Quick answer: Yes, you can read Kindle books on a Kobo device — but not by installing the Kindle app, and not by copying the file over as-is. Current Kobo e-readers (Clara, Libra, Libra Colour, Sage, Elipsa) run a closed reading system, not Android, so the Kindle app can't be installed on them. Kindle books also use Amazon's own file formats and DRM, which Kobo doesn't recognize. The way to read your Kindle books on Kobo is to remove the DRM and convert the files to EPUB, then load them onto your Kobo.
Can You Install the Kindle App on Kobo?
Short answer: no, not on any current Kobo e-reader. Kobo Clara, Kobo Libra, Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Sage, and Kobo Elipsa all run Kobo's own closed reading software on an e-ink screen. They aren't Android tablets, so there's no app store and no way to sideload the Kindle Android app onto them, no matter how you try.
This trips people up because it used to be possible. Years ago, Kobo sold a line of Android tablets — the Kobo Arc, Arc 7, and Arc 7 HD — which behaved like any other Android device. On those, you really could install the Kindle for Android app from Amazon and read your Kindle library natively. Kobo discontinued the Arc line, and every Kobo device sold today is an e-ink reader, not an Android tablet, so that workaround no longer applies.
If you're on a modern Kobo e-reader and want your Kindle books available on it, skip the "install the app" route entirely and go straight to converting and transferring your files below — it's the only method that actually works on current hardware.
Why Doesn't Kobo Open Kindle Books Directly?
Even without the app question, a Kindle book file itself won't open on Kobo if you just copy it over. Two things stand in the way:
- Format: Kindle books are saved in Amazon's own formats (AZW, KFX, and similar), not the EPUB format Kobo devices read.
- DRM: Most Kindle purchases are protected by Amazon's kindle DRM, which locks the file to Kindle apps and devices signed into your Amazon account.
Kobo's own support pages confirm the same thing — Kindle-format books aren't compatible with Kobo devices out of the box. To get a Kindle book onto a Kobo, you need to remove the DRM and convert the file to EPUB first.
How to Read Kindle Books on Kobo E-Readers
This works the same way regardless of which Kobo model you own. The process has three parts: get the Kindle book onto your computer, strip the DRM and convert it to EPUB, then copy it to your Kobo.
Step 1: Remove drm from Kindle books
- Download your Kindle books to a computer via the Kindle app for Windows or Mac.
- Remove the DRM and convert to EPUB using Epubor Ultimate, which detects your Kindle library automatically and converts books to EPUB (or PDF) in a couple of clicks.
For detailed steps on removing kindle drm, please read 4 methods to remove drm from kindle books.
Step 2: Transfer kindle books to Kobo
Copy the converted EPUB files to your Kobo over USB to move books straight from your Kindle library to a connected Kobo device without a separate conversion step.
We cover this process in full, with screenshots for every step, troubleshooting for common transfer problems, and a Calibre-based alternative, in our dedicated guide: How to Transfer Kindle Books to Kobo. If you're switching from Kindle to Kobo and want the complete walkthrough, start there.
Can You Read Kindle Unlimited Books on Kobo?
This is worth calling out on its own because it's a different situation from a normal Kindle purchase. Kindle Unlimited books aren't something you own — they're on loan for as long as you keep your subscription, and Amazon's DRM for Kindle Unlimited titles is tied directly to that subscription. But according to customr's feedback, you can try to convert them with Epubor Ultimate. We are not promoting this method.
If there's a specific Kindle Unlimited title you want to keep permanently and read on Kobo, the only real option is to buy it outright as a regular Kindle purchase — once it's a purchase rather than a loan, the conversion steps above will work on it like any other Kindle book.
Does This Work the Same on Kobo Clara, Libra, Sage, Elipsa?
Yes. The conversion-and-transfer method above doesn't depend on which Kobo model you have — it depends on the ebook file format, not the device. Whether you're on a Kobo Clara, Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Sage, or Kobo Elipsa, once a Kindle book has been converted to EPUB, any of these will read it the same way. You don't need model-specific instructions; you need the file in the right format.
Frequently Asked Questions on reading kindle books on Kobo
Can you read Kindle books on Kobo?
Yes, but not directly. You need to remove the Kindle DRM and convert the book to EPUB first, then transfer it to your Kobo.
Can Kobo read Kindle books directly, with no conversion?
No. Kobo devices don't recognize Kindle's file formats or Kindle DRM, so an untouched Kindle book file won't open on Kobo.
Can I get the Kindle app on my Kobo?
Not on any current Kobo e-reader — they aren't Android devices. The Kindle Android app only ever worked on the discontinued Kobo Arc tablets.
Can I read Kindle Unlimited books on Kobo?
No. Kindle Unlimited titles are subscription loans tied to your Kindle account and can't be converted or transferred to Kobo.
Can I read Kindle books on Kobo Libra Colour, Clara, or Sage?
Yes — the same conversion method applies to every current Kobo model; there's nothing device-specific to worry about.
Can I read Kindle books on Kobo without owning a Kindle device?
Yes. If you've bought Kindle books through the Kindle app (Windows, Mac, or another device) rather than a physical Kindle, you can still download and convert them the same way.
What Kindle file formats are compatible with Kobo?
None of Amazon's native formats (AZW, AZW3, KFX) are natively readable on Kobo. Once converted to EPUB, they work fine.
Can I read Kindle books on Kobo using Calibre?
Calibre can manage and move already-DRM-free EPUB files onto a Kobo, but it won't make a DRM-protected Kindle book compatible on its own — you still need to remove the DRM first. Our transfer guide covers the Calibre workflow in detail.
You May Also Like
- How to Transfer Kindle Books to Kobo
- How to Read Kindle Books on Nook
- How to Read Kindle Books on Multiple Devices
Ada Wang works for Epubor and writes articles for a collection of blogs such as ebookconverter.blogspot.com.
