[GeoffR]

Instructions for patching firmware (by firmware version):

• 4.10.11655 (9f844e0935) [Mk 6/7 devices only]
• 4.10.11591 (374ecc0783) [Mk 6/7 devices only]
• 4.9.11314 (8c2fd38797) [Mk 4/5 devices only]
• 4.9.11311 (112578920c) [Mk 6/7 devices only]
• 4.8.11090 (bee5052c41) [ClaraHD only]
• 4.8.11073 (b628114af7)
• 4.8.10956 (daee2c4220)
• 4.7.10413 (168741200a)
• 4.6.10075 (2240799f12)
• 4.6.9995 (5c036c4fb5)
• 4.6.9960 (161d1adc5a)
• 4.5.9587 (c77383d7d1)
• 4.4.9344 (6f700792a0) and 4.4.9349 (6f700792a0)
• 4.4.9298 (1614b85db3)
• 4.3.9084 (59faa7bc47)
• 4.3.8966 (9c8144b8c0)
• 4.3.8945 (14b5a0d83e)
• 4.3.8871 (eec21f5563)
• 4.3.8842 (ed3f655eae)
• 4.2.8432 (fbb9e8f61b)
• 4.2.8283 (530afa6716) [MK6 devices only]
• 4.2.8110 (4f749ed9be) [MK6 devices only]
• 4.1.7729 (8bedc76ce7) [Mk6 devices only]
• 4.0.7523 (c213e8a341) [Mk6 devices only]
• 3.19.5761 (0e028f3185)
• 3.19.5613 (4b76aa47bd)
• 3.18.0 (b88456ee3d)
• 3.17.3 (407d48ba86)
• 3.17.0 (60588a39fd)
• 3.16.10 (f9fa4bfb12)
• 3.16.0 (f56b42a2e1)
• 3.15.0 (d60578c5e1)
• 3.13.1 (60d72c68d5)
• 3.12.1 (c1198635ca)
• 3.12.0 (563a2baefd)
• 3.11.0 (4d8eac1207)
• 3.8.0 (048bb0b071)

Patching makes small changes to the Kobo firmware in order to: customise appearance or settings, fix bugs, remove restrictions or unwanted features, and (rarely) to add new features.

Patching does not require jailbreaking or rooting, as Kobo e-ink devices are not locked. None of these patches add any extra files to the firmware, but they are applied by installing modified versions of existing files. This means that all these patches will disappear when the firmware is updated, and new patches must be created to apply to each new firmware version.

For this reason, when patching it is VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE CORRECT PATCHES FOR THE FIRMWARE VERSION ON YOUR DEVICE! If you apply the patches for the wrong firmware version the device might not boot, and it will probably require a full factory reset. You can check the firmware version your device is using in the Settings > Device information page:



These patches are completely unofficial, so if you have a problem with your patched device don't complain to Kobo. The best place to ask for help is in the instruction thread above for the firmware version you are using.

(I refer to these as the Metazoa patches because most were originally created by metazoa at www.the-ebook.org, and as a way to distinguish them from other patches and mods.)


Description of what the patches do (all firmware versions):

• `Custom page refresh options`

• `Freedom to advanced fonts control`

• `Custom reading footer style`

• `My 15 line spacing values`

• Stylesheet priority patches:
  `Force user line spacing in KePubs`
  `Force user line spacing in ePubs`
  `Un-force font-family override p tags (std epubs)`
  `Un-force user font-family in KePubs`
  `KePub full justification default`

• Margin patches:
  `Custom left & right margins`
  `Custom kepub default margins`
  `ePub fixed/adjustable top/bottom margins`

• Fixed font sharpness
  `ePub fixed font sharpness`
  `KePub fixed font sharpness`

• Work-arounds for kepub problems in full-screen mode
  `KePub zero body margin/padding`
  `Fix kepub side bearing font cut-off bug`

• Custom keyboard patches
  `Cyrillic keyboard`
  `Arabic keyboard`
  `Hebrew keyboard`
  `Turkish keyboard`

• `Default ePub monospace font`

Obsolete patches:

• `ePub unitless line height` (2.8.1 - 3.15.0)

(This thread is a work in progress. I'll add links here as I create a post about each patch.)


This thread is intended to eventually be useful to those trying to decide whether or not to bother with patching. To avoid it becoming long and confusing for those new to patching, please don't post comments or questions about specific firmware versions here. The place to do that is in one of threads listed at the top of this page.