If you have a kobo E-reader and want to read manga on it, you are in the right place. Kobo eReaders support for multiple file formats (including EPUB and CBZ), and smooth page turning make them perfect for reading manga.
In this guide, we’ll cover 3 ways to read manga on your Kobo reader, plus some tips to make your reading experience better.
1. Kobo Store
The easiest way to read manga on your Kobo Ereader is to purchase it directly from the Kobo Store.
Here is how you can do it –
- Open the Kobo Store on your eReader or on the Kobo website.
- Search for the manga title you want. Kobo offers a large catalog including popular series like Attack on Titan, Vinland saga, Demon Slayer, and One Piece.
- Tap Buy and complete the purchase.
- Once purchased, the manga will automatically sync to your Kobo eReader over Wi-Fi.
- Tap the manga cover to open and start reading.
Tip: Manga purchased from the Kobo Store is usually formatted for eReaders, so panels fit the screen well and page turns smoothly.
2. Sideload Manga Files (EPUB/CBZ/CBR)
If you have your own manga files, Kobo allows side loading them using USB transfer.
Supported File Formats
- EPUB – works well for converted manga.
- CBZ/CBR – these are common comic/manga archive formats. Kobo supports CBZ natively, and most CBR files works well too.
What You’ll Need
- A USB cable
- Manga files on your computer
How to Sideload Manga on Kobo
- Connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable.
- Tap “Connect” on your Kobo when prompted.
- On your computer, open the Kobo drive that appears.
- Drag and drop your manga files (EPUB or CBZ/CBR) into the main folder or the “Documents” folder on your Kobo eReader.
- unplug the USB.
- Kobo will process the new files and add them to your library automatically.
You can now open and read the manga directly from your Kobo home screen or library.
Pro tip Convert Files for Best Experience
Kobo can view CBZ/EPUB files well, but you can convert manga files for optimal performance using a free tool like Calibre.
Why Convert
- Ensures correct reading order (especially for right-to-left manga).
- Calibre lets you edit metadata, add covers, and organize series.
- Some older CBR files display better when converted to CBZ or EPUB. So you can try it for better quality.
How to convert manga with Calibre
- Install Calibre on your computer.
- Add your manga files to Calibre.
- Right click > “Convert books” > Choose EPUB as the output format.
- Adjust settings if needed (such as page size, margins).
- Transfer the converted files to your Kobo using the USB file transfer.
3. Borrow Manga Through OverDrive (Libby)
Most Kobo eReaders have OverDrive support also known as Libby, which allows you to borrow books/manga for free from your local public library.
How it works
- Open the OverDrive or “Find your library” option in the Kobo menu.
- Sign in with your library card (you will need a free library account first).
- Search for manga. many libraries offer popular ones like My Hero Academia, Naruto, or One Piece.
- Tap Borrow, and the manga will download directly to your Kobo. Borrowed books expire after the lending period ends.
For readers outside the United States, it’s important to verify whether your local library system is compatible with OverDrive or its mobile app, Libby. It’s better to confirm first as availability varies by region. While this works with Kobo but availability depends on your library’s collection.
Tips to Improve Your Manga Reading Experience
- Switch to landscape mode (if supported by your Kobo) With this you can view two pages side by side, similar to real manga pages.
- Adjust brightness and warmth for night reading to reduce eye strain.
- Organize manga in collections (e.g. by series or genre) to keep your library clean.
- Use sleep timers to save battery during long reading sessions.
- Update your Kobo regularly to get performance improvements for image heavy files.
Common Issues & Fixes
Sometimes you may feel Pages loading slowly. To fix that you can convert large CBR files to CBZ or EPUB to speed up rendering.
How to fix Manga reading left-to-right? Some EPUBs are default left-to-right. You can Convert or check settings in Calibre to set right to left reading order.
Sometimes after transferring the manga file it may not show in your device. In that case Try restarting your Kobo and check again. If still missing, make sure the file format is supported or convert it to EPUB.
Conclusion
I hope it helped. Getting manga on your Kobo is actually super easy. Just use Calibre and a quick USB transfer – that’s how I do it too. Enjoy your manga and happy reading…
FAQ
Can I read color manga on Kobo?
Yes, if you have a Kobo Libra Colour or Clara color, you can enjoy color manga. On bw models, the manga will display in grayscale still very crisp because of e-ink.
Is Kobo better than Kindle for manga?
For sideloaded manga, Kobo is generally better because it supports more formats (like CBZ/CBR) and has fewer conversion requirements. Kindle often needs files converted through Kindle Comic Converter.
Do I need Wi-Fi to read manga on Kobo?
No. Once the manga is transferred you can read it offline without Wi-Fi.
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