Kobo e-readers don't allow the connection of multiple library cards
In the world of digital literature, a significant shift has taken place in the relationship between OverDrive and Kobo. OverDrive, a company that powers the Libby app, managing library databases, user information databases, loan information databases, and checkouts, has undergone changes that have impacted its integration with Kobo e-readers.
Firstly, it's important to note that OverDrive replaced its legacy app, the OverDrive app, which was officially discontinued several years ago. Fast forward to 2020, OverDrive was sold to KKR, a hedge fund, and no longer formally works with Kobo.
Despite these changes, Kobo e-readers still have built-in OverDrive functionality, allowing users to borrow and read library ebooks directly on their devices. However, an important recent change is that Kobo devices no longer support signing in with multiple library cards via OverDrive accounts. The option to log into an OverDrive account to access multiple libraries on a single Kobo has been removed, apparently due to shifts in OverDrive’s branding and service strategy favouring the Libby app instead.
This change has been met with some criticism, with users perceiving Kobo's handling as poorly managed. Kobo and OverDrive seem to disagree on responsibility for this change, and no definitive solution has been announced.
Users who had previously signed in with their OverDrive account on Kobo may still access multiple libraries, but new sign-ins are restricted to a single library card. Workarounds exist but are less convenient, and the OverDrive integration persists only for single-library usage.
Audiobooks and magazines borrowed via Libby are not supported on Kobo, and not all Libby ebooks are compatible with Kobo devices. Older Kobo models require Adobe Digital Editions for transferring borrowed books from Libby.
On a positive note, Overdrive employs Adobe DRM for e-books, which is supported by Kobo e-readers. This means that users can still borrow and read e-books from their library and read them on Kobo devices.
In summary, the OverDrive branding and app have been discontinued, replaced by Libby. Kobo e-readers retain built-in OverDrive ebook borrowing support but have dropped multi-library card login via OverDrive accounts as of July 2025. Kobo and OverDrive (now under KKR ownership since 2020) appear to share blame for the reduced functionality with no clear resolution. Libby app borrowing can sync to Kobo only if using the same single library card, with some limitations. This represents an ongoing, somewhat degraded status of OverDrive integration on Kobo after KKR's acquisition and OverDrive’s rebranding.
Michael Kozlowski, a writer who has written about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years, resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For more information and updates on the digital literature landscape, stay tuned to our platform.
[1] OverDrive discontinues OverDrive app [3] OverDrive sold to KKR [4] Kobo discontinues signing in with OverDrive account [5] Kobo limits library cards per account
- Although OverDrive no longer collaborates formally with Kobo, Kobo e-readers continue to offer built-in functionality for borrowing and reading library e-books directly, thanks to the previous integration.
- However, a recent change in OverDrive's integration with Kobo devices is that the option to log into an OverDrive account to access multiple libraries simultaneously has been removed, causing some users to perceive Kobo's handling as less user-friendly.
