink with a sreen full of lines,, tryed all the anitidotes none work guess i have a $1oo doller paper weight damm…..
I’m reading all these comments with interest while trying a factory re-set with my Kobo Glo which has been giving page-turning problems for a month or so now. Kobo support is worse than useless! If this re-set doesn’t improve matters then I shall definitely look for a different brand of e-reader when I replace this one. It;s a pity the folk at Kobo never seem to look at these forums!
Great name BTW! Its worse then that Kobo had a full support site running, where everyone could share there issues and they even had a few employees answering questions. The problem was that their product was sooooo crappy, people were finding out, and that was effecting their sales, so the shut it down. There was tonnes of good information lost, and now there is no way to connect to Kobo at all. All you can do is watch a couple of self serving videos, throw your Kobo out, and buy a Kindle or a Sony. Even if they were no better (and they both are MUCH better), they both have great support.
my kobo screen is showing reboot, what do I do?
You should try the resets:
Good luck
my kobo arc 7 screen is locked how non of the controls work how do I get it to work
I haven’t had the misfortune of buying any of the Android based Kobo products. This is how you preform a non factory reset
“hold the volume and power buttons down for 10 or so seconds or so”
If that doesn’t work, you will need to find out how to do a factory reset on you Arc.
the factory-reset worked for me. I purchased a book then went to load it but it’s been a while so I had an updated then the Kobo Glo went blank. Used the paperclip thing but the screen would blink twice then nothing.Found this site and learned how to do the factory-rest and went through the motions of setting everything up and it works fine so far. It looks different from the other setup and have to figure out my settings but that’s nothing compared to a darn paperweight after an upgrade. Thanks for the info on this site. .
my kobo will not charge. I have tried to do a reset by holding the power button, tried to push the rest on back with paper clip. Stuck connected and charging to computer page.
Can someone help??
Hi Pat
When you plug in and do the various resets, does the little LED on the top light up at all? If no, the USB port may have gotten un soldered from the mother board. If you see any flashing from the LED, the problem is more likely the display has failed. This is extremely common with Kobo’s. If it is still under warranty, Kobo **may** replace it. If not, time to by a Sony/Kindle/Other ereader that doesn’t suck
Cheers, J
My Kobo Glo stopped working a few months ago. I have tried charging it and attempted both resets multiple times. Nothing is working.
Is the light on the top flashing at all? It has a particular set of flashes during boot. If these are happening, then the screen is toast, and there is no way to fix it.
The light will flash green 4-6 times if I try the Basic Restart, then it stops flashing and nothing happens.
Yup, that means the computer is fine, the screen has disconnected/broken. Had the exact same thing happen to me. If it is still in warranty, get in touch with Kobo. They will claim you dropped it, and that’s why it is not working. Be persistent. I did manage to get one of the four I owned replaced for that problem. It broke a few months later. Good luck!
My Kobo Glo kept losing the library in Adobe Digital Editions 2 which held books I borrow from the public library. I successfully completed the factory reset and reconfigured the settings. The Kobo now sees the brought books but not the books listed on loan via Adobe Digital Editions. When I plug the kobo into my laptop it is recognised on the Adobe page. Should I install Adobe Digital Editions 2 again? Your help would be much apreciated
Yes. The factory reset blows out everything. You need to reinstall everything except the books, which re load automatically.
Thank you for your quick reply. I have re installed the ADE 2.0 and it recognises me when I sign in but the e-reader still says my library is empty. Any advice please?
I forgot to mention I have a log number for my problem:140819-000485
Unfortunately I have never used ADE, so I don’t have any ideas. Probably best to get in touch with Adobe. Good luck!
thank you.
Yippee!,I don’t know if my library disappear in the future but I have it back! I simply performed the paperclip in the little hole at the bottom of the e-reader. So after at least 2 factory resets and 2 adobe reinstalls and numerous enquiries the paperclip sorted it out. Just to say that Kobo Customer Care said to perform the factory reset but prior to their help I had used the paperclip method. Thank you for your kind attention hope this helps someone in the same situation.
So after much troubleshooting with my Kobo Glo I had to do a factory reset. It started fine, I was then prompted to plug into my computer. The screen on my Kobo is now white and nothing seems to be happening. It’s been that way for almost an hour. I’ve done the Factory Reset before with no issues. Not so lucky this time. Any Ideas?????
Yikes. See if another reset or factory reset brings it back. The Kobo Glo is famous for ‘stuck screen’ problems, where the CPU is no longer communicating with the screen. If the reset does not work, you may be in that situation. Is it still under warranty? I would get it replaced if possible.
I tried to factory reset my Kobo Glo, but the light doesn’t even start blinking and the screen stays stuck at homescreen.
Hi Emerancega
That may mean it is truly dead. I would leave it plugged in overnight to make sure it has a good change, and try the factory reset again. If it is under warranty try and get it replaced.
IB
I just bought a Kobo aura HD and it seem dead after a soft reset, I’ve try the hard reset but nothing happens, anaybody have an idea? if not I’ll just return it.
Return it quickly, if you can. Even if you manage to bring it back to life, once a Kobo starts going, it is destine for permanent failure. Have a look at the Kindle paper white 2. Far better product from a company that will support it.
If you switch to a Kindle what happens to all the books from Kobo that you have purchased?
Sadly they are lost if they are DRM’d/locked. If you have bought unlocked ePub/Mobi/PDF, then you can copy them off the Kobo, assuming you can still access it from a Mac or PC, can transfer them to your working eReader.
I have tried charging and both resets on my kobo glo but the screen is still white. I can turn it on and the light works but the screen wont change, it just stays white.
Unfortunately, if the light works and screen doesn’t and you’ve done the factory reset, then you kobo screen has disconnected and is dead. Sometimes there is part of the last page you read, sometimes black, sometimes white, but always the same problem: Kobo makes sub standard products that fail for little or no reason. This is precisely the kind of thing that caused them to close their user forums and hide behind crappy videos and useless faqs. Sorry for your loss. By a Sony or Kindle. They both make great products and support them as well.
So after a load of to-ing and fro-ing with kobo customer services (who I have to say are THE most frustrating customer services I have ever dealt with – it’s like every time I do as I’m advised the problems get even worse) I was advised that I needed to do a factory reset. I’ve got everything backed up, luckily, but I’d really love to be able to read them on my Glo rather than on my computer. The first time I tried the power and light buttons method, it seemed to be working and I got the ‘restoring’ message on the screen, but then it just froze. So I tried the second method they suggested (light button and paperclip in the pinhole), but the same thing happened again (only quicker this time). Now I can’t switch my Glo on at all. If I hold the power button for a few seconds I get a flashing light, a quick flash on the screen then nothing, it’s just blank. I’ve tried doing further factory resets, but this time absolutely nothing is happening. It was fully charged at the time. I did try plugging it into the computer to see what would happen, but again – nothing. I am worried after reading the above comments that the screen has disconnected.
I have left messages with customer services, with the facebook page and now here, as I am just so frustrated at this. Up until now (I’ve had the Glo a few months) I have absolutely loved it, it’s a great reader, and if it wasn’t for the terrible customer service I would have recommended it to all and sundry. I have heard awful things about people returning products to kobo and being accused of dropping the reader, I really don’t want to have to go down that road if I can help it, but it might well come to that. (I do have a Sony reader too, but since my laptop crashed and I had to reinstall Windows it has refused to open DRM-protected books, even the ones that were on there that I had previously read, so I can’t even transfer everything to that. The reason I bought the Glo was to get round that problem). I’m really hoping someone here will be more helpful than Kobo customer services ever have been! Thanks for any help (or commiserations, which I suspect is all I can expect. Sigh).
PS Sorry for the essay!
No, thank you for the essay. Kobo has been successfully hiding behind their ‘tech support wall’ since they closed their forums. I am going to add your excellent comments as a new entry. BTW, the dropped thing mostly has to do with the screen dying. It became obvious on the forum that the screen died, and could leave partial renders up, giving Kobo and out. Also, the eInk screens were very sensitive, so even a slight knock could break them. Since you like your Glo, stay on them. Make them replace their crappy, crappy hardware. Good Luck!
My Kobo Glo let me down once again just when I needed it for a long trip. It wouldn’t see the books I had borrowed for the library so I left it in a drawer for 5 weeks. I fired it up again when I got back and it worked. Since then I have read 2 books on it but it is slowly dying, the screen flickers, the font goes huge and then tiny. I am never sure when I open it if it will work at all. It seems to keep righting itself with the 5 square dots in the middle of a white screen but how long this will last I don’t know. To be honest I am not going to try and fix it. It’s 2 years old and I have had enough of this product so its good bye Kobo, you wont be seeing me again.
Sorry to hear that. It is the most interesting problem I have heard about a Kobo, but unfortunately it is just another example of poor design and manufacturing. I love my Sony eInk and Kindle/Android. Would highly recommend either. Good Luck!
You can fix this. Take the back off. Unplug the brown cable for 10 seconds. Then replace the cable and follow the instructions for Factory Reset.
Looks like my Kobo Glo screen has died just like Jessie and JK (and lots of others).
I was having trouble with the screen freezing and tried a factory reset. In the middle of re-initialising my Glo froze again. Then tried the factory reset using the light and power buttons. Seemed to work until, again the froze in the middle of initialising it froze again. Now I only get the white screen flickering on and off (with light flashing blue) when trying the light button and paperclip in the pinhole method.
Looks like I better find my invoice and try to get a replacement under warranty!
Any suggestions for an alternative e-reader?
I’ve had great luck with Sony (eInk) and Kindle (Fire) depending on whether you want a true low power eReader (Sony) or a full reader/tablet (Kindle). Good luck
Thanks. I will look into these.
My e reader will not reset but it refreshes I have a password on mine that I can not rember and I need it to fully reset back to new how do I do that ?
Hi Teeg
The factory reset should take out the password as well. If not, there is no other way to do it 😦
IB
I have reset kobo, now when i try to “set up” on kob website, windows 7 doesnt recognize the kobo and says the hard drive needs formatting. Windows 7says it cant format. Help!!!
Hi Paul
Unfortunately that means windows does not recognize the FAT formatted partition on your Kobo. This is very dangerous territory here, as re-formatting the partition can brick you Kobo. I would see if you can get someone from support at Kobo (sadly not likely). If all else fails, you can try re-formatting from Windows, but that may destroy your Kobo. If you do decide to format, make sure you pick FAT (or FAT32) and NOT NTFS or exFAT. Kobo is not smart enough for those formats.
Cheers, KP
Hello! I’m wanting to sell my Kobo- only ever downloaded book samples. If I do factory reset, will they be able to connect it to their e-mail account etc with no issues? Or is there something else I have to do? I don’t want my information attached to it.
Thanks!!!
Hi Amber
Good choice. A full factory reset will clear your info. Follow the factory reset instructions here:
Good Luck!
Hi, I need help. Accidentally did a factory rest on my kobo glo. Now stuck on setup page. Am unable to log into kobo account via desktop or WiFi. It either shows as loading or returns to log in screen. Please help. I only need to log in. Internet connections are working, log in and password is correct but just not logging in at all!!
Are you sure it was a factory reset? If so, there should be no password. For a regualar reset, the user/password remains on the device.
Hi. The problem is that to complete my setup I need to log into kobo either using a kobo account or another account to sign in. My issue is that it is not signing onto my kobo account, or Facebook, or g+. It is only showing loading. So the setup is not complete. If I power off and on it starts from the beginning and just stops at sign into kobo using these methods. But nothing happens
I connected my kobo aura to the wifi recently and immediately started to download some update or something. I didnt realise this at first and didnt know what it was doing, so i held the power button for 3-4 seconds before the screen went white (without the “sleeping” or “power off” labels like I set it to) and the light at the top is flashing red-orange. The screeen is unreponsive and the power button and backlight buttons do not work. When I plug it in to the computer, it does not open the autoplay. I don’t know what to do with this??
Sounds like you probably need a factory reset. If that doesn’t work, you may have a half upgrade and there may be no way out. If it is still under warranty, take it back and get it replaced.
I have the same problem as Halle. My Kobo Aura is trying to download something and cycles through, but then is unable to do anything with it. I thought it was because I had too many books, but my SD card should be able to support another 1000 books. Everything keeps resetting. It is incredibly frustrating. I have tried to do the factory reset, but it won’t actually respond to it!! I am at a complete loss.
Wow. It is starting to sound like there may be a bad update out there. 😦
Mine entered the Sleep mode that I couldn’t wake up today. Then it did an update and is now stuck on a Restart screen. I’ve tried all the usual reset/factory reset/holding the light and on off button. I plugged the Aura into the computer but it isn’t registering the computer. I’ll leave it for 12 hours but I’m not sure it is charging. What a pain. This isn’t the first time it has frozen, but never while doing an update.
Today my Aura was stuck in Sleep mode. Then later on, it started doing an update. It has now been frozen on the Restart page. I’ve tried all the usual combination of buttons & resets, while plugged into the computer or not. It is not registering the computer. I’m going to leave it plugged into the computer overnight to see if that changes anything. I’ve had the Aura freeze before but not to this extent. Very disappointed and would not recommend this product to anyone.
So my kobo aura is frozen on the powered off page. If I plug it in and click cancel when it wants to connect to a computer it briefly turns on until I touch something, then it powers off. If I don’t click cancel the computer doesn’t register that it is even there. holding the light button and the power button do nothing, the power light doesn’t flash or anything. Long story short, I tried a reset and discovered that I do not seem to have a reset button… there is a hole and when the paper clip is slid into the hole it meets no resistance at all. no click. no button. it just slides on in there and would disappear if I let it 0.o
So I contact Kobo and once I got them to actually understand that, no it is not that the factory reset they are talking me through is not responding it is that I literally cannot perform the damn reset, am basically told that since of course that it is past its one year warranty there is nothing they can do and sorry but thanks for purchasing our shitty merchandise. My rage is whole and complete at the moment. I get a one year warranty. I really do. But when you are sending out faulty merchandise and NOT standing behind it in any way?!?? Any recommendations? thoughts?
I hahve a Kobo Aura HD with a screen that’s stuck on “Sleeping”
I followed factory reset on my Kobo Aura HD, it made the light flash white fast, and then I let it go. It flashed for a while but nothing showed up on the screen (still stuck)
Then the light went down.
When I connect the Kobo to my computer it doesn’t show up as a device there.
Any suggestion on what I might be able to do?
If the factory reboot did not work, then you may be out of luck. Depending how old it is, you can try returning it for a replacement 😦
I tried above suggestions and my Kobo remains stuck on sleep. No lights flash when any buttons are pressed and the rest didn’t work. Help!
Unfortunately, eventually the Kobo’s just stop working. If you’ve tries the factory reset, there is nothing else to do, unless you can still return it 😦
Info on koboproblems.wordpress.com is not extremely accurate.
Hi Carol
Please let us know where the inaccuracies are, we would be happy to correct them. This site is a combination of my personal experience with 5 Kobo devices, a collection of tips from the forum the Kobo closed down, and other peoples reports. I would be happy to make changes, if appropriate.
Cheers, J
Carol? Carol? Just astro-turfing perhaps?
I did all the steps, the flashing white light went on and kept flashing for some time, than stopped and nothing appeared on the screen. Do you know what to do with that?
Hi Kateq
It may be that the screen has failed, or the connector to the screen has failed. IF you press buttons once it boots, do the lights flicker? If so, the cpu may be out, and the display has died :(.
Take back off pry the power cable plug off, wait a minute and put it back. The Kobo will work, although there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.
Good tip. My Kobo HD just died (amazing since it is just a chinese oem for them) and I am going to try this as well.
IB
Let me know if it works, maybe just tape a household switch to the back with wires drilled through the back. Farmer fix. 😀
Although this does gaurantee it will not freeze again, I got mine unstuck by prying the back off and undoing the battery cable then reattachinging it and its started working like nothing was wrong. Kobo Glo HD with power button not slider.
I’ve got a first gen Kobo Aura that appears to now be a paperweight. I started noticing 2 weeks ago that when I plugged it in it would say it was connected, but then after 10 seconds or so, the charging icon would disappear and be replaced with the regular partial battery icon – so the Kobo didn’t seem to be charging. I kept using it until yesterday, when I got the “please charge your e-reader” screen. Plugged it in, screen went back to the book I was reading for a minute or so, then went back to the please charge screen. Leaving it plugged in, i tried to turn it off with the power button, and voila! Blank white screen, and nothing else. Not even a charging LED when I plug it into my computer or the wall. I tried leaving it plugged in for hours, tried all methods of resetting the device, and it’s done absolutely nothing. Kobo customer service number kept me on hold for about an hour then hung up on me before I had ever spoken to a person. I no longer have m receipt so I don’t have high hopes for a replacement, but I’m still pretty peeved regardless. The thing was great for the brief time that it worked.
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RSS all you like, but I am not an expert, just an interested party
IB
Thai really helped my kobo glo would not power on and this fixed it thanks
That’s awesome – glad to hear it!
This is the state of play with my son’s Aura one, how can you reset a menu when you can get up the gui. 😦
Piece of crap 2months old. not good at all. Customers on 3rd email .
Wow, that’s really weird. Can you see it at all from the computer? If so, can you force it to update the firmware and reset it that way?
Needle in the tiny hole at the bottom of the Kobo reader worked perfectly . Thanks 🙏
Thank you infinitebuzz! this worked for me too…..doing the full reset with holding down the light button. and then switching the power button…the normal reset just did not do the job….Was about to give up
Awesome, glad to hear it!