How to connect KOreader library to Calibre program over wireless WiFi

Hi.

This post comes as a result of a question raised about my One-step setup guide I created a couple of days ago.

I have spent all morning looking for a way to force the Calibre program on my PC to find the <library> folder on my e-reader.

I wont list them all. There were lots.

Nothing I tried worked. Calibre keeps putting books into the Kobo root folder.

This was never a problem for me since I setup a wireless share as soon as I install KOreader.

It never occurred to me that some folk use the USB connection to Calibre, which defaults to only looking for books in the Kobo root folder (or Kindle /documents folder). And nothing I know of can change that.

Surely the Calibre developers would have added a Preferences setting to change the e-reader default storage folder. Lots of Reddit/Mobileread questions, no valid solutions.

NOTE: Android devices do allow manual device folder settings over USB. Weird.

I hope the following steps lead you to a fix.

Your situation might differ slightly from my home setup.

Wireless connecting e-reader device to Calibre: -

NOTE: Ensure both your e-reader device and Calibre are on the same Wi-Fi network.

First of all >

  • Open Calibre program
  • In Calibre, go to the "Connect/share" menu and select <Start content server>
  • this will turn the 3 grey boxes to green on the <Connect/share> icon.
  • Once the server is running, click "Connect/share" again. The IP address and port number will be displayed next to the "Stop Content server" option. It will look something like [192.168.1.5, port 8080].
  • Write down the IP address (aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd), and port number (8080)
  • these numbers never change on my Calibre. Probably because my PC and readers are only ever connected to my home network.
  • Open Calibre <Connect/share> and select <Start wireless device connection>
  • In the box that opens you will see the IP address and Port numbers.
  • I have left the password box empty. I am the only person using this. One less thing.
  • I have checked the box for <Automatically allow connections at Calibre startup>, Click <OK>
  • If you click Calibre <Connect/share> again the <wireless device connection> will be green and shop network info.

Next open KOreader

  • Pull down top menu
  • Select toolbox icon (spanner/screwdriver)
  • Choose <Calibre>, <Wireless settings>, and <Set inbox folder>
  • long press the box <Long-press here to choose current folder>, /mnt/onboard/library , <Choose>
  • re-open the KOreader tool-box menu > Calibre > Server address > select manual >
  • Enter the network info used by Calibre <Connect/share> IP Address as aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd + Port as 8080
  • click <OK>
  • NOTE: You will need Calibre program to be running so you can connect from KOreader to Calibre
  • Return to the KOreader tool-box, select <Calibre> and press <Connect>
  • If prompted <Turn on> to connect wireless network.
  • Once WiFi has connected to your wireless network, you will have to return to <Calibre> menu and select <Connect> again.

Calibre's Library view should now open the <On Device> column and show tick marks against matching books already in the <library> folder on your e-reader.

Wow! That was a lot of steps.

Sorry if I missed anything and I hope I didn't dumb it down too much.

If you find yourself connecting to Calibre a lot, I suggest adding a KOreader gesture.

On the Home page, I have a one finger swipe from left to right along the bottom of the screen to Connect to Calibre. Opening a book will disconnect Calibre. So I swipe a lot.

Add a Right to Left swipe along the bottom edge to Disconnect if you want.

Posted Nov 10, 2025, 2:49 AM UTC

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