Kobo Libra Colour Battery Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 30 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the battery in your Kobo Libra Colour eReader.

If your battery isn't holding a charge or is starting to swell, it's time to change your battery!

Following this guide will remove your eReader's IP (Ingress Protection) rating, making it susceptible to water damage.

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

Kobo supports their eReaders with a warranty. If your device is still under warranty, Kobo may be able to help. Before starting a repair, review your warranty information or check support documentation.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Drain your eReader's battery as much as possible before starting your repair. Ideally, it should be fully discharged.
Optionally, to drain the battery faster, navigate to More → Settings → Energy saving and privacy and set Automatically go to sleep after and Automatically power off after to Never.
When working on or near the battery, don't use sharp metal tools to avoid puncturing and shorting the battery.
Unplug all cables and fully shut down your eReader.
Your screen should be black and say Powered off.

Step 2

Flip your eReader over so the screen is facing down.
Angle an opening pick straight down, and insert its tip under the top right corner of the back cover, near the power button.
Push downward and pry up with the pick until you feel it slide between one of the clips and the frame.
You may have to test a few spots along the corner until the pick slides between one of the clips.

Step 3

Slide the pick toward the bottom right corner to release the clips along the right edge.

Step 4

Angle the pick flat under the back cover and rotate it around the bottom right corner to release its clips.
If you're having trouble, try twisting the pick to lift the corner clips out of their slots.

Step 5

Slide the pick toward the bottom left corner to release the clips along the bottom edge.

Step 6

At this point, you should be able to grip the back cover and release its remaining clips. If not, slide a pick under the perimeter of the back cover until you can grip an edge.
Grip the right edge of the back cover and lift it away from the eReader to release the remaining clips.
Remove the back cover.
During reassembly, align the back cover over the eReader and press along the perimeter until all its clips snap back into place.

Step 7

The entire surface of the eReader's internals is covered in a thin, plastic-like waterproof coating. Keep the following in mind as you continue disassembly:
While this won't hurt your device, removing the coating compromises the device to potential water damage.
The coating is brittle and can flake into many small pieces. Heating the coating helps, but working with it is still a time-consuming process.
Depending on your repair, you might have to remove the coating from ZIF connectors and their cables.

Step 8

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
Don't pry against the motherboard, as you risk breaking small, surface-mounted components.
Your E-ink screen will continue to say Powered off even after disconnection—this is normal!

Step 9

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to peel the battery cable away the motherboard and separate the coating.

Step 10

When working on or near the battery, don't use sharp metal tools to avoid puncturing and shorting the battery! A punctured battery can leak dangerous chemicals and catch fire.
If your battery comes with stretch release adhesive, follow the next two steps to remove them.
Otherwise, skip ahead two steps to remove the normal adhesive.

Step 11

Grip a black pull tab and pull the strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.
You can also wrap an adhesive strip around a spudger and "roll" it for a more consistent pull.
If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers and continue pulling—but don’t pry under the battery.
If you can't retrieve a strip, don't worry! Remove as much adhesive as possible and skip down two steps for an alternate method.

Step 12

The battery is still lightly held to the frame by the coating.
Insert the long side of an opening pick under different edges of the battery to separate the coating.
Don't bend or crease the battery! Make sure all of the coating is separated before removing the battery.
Remove the battery.

Step 13

The next five steps show how to remove the battery using isopropyl alcohol and a plastic card.
Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol under the edge of the battery closest to the white interconnect cable.

Step 14

Tilt the eReader up to let the isopropyl alcohol flow under the battery.
Wait one minute for the alcohol to soften the adhesive.

Step 15

Slide a plastic card under the battery to separate the adhesive and the coating.
Don't bend or crease the battery! Avoid prying or lifting up with the plastic card.
If you're having trouble, apply a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol and try again.

Step 16

Slide the plastic card under the opposite end of the battery to separate any remaining adhesive and coating.

Step 17

Lift the battery out of the frame and remove it.
If you're transferring the battery to a new screen, inspect the battery for any dents or deformations.
Never reuse a damaged battery! If your battery shows any signs of damage, get a new one.
During reassembly, follow this guide to install a new battery or to transfer an old battery to a new screen.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Remember: after repairs, your eReader is no longer IPX8 waterproof.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

Make sure each of your device's main functions still work, e.g., LED backlight, touch, page-turn buttons, Wi-Fi, etc.

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers Community for help.