You borrowed an ebook from your library through Libby, and now you want to read it on your Kobo e-reader. But something is wrong. The book refuses to show up on your device, no matter how many times you tap that sync button.
This can be really frustrating, especially when you were looking forward to curling up with a good read. The good thing is that most sync issues between Libby and Kobo are easy to fix on your own. In this article, you will learn why this problem happens and exactly how to get your borrowed books flowing smoothly to your Kobo again.
What Does It Mean When Libby Won’t Sync With Kobo?
Libby is a free app that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Kobo e-readers have a built-in feature that connects directly to your library through a service called OverDrive, which is the same company that makes Libby. When everything works right, you can send a borrowed book from Libby straight to your Kobo with just a few taps.
When syncing fails, your borrowed book gets stuck somewhere between the Libby app and your Kobo device. You might see an error message, or the book might simply never appear in your Kobo library. Sometimes the sync seems to complete, but the book cover shows up without any pages inside.
This problem affects how you access your library books on your preferred reading device. If left unfixed, you might miss out on reading your borrowed book before it expires and returns itself to the library. Most library loans last for 14 or 21 days, so time matters.
Here are some signs that your Libby and Kobo sync is not working properly:
- Books borrowed in Libby do not appear on your Kobo even after waiting several minutes
- Your Kobo shows an error message when you try to open a library book
- The book cover appears but the content is missing or unreadable
- Sync takes forever and never seems to complete
- You get kicked out of the book after reading a few pages
Libby Not Syncing With Kobo: Likely Causes
Before you can fix this issue, it helps to know what might be causing it. Several things can break the connection between Libby and your Kobo e-reader.
1. Your Kobo Is Not Linked to the Same OverDrive Account
This is one of the most common reasons for sync problems. Libby and Kobo both use OverDrive accounts to manage library books. If your Kobo is connected to a different OverDrive account than the one you use in Libby, your borrowed books will not show up.
Many people create multiple OverDrive accounts by accident over the years. Maybe you signed up with your email once and then with your library card another time. Your Kobo needs to be signed into the exact same account where your Libby borrows live.
2. Weak or Unstable Internet Connection
Your Kobo needs a solid Wi-Fi connection to download library books. A weak signal can cause the sync to fail halfway through or not start at all.
Even if your Wi-Fi seems fine for other things, your Kobo might be struggling to connect. E-readers have smaller antennas than phones or tablets, so they can lose signal more easily. Moving closer to your router often helps.
The download also needs to complete fully. If your internet drops for even a few seconds during the transfer, the book file can become corrupted and unreadable.
3. Outdated Kobo Software
Kobo releases software updates regularly to fix bugs and keep everything running smoothly. If your e-reader is running old software, it might have trouble communicating with OverDrive’s servers.
Some older software versions have known issues with library book downloads. Updating to the latest version often fixes sync problems that seemed mysterious before.
4. Too Many Devices Authorized on Your Account
OverDrive limits how many devices you can use with one account. If you have reached this limit, your Kobo might be blocked from downloading new books.
This can happen if you have used several phones, tablets, or e-readers over the years and never removed the old ones from your account. Each device takes up one slot, even if you no longer use it.
5. The Library Book File Is Corrupted
Sometimes the problem is with the book itself, not your device or connection. The library’s copy of the ebook might have gotten damaged somehow.
This is rare, but it does happen. If only one specific book refuses to sync while others work fine, a corrupted file could be the reason.
Libby Not Syncing With Kobo: How to Fix
Now that you know what might be causing the problem, here are the steps you can take to fix it. Start with the first solution and work your way down until your books start syncing again.
1. Check Your OverDrive Account Connection
First, make sure your Kobo and Libby are using the same OverDrive account. This is the most important thing to verify.
On your Kobo, go to Settings, then tap OverDrive. Look at the email address or sign-in information shown there. Now open Libby on your phone or tablet and check which account you are signed into. These must match exactly.
If they do not match, sign out of OverDrive on your Kobo and sign back in with the correct account. Your borrowed books should appear after a few minutes.
2. Restart Your Kobo and Try Again
A simple restart can clear up many tech problems. Hold down the power button on your Kobo for about 10 seconds until it turns off completely.
Wait a full minute before turning it back on. This gives the device time to fully shut down all its processes. Once your Kobo restarts, connect to Wi-Fi and try syncing your library books again.
3. Update Your Kobo Software
Running the latest software helps prevent sync issues. Here is how to check for updates:
- Connect your Kobo to Wi-Fi
- Tap More at the bottom of the screen
- Select Settings
- Tap Device information
- Select Check for updates
If an update is available, your Kobo will download and install it. This might take several minutes. Do not turn off your device during the update. Once finished, try syncing your Libby books again.
4. Remove Old Devices From Your OverDrive Account
If you have too many devices connected, you need to remove some. Visit the OverDrive website on a computer and sign into your account.
Look for a section called Devices or Manage devices. You will see a list of all phones, tablets, and e-readers connected to your account. Remove any devices you no longer use by clicking the delete or remove option next to them.
After clearing out old devices, your Kobo should be able to download books again. Give it a few minutes and then try syncing from Libby.
5. Return and Re-Borrow the Problematic Book
If only one book is giving you trouble, the file itself might be damaged. The quickest fix is to return it and borrow it again.
In Libby, find the book in your Shelf and tap the three dots next to it. Select Return early to send it back to the library. Wait a minute, then search for the same book and borrow it again. This gives you a fresh copy that should sync without problems.
Sometimes a different format helps too. If you borrowed an EPUB file, try returning it and borrowing the Kindle or PDF version instead, then converting if needed. Different file types can behave differently.
6. Contact Your Library or Kobo Support
If none of these fixes work, it is time to ask for help from the experts. Your local library has staff trained to help with OverDrive and Libby problems. They can check if there is an issue with your library card or account.
You can also reach out to Kobo customer support. They can look at your device’s logs and figure out if something deeper is wrong with your e-reader. Have your Kobo serial number ready when you contact them, as they will likely ask for it.
Wrapping Up
Getting your Libby books to sync with your Kobo can feel like a puzzle, but most fixes are simple. Checking your account connection, restarting your device, and updating your software solve the problem for most people.
Take it one step at a time, and do not worry if the first fix does not work. With a bit of patience, you will be back to reading your library books on your Kobo in no time. And if all else fails, your library staff are always there to help you sort things out.