How to auto-sync your Kobo with cloud storage

Kobo's built-in cloud support only covers Dropbox, and only on some models. A free community project called KoboCloud lets any modern Kobo pull books automatically from Dropbox, Google Drive, Nextcloud, pCloud or Box.

The idea is simple. You keep a folder of books in your cloud storage. Every time your Kobo connects to Wi-Fi, it checks that folder and downloads anything new on its own. No cable, no tapping through menus, the books just show up.

KoboCloud is a community script, not an official Kobo feature. It is widely used and the source is open, but you are installing it yourself, so it is worth understanding what it does before you start. The project lives at github.com/fsantini/KoboCloud.

What you need

A Kobo e-reader with Wi-Fi.
A cloud account on one of the supported services (Dropbox, Google Drive, Nextcloud or OwnCloud, pCloud, or Box).
A USB cable, just for the one-time install.

Setting it up

Download the latest KoboRoot.tgz from the KoboCloud releases page on GitHub.
Connect your Kobo to your computer with USB and tap Connect.
Copy KoboRoot.tgz into the hidden .kobo folder on the device. This folder is how Kobo installs updates, so dropping the file there is what triggers the install.
Eject and unplug the Kobo. It will restart and install KoboCloud.
Plug the Kobo back in. There is now a configuration file at .add/kobocloud/kobocloudrc. Open it and add the share link to your cloud folder, following the examples in the file for your service.
Eject again. From now on, when the Kobo syncs over Wi-Fi, it pulls new books from that folder.

Good things to know

Put all your books in a single folder. KoboCloud does not handle subfolders, so everything needs to be at the same level.
On Google Drive, very large folders can sometimes fail, so keep the synced folder reasonable.
A few Kobo firmware versions show duplicates in the library. If that happens it is a known quirk rather than a lost book.
There is an option to remove local books when you delete them from the cloud, if you want the Kobo to mirror your folder exactly.

Convert to kepub first

Before you drop books into your synced folder, convert them to kepub so they read properly on the Kobo, with real page numbers and reading stats. You can do that with the converter here.

Convert a book to KEPUB

If you would rather keep it simple

KoboCloud is great if you want hands-off syncing, but it does involve installing a script. If you only move a few books now and then, the plain USB or built-in Dropbox methods are easier and need no setup.