A step-by-step guide to making a Kobo e-reader work for someone who needs big, bold, clear text.
Kobo is a Canadian company (headquartered in Toronto), and their e-readers are sold at Indigo, Walmart, and online across Canada. For people with low vision, a Kobo can turn every ebook into a large print book — if you set it up right.
This guide covers initial setup through to optimal reading settings. If you're setting this up for a parent or grandparent, do the Wi-Fi and account steps yourself, then hand it over with the font already configured.
Screen size matters most for low vision. Bigger screen = more words visible at large font sizes = less page-turning.
7-inch screen with physical page-turn buttons. The buttons are a big deal — no fumbling with touchscreen taps. Waterproof. Built-in light with warmth adjustment. This is the one we'd pick for someone with moderate low vision.
~$230 CAD at Indigo or Walmart
10.3-inch screen. At large font sizes, you get substantially more text per page than the smaller models. Heavier (390g), so it's best with a stand or propped on a pillow. No physical page-turn buttons — all touchscreen.
~$400 CAD at Indigo
6-inch screen. Smallest and lightest. Fine for mild low vision, but at very large font sizes you'll only get a few words per page. Best for people who need moderate enlargement (not maximum).
~$150 CAD at Indigo or Walmart
If you also want to borrow library ebooks on Kobo, do not guess your way through the account screens. Follow our Kobo + Libby / OverDrive setup guide for Canadian seniors and caregivers after you finish the font and accessibility setup.
If you're setting this up for someone who isn't comfortable with technology, do these steps yourself before handing over the device.
Plug in the USB-C cable, charge to 100%, then hold the power button for 3 seconds. The Kobo logo appears, then the setup wizard starts.
Select their home Wi-Fi network and enter the password. The Kobo needs internet for initial setup and downloading books. After setup, it only needs Wi-Fi when buying or borrowing new books.
You'll need an email address and password. If they don't have one, create a simple Gmail account for them and write down the credentials somewhere safe. The Kobo account is tied to their purchases and library loans.
Kobo will try to walk you through gestures and features. Skip all of this for now. You're going straight to the accessibility settings.
This is the part that matters most. Open any book (the Kobo comes with a free sample book), then tap the centre of the screen to bring up the reading menu.
Tap the Aa icon at the bottom of the screen. This opens the typography menu where you control font, size, weight, and spacing.
Drag the font size slider to the right. Kobo's slider goes from tiny to very large — for low vision, push it to about 75-90% of maximum. Preview the text as you adjust. You want a comfortable size that shows at least a few sentences per page.
Tap the font name to see options. For low vision, the best choices are:
Kobo Nickel — clean sans-serif, very readable at large sizes
OpenDyslexic — designed for readability, weighted bottoms on letters prevent visual confusion
Georgia — familiar serif font, good at large sizes
Avoid decorative or thin fonts. Stick with something bold and simple.
Under the font settings, look for Weight or Boldness. Increase this. Bolder text is dramatically easier to read for people with low contrast sensitivity — which includes most people with macular degeneration or cataracts.
Wider line spacing prevents lines from blurring together. Set it to 1.5x or even 2x if needed. This reduces words per page but makes each line distinct and trackable.
Wider margins keep text away from the edge of the screen where the curve of the bezel can distort the E Ink display. A small margin increase helps readability more than you'd expect.
Swipe down from the top of the screen. The brightness slider appears. For low vision, higher brightness = better contrast. Set it to 70-90% for daytime reading. At night, reduce it to comfortable levels.
Kobo has a "Natural Light" feature that shifts the screen from cool white (high contrast, best for reading) to warm amber (easier on the eyes at night). For daytime reading with low vision, keep it on the cool/white end. Switch to warm at bedtime.
You can set this to change automatically at sunset — toggle "Bedtime" in the light settings.
Kobo has built-in OverDrive/Libby integration. This means you can borrow ebooks from your local library directly on the Kobo — no separate app needed.
Go to Settings → OverDrive and sign in with your OverDrive/Libby account. Select your local library. Once linked, library ebooks appear in the Kobo store marked as "Borrow."
If they don't have a library card, most Canadian libraries let you sign up online for free. Toronto Public Library, Vancouver Public Library, Calgary Public Library — all have online registration.
Borrowed library ebooks respect your font settings, so they automatically display in your customized large print format. Every library book becomes a large print book. Free. For more on this, see our library ebooks guide.
After setup, the person only needs to know three things:
Write these three instructions on a sticky note and attach it to the back of the Kobo case. Seriously. When they forget (and they will forget), the note is right there.
A Kobo works well for people with mild to moderate low vision who are comfortable (or can become comfortable) with basic technology. If they can use a TV remote, they can use a Kobo.
For severe low vision where even maximum font size isn't enough, a 10-inch tablet (iPad) with the Kindle or Libby app gives you larger text and a brighter, higher-contrast screen. It costs more (~$450+ CAD) but offers more flexibility.
For people who've given up on reading visually, audiobooks or assistive technology might be the next step. But most people with low vision have more reading ability than they think — the right settings on a Kobo can bring back the joy of reading.