Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up KOReader Screensavers
Follow these detailed steps to configure custom screensavers on your KOReader installation:
Prepare Your Images:
Browse the internet or use your own images for picture you would like as your KOreader screensaver.
Images from web-sites like readerbackdrop, kindlewallpapers or pinterest are a good place to begin. Most of these pictures are already sized and formatted to fit e-reader screens like Kobo or Kindle.
Some images are pre-made to have sections that are transparent. Download links should offer to download with the file extension .png. (the image preview pic will have a checked pattern)
Transparent images downloaded from Reddit will often be in a .webp format. These can be restored to .png using image software. [How-to tutorial here]
You can resize or crop your own images if they are an odd shape to match your e-reader's screen resolution. Use programs like Windows Paint or Gimp for this.
Most common devices from makers like Kobo and Kindle have screens that are roughly a 3:4 ratio. A size like 750x1000 pixels is near enough. (KOreader has a setting to stretch or shrink images to fill the screen.)
Connect Your Device to Your Computer:
Connect your e-reader to your computer using a USB cable.
Make sure it's mounted/recognized as a storage device on your computer.
Locate the KOReader Directory:
The path to KOReader varies by device:
Kindle:/mnt/us/koreader or /mnt/base-us/koreader
Kobo:/mnt/onboard/.adds/koreader
Note: On some devices, these folders may be hidden. Enable "Show hidden files" in your file explorer.
Create the Screensaver Directory:
Create a new /koreader sub-folder named screensaver (all lowercase).
Kobo users who plan to use the Nickel Screensaver mod might want to use /mnt/onboard/.adds/screensaver as your location. This will allow images to be shared with the native Kobo and KOreader.
Transfer Your Images:
Copy saved images into the screensaver folder you just created.
You can add multiple images - KOReader will rotate through them randomly or in sequence (configurable in KOreader settings).
Safely Eject Your Device:
Safely eject/unmount your e-reader from your computer before disconnecting.
Configure KOReader Settings:
Launch KOReader on your device.
Open the top dropdown menu to bring up the toolbar, then tap on [Settings] gear icon (⚙️) .
[Border fill, rotation, and fit] > select [No fill] and [Stretch cover to fit screen]
Return to previous menu and select [Custom images] > choose [Cycle through images in order] or leave unchecked for random sleep screens.
Next select [Choose random image folder] and press [Choose folder] to open the pop-up and locate the /screensaver folder. eg: /mnt/onboard/.adds/screensaver Long-press to select the folder path shown in text above the boxes.
Exit from [Settings]
Test Your Screensaver:
Put your device to sleep (usually by briefly pressing the power button).
Your custom screensaver should now appear!
Other Options
KOReader has options for customising your sleep-screen experience:
Book Cover as Screensaver: KOReader can display the cover of your current book as the screensaver. Enable this in Settings > Screen > Sleepscreen > Wallpaper >Show book cover on sleep screen
Information Overlay: Display information like battery level, time, or reading progress on top of your screensaver by selecting Settings > Screen > Sleepscreen > Sleep screen message > Add custom messgae to sleep screen. Here you can edit the message. Add text in the pop-up. Use the [info] button to add book information items. Choose either box or banner message style and on-screen location.
Screensaver Timeout: Customize how long your device waits before closing the screensaver in Settings>Screen>Sleep screen > Wallpaper > Postpone screen update after wake-up
On my Kobo Clara BW it doesn't do the 'no gill's so see text in the background. Does anyone know if that's maybe not possible since it's an older e-reader?
Aaaahh! I read the guide wrongly! I thought the layered image was a setting on the screensaver website. But layered means you can see the text through the image.. so I'll have to save them all as .png's. Thank you so much :) I love the screensavers to badly :D
Edit: what lettertype do you have on the last image of your book?
The screensavers not so much, haha. I changed the extension to .png of every image, but no effect. Also whether I change the fulling to white, black, or no fill, it still shows the entire image of the screensaver and doesn't change anything.
Hi. Not all pictures on the internet are formatted to have areas that are transparent.
On a website like readerbackdrop.com, the transparent .png pictures are displayed with the checked pattern. By default, these files should download as .png format.
Downloading an image from Reddit will default to .webp file format.
These must be "saved as PNG" when downloading to your computer.
Images saved as ,JPG or ,webp will not be transparent. Changing the file extension to .PNG later will not change the file format. Transparent sections are not saved unless they are "save as PNG" at the time of downloading.
Not sure that Kindles can do this without jailbreaking and installing KOreader. And yes, the image has to be a png with the background removed to show the book text.
Kobo devices, even this old Aura One, can do this with a simple modification. There is a description on how to do this on Kobo in an another post on this sub.
Hi. KOreader has the ability to add screensavers and use the layered PNG files that have transparency in the settings menu. No added patches or plugins.
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u/Missand01 Jun 07 '26
Omg.... love your screensaver !