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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,271
Registered: ‎11-08-2020

MacBook Pro not recognizing Kobo ereader

Anyone have any advice on this?  It stopped awhile ago.  I have tried googling and used advice provided there.  No luck.  

I have been using my iPad but I prefer the Ereader.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 27,304
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: MacBook Pro not recognizing Kobo ereader

I did a little poking around and apparently, the issue (and it's common) is that the Kobo and Mac don't like to talk over the USB 3 connection. For whatever reason the two won't connect using USB 3. The workaround that people have found is to use a USB 2 hub that the computer will recognize and plug the Kobo into the hub and all's right with the world.

 

If you don't have, or don't want to buy a USB 2 hub there's supposedly a wi-fi workaround. This is from Reddit user dodo_red.

 

"I had the exact same issue. For anyone looking for an alternative solution based on Wi-Fi:

On your M1: open Calibre, add the book you'd like to transfer to your collection, right click on it, Connect/share, Start the Content Server and Start wireless device connection.

On your Kobo: connect to the same Wi-Fi network of your M1. Tap on More, Beta features, Web Browser. Go to the content server address your created in Calibre (something like 192.168.1.50:8080) , select the 'mobile' version of the content server, download the book."

 

Good luck! 

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,271
Registered: ‎11-08-2020

Re: MacBook Pro not recognizing Kobo ereader

@gardenman You are a gem!  I am travelling now but will try this when I get home.  Will update when I do.  Thanks, as always, for your help.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 27,304
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: MacBook Pro not recognizing Kobo ereader

I hope it works for you. The USB 2 hubs are cheap, starting at around $6 and you might already have one lying around. Apparently, the Mac will recognize the USB 2 hub, and anything plugged into the USB 2 hub, but won't recognize the Kobo when it's plugged directly into a USB 3 port. Go figure. Computers can drive you a little crazy sometimes.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!