How to read an Archive of Our Own story on Kobo
To read an Archive of Our Own story on a Kobo, download it as an EPUB with WP Downloader and copy the file to your e-reader. Kobo opens EPUB files directly, so no conversion is needed.
Download the AO3 story as an EPUB
WP Downloader is a free web tool with nothing to install. Open the AO3 downloader and paste the link to the story you want.
An Archive of Our Own work link usually looks like this:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/123456WP Downloader recognizes links from archiveofourown.org, archiveofourown.com, and archiveofourown.net. For these sites, it downloads the whole story, not a single chapter or a list of stories.
Choose EPUB as the output format. EPUB is free for everyone, and Kobo e-readers can open it directly. You can also include the story’s images.
WP Downloader also creates PDF files with a free Discord sign-in, but you do not need a PDF for this guide. It does not create MOBI, AZW3, or TXT files.
You can sign in with your Archive of Our Own account to download a members-only story that your account can read. Signing in is optional for public stories. WP Downloader uses your credentials only to fetch the story you requested. It cannot bypass locked content or age restrictions.
For more detail on downloading the file, see how to download AO3 fanfiction.
Put the EPUB on your Kobo with USB
USB is the most direct way to copy the story to a Kobo e-reader.
- Connect your Kobo e-reader to your computer with a USB cable.
- Wait for the Kobo to appear as a drive on the computer.
- Find the EPUB file you downloaded from WP Downloader.
- Copy the EPUB onto the Kobo drive.
- Eject the Kobo, then disconnect the cable.
- Find the story in your Kobo library.
You can now open the book from your Kobo library and read it offline.
If the story gets new chapters, download the whole story again and copy the new EPUB to your Kobo. WP Downloader cannot update an EPUB that is already on your device.
Use Dropbox or Google Drive on supported Kobo models
Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Elipsa 2E, and Kobo Libra Colour can also add non-protected EPUB and PDF files from cloud storage.
Dropbox requires Kobo software version 4.18 or later. Google Drive requires version 4.37 or later.
Add the story through Dropbox
Link your Dropbox account from the Kobo e-reader. Put the EPUB from WP Downloader in the linked cloud folder, then sync the e-reader. The story will appear on that Kobo after the sync.
Add the story through Google Drive
On your Kobo, go to Home, then More, then My Google Drive, and select Get Started. The device will show a code. Enter the code on the Kobo website to link your Google Drive account.
Put the downloaded EPUB in the linked Google Drive folder, then sync your Kobo. The book will appear in its library.
Books added through Dropbox or Google Drive appear only on the device where you added them. Use USB if your Kobo model does not support either cloud option.
Read the story offline
Once the EPUB is in your Kobo library, open it like any other book. You will not need to return to Archive of Our Own while reading it.
The guide to reading AO3 stories offline covers other ways to keep a story available without a connection. Kindle uses a different process, described in how to send AO3 stories to Kindle.
FAQ
Which format should I download for Kobo?
Choose EPUB. Kobo e-readers open EPUB files directly, so you do not need to convert the file.
Can I download one AO3 chapter for my Kobo?
No. WP Downloader downloads whole Archive of Our Own stories. It does not download single chapters or lists.
Can WP Downloader access members-only AO3 stories?
Yes, if you sign in with an Archive of Our Own account that can already read the story. WP Downloader cannot bypass access restrictions.
Will the EPUB update when the AO3 story gets a new chapter?
No. Download the story again with WP Downloader to create a new EPUB containing the latest available chapters.
Can every Kobo receive EPUB files through Google Drive or Dropbox?
No. Cloud transfers are available only on Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Elipsa 2E, and Kobo Libra Colour. You can copy the EPUB to other Kobo e-readers by USB.