Where Does Calibre Companion Store Books and Settings?
Calibre Companion device library on Android and iOS plus wireless and cloud sync paths.
Last updated
Calibre Companion is three things in one icon: a device library organiser, a wireless device that desktop calibre pushes books to, and a cloud client for Dropbox, Box and OneDrive libraries. Books on the phone are files you chose (device memory or SD card). Metadata (authors, series, tags, read marks) syncs from desktop calibre over Wi-Fi.
It is not a reader. Tapping READ hands the file to an installed reader app (FBReader and most readers work; Kindle for Android on non Fire devices is the known exception). Cloud libraries must be complete calibre libraries with metadata.db, not loose ebook folders.
Where Calibre Companion stores this, by platform
Device storage or SD card (folders you chose in Companion)
Connect via Settings > Connecting to calibre: Wireless Device (multicast, or type the IP), Content Server, or Cloud. Desktop calibre sends books with Send to device. A 2020 fix addressed crashes when libraries sat on SD cards.
On My iPhone/Calibre Companion
Same three roles, limited to Dropbox and OneDrive for cloud on iOS. Move books in via Wi-Fi, content server or Files app, then launch into iBooks or Kindle to read. Requires desktop calibre 0.9.02 or later.
Frequently asked questions
why does Companion show no books from my cloud
The cloud folder must hold a full calibre library (metadata.db plus book folders). A folder of bare EPUBs is not enough. Point the app at the library root in your provider and let it sync metadata first.
how do I read a Companion book on Android
Tap the book, then READ, and pick an installed reader such as FBReader. Companion organises and syncs; the reader renders. Marking read syncs back to desktop calibre on the next wireless connection.
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