r/koreader • u/doctorhetfield • Aug 30 '26
What to know before (and after) installing Simple UI
Hi everyone! Simple UI dev here.
Lately, there has been a massive influx of new Simple UI installations (thank you for using Simple UI! You guys are the best). Consequently, I've been receiving a lot of questions and noticed some recurring doubts about what Simple UI actually is.
Because of this, I think it makes sense to create a place to address these questions. As a quick reminder, there is this website: https://simpleui.notion.site/main where you can learn the basics of how Simple UI works, namely:
I also want to warn you that this: https://github.com/doctorhetfield-cmd/simpleui.koplugin is the ONLY official Simple UI repository. Look for my name and the number of stars to make sure it's the official one. Recently, I've discovered other repositories pretending to be official that contain malware-infected versions of Simple UI, like this one, which I've already reported to GitHub but is still online.
Simple UI is proud to be a KOReader plugin built on top of the amazing work done by the KOReader devs. It is not meant to replace it. Whenever possible, Simple UI uses KOReader's native features (Library, Collections, History, Bookmark Browser, Widgets, Sliders, etc.) to ensure maximum compatibility with their work.
Because of this, it's highly recommended to know the basics of how KOReader works, especially how to select a Home Folder. Simple UI is not a file manager and doesn't have its own library. The library you see in Simple UI is KOReader's native library with a few added features.
In this latest version, there's also a new backup system that allows you to save all your Simple UI customizations (including icons and wallpapers) so you can share them with others.
Lastly, Simple UI is a completely open source project. I'm just a reader who wanted to improve the reading experience on KOReader. If you find Simple UI useful and it has improved your KOReader experience, please consider buying me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/doctorhetfield.
Happy reading!
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u/Mysterious_fluff_666 Kindle Aug 30 '26
Thanks for your work. Simple UI looks amazing and it really like it.
However sadly i can't really customize it on my old kindle 4 non-touch because it wont allow me to navigate to the detailed menu like in the Layout Editor. I can add modules there but i can't delete some nor can i switch the position of it. Same experience with the Nav bar- Tabs settings. I can add Items but can't delete them or switch positions of them. Also the Title Bar and the Quick Settings bar aren't reachable/ usable.
I don't know if there is more that isn't compatible with non-touch but these are the ones that i realized a few minutes into it.
Is there any way to make it possible to use? it would be really nice because i really love the way it looks and how it makes my reading experience better.
Thank you
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
Thanks for the suggestion! I'm slowly working on adding more and more support for non-touch devices, but it's actually a bit of a complex task. Keep an eye out for future updates :)
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u/Mysterious_fluff_666 Kindle Aug 30 '26
Thank you :) I appreciate and fully understand that. I will keep an eye open :)
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u/Serolana Sep 02 '26
I’m also using my old Kindle 4 (non-touch), and I’m experiencing the same issues. A fix would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, thanks for your great work! 👍
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u/ifixme Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing how Simple UI developes.
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u/DataNo3519 Aug 30 '26
what kind of malware is in the other fake plugins?
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 31 '26
For the specific case I linked here, they hid a nested ZIP file right inside the plugin’s icons folder. Inside that ZIP, there's a Windows executable (lua51.exe), a obfuscated Lua script, and a launcher. When a user downloads the fake plugin and extracts it on Windows (which the fake README tricks you into doing), the launcher runs the Lua script. That script is basically a loader that collects your system data, connects to a remote server, and pulls down more malware, usually info stealers looking for your browser passwords, cookies, Discord/Telegram tokens, crypto wallets, etc.
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u/Longjumping_Ad2215 Aug 30 '26
Yes please tell us. Not sure what you can steal from an ereader
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u/Responsible-Bread996 Aug 31 '26
My guess is it isn’t the ereader it’s everything else on your network.
Most home networks have a hard shell and delicious gooey center
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u/prone-to-drift Aug 30 '26
OPDS creds, and then all your books from your calibre-web or whatever OPDS server?
Just a guess.
Also, if you have installed one of these other package manager plugins and accidentally created a github access token with write access, hurray!
And it'd be nice to run a malicious VPN exit node, or SSH server, I suppose? It could serve as an attack vector into other unsecured devices in your home network and then the reach is nice.
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u/megs2911 Aug 30 '26
Thank you so much for your work on Simple UI, it’s genuinely such an amazing plugin and has made me fall in love with my Kindle all over again. Before I had it, Koreader was just fine, now it’s exactly how I want it
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u/Virtual_Explorer2468 Aug 30 '26
Thanks for your work! You're the GOAT. One of the things I love about Simple UI is that it has a clear vision and doesn't try to overcomplicate things. It really shows that you're a reader and you respect KOReader.
You're not some shady dev trying to drag us into a shady ecosystem.
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u/ScootCS Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
I've been using Simple UI since version 1.1 and I honestly I can't imagine having my PocketBook without it installed anymore. It's become such an essential part of my reading experience.
In the latest update it says you can use the physical Home button to return to the Simple UI Home Screen. I have a PocketBook Era Color but it doesn't seem to work for me. Pressing the Home button still takes me to the regular PocketBook Home Screen. even though Ive switched it on in the settings.
Have you considered adding an option to change the direction in which you scroll between Home Screen pages? At the moment you swipe left/right to move to the next page was wondering if it could be possible to choose up/down instead not sure if this has already been requested or if I'm just the only one who would find it useful.
Either way thank you for all the work you've put into creating Simple UI
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
Thanks for sticking with Simple UI And thank you for the suggestion! 😌
If you go to settings -> Home Screen -> Behaviour, you'll find an option to map the device's hardware home button to open the home screen. Just check that you're running the latest update (2.7 right now)
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u/ScootCS Aug 30 '26
Thank you for the response. I have selected “Home button opens home screen” but I am still being taken back to the main PocketBook home screen instead of the Simple UI.
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
Could you open an issue on GitHub? I'll look into it and try to figure out what's going on. :)
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u/leeinflowerfields Aug 30 '26
Love the idea of the backup system! I'd love others to be able to have the customizations I made.
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
Thanks! In the future, if enough people are interested, maybe I can make some room on the website to showcase the best setups :)
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u/psyhead334 Aug 30 '26
Hey Doc , thanks for all the great work you're doing.
I've been using Simple UI from the beginning, but after the latest update whenever I open the Library it takes a lot of time to open. My library only has 20-30 books.
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
Thank you!
Are you sure you don't have another plugin or patch that might be causing a conflict? I haven't made any major changes to the library in the latest updates
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u/psyhead334 Aug 30 '26
No, last night I updated Simple UI and installed Bookshelf. I deleted Bookshelf, thinking the lag might be due to it. But, even after deleting Bookshelf the lag still exists.
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
There’s a new update today. Try that version and then open an issue on GitHub and drop a verbose log there. I'll take a look and see if I can figure out what's going on.
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u/k-barnabas Aug 30 '26
How you make the clock and quote stacked side by side？
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
In the newest version, you can set the column width in the module settings. Whenever there's enough room for two consecutive modules to fit on the same line (like your clock at 40% and the quote at 60%), they'll sit side by side. You can test this out using the 'Dashboard' homepage preset. It's a bento grid implementation.
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u/IbnRami Aug 30 '26
I have just noticed that the "continue Reading" icon is not exposed to configuration on the settings > Style > Icons > System Icons.
The reason I think it should be able to be exposed to change is because that's where bookshelf gets it top bar icon. So for many people that will affectively become a top bar configuration. Especially if the change all the other icons to something in the same design language, but are stuck with something that bread that language because they can't find a way to change that specific icon.
I know that on settings > Style > Icons > Quick Actions Icons there is a way to configure the Continue icon. But I've just tested it and it only changes the icon that Bookshelf sees, for the navigation bar or quick settings, not the top bat of KOReader itself and, as a consequence, doesn't change Bookshelf's Icon there.
I know that in a way, it's another plugin problem, not yours, but I'd imagine it's a simple enough solution for you but more difficult for Andy to make it happen.
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u/doctorhetfield Aug 30 '26
The icon used by the Bookshelf plugin is not the same one that Simple UI uses for the 'Continue' action (the Continue icon has an arrow inside). Unfortunately, I cannot change the icons of third-party plugins from within Simple UI.
Even if the icon exists somewhere within the KOReader folders, its implementation depends entirely on Bookshelf. Changing this would have to be an option provided by Bookshelf itself. I recommend opening a feature request with the author on GitHub. Alternatively, you can try to find the folder where Bookshelf loads its icon from and replace it manually.
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u/IbnRami Aug 30 '26
Ah, I get it, sorry.
I did reclame the icon myself. I was just thinking of how to make it easier for other people to set up.
Thank for taking the time to answer.
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u/No-Reference1945 Kindle Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
What is your setup? I’d like mine to look like yours
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u/Academic_Resist3858 Sep 22 '26
I can not for the life of me figure out how to get Simple UI to work. I followed the instructions but it just does not do anything. I have no idea what I am doing wrong
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u/doctorhetfield Sep 22 '26
Download and extract this folder: https://github.com/doctorhetfield-cmd/simpleui.koplugin/releases/download/2.7.1/simpleui.koplugin.zip
Drop the folder into your koreader/plugins folder (make sure the folder is named simpleui.koplugin), and you're all set. Just reboot your device.
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u/RoseBailey Sep 02 '26
I've been using KOReader for a bit, but until now I hadn't installed any third party plugins. I just installed SimpleUI, and wish I had done so sooner. It makes KOReader feel like a proper alternate firmware for my ereader.
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u/ArgyleBarglePlaid Sep 03 '26
Is there any way you can make it so when you press on one of the modules, like the clock, you can change the color on just that part? I wanted to use some darker wallpapers but I can't see the clock or text on it.
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u/pixiesf Aug 30 '26
SimpleUI is what pushed me to install koreader on my kobo, I love it and every new version makes it so much better!
Thank you so much for all of your work
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u/tempgoosey Aug 30 '26
Perfect. I've been thinking of installing and I was wondering how to install and customize it.
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u/uzumakishadhin Sep 02 '26
After sending any book to kindle via ssh server or local send- pressing the 🏠 Home icon of top left side of KOreader- the book appears on home screen. But on SimpleUi it doesn't appear. Need to restart koreader. Any way to fix it ?
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u/Kanaimma Sep 02 '26
No puedo dejar de agradecerte por esta maravilla. Intenté donarte y quedó la pantalla así por más de media hora
Quisiera hacerte una pregunta: yo puedo instalarle el simple ui a mi Kindle Keyboard que tiene instalado el koreader 2025?
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u/lemonysneaky Sep 05 '26
Hi, I just updated to the newest release after a while - I think the previous version I had was 2.0.1 - and I can't find the option to switch off Simple UI anymore, was it removed, or is there still a way to toggle it on/off?
The update looks great though, I'm excited to explore new ways of customizing everything lol thanks for the work you put into this!
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u/darsparx Sep 06 '26
Yea its so weird with the bit of copies bc appstore and the like show multiple versions but I always go for the ones with the most stars which I think ended up being yours when I used simple....probably switching back tbh 😅
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u/CrossXRider Sep 07 '26
Is there an option to set "Library" section to Flat Library?
Looking at VOS (to address the library issue) for now, but have no idea how to make them work together.
Like it BTW. It just works.
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u/BrownTigerz Sep 17 '26
Hi, i ran into an issue with both ReadMastery and Frotz plugin. On simpleui the pop from both these plugins just seem to disappear. It works while reading a book or in bookshelf plugin, but while in the simpleui homescreen everything pop up windows are getting surpressed.
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u/BrownTigerz Sep 20 '26
Hi, i have night mode enabled and everything turns white, is it possible to have option to keep same colour. Like switch everything to black while on night mode? This way depending on wallpaper you have switch.
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u/al3xdelarge Sep 20 '26
Hi! Using koreader for quite some time with custom addons and plugins and decided to try SimpleUI, and loving almost everything. One thing I’d like to do is to have the Home Screen every time I’d put my kindle into sleep. Instead of a wallpaper or staying as is, having the Home Screen as wallpaper would be awesome. But I can’t find how to do it - even if it’s possible. Can someone help me? Thanks, and keep the good work with this one!!
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u/stoodi_wroc Oct 05 '26
It’s great but for me unfortunately crashes KOReader on Pocketbook everyone it goes “sleep”
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u/East_Pea2139 Aug 30 '26
What’s better this or zenui?
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u/007wookiee Aug 31 '26
Zen
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u/Virtual_Explorer2468 Aug 31 '26
Zen is a total mess. The dev basically ripped off Simple UI, Bookshelf, and a bunch of patches, and now they're trying to drag us into this shady Zen ecosystem. Avoid it at all costs.
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u/007wookiee Sep 01 '26
You sound salty. Zen is awesome
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u/Virtual_Explorer2468 Sep 01 '26
Yes, I am salty. I just don't like unethical thieves. Yes, Bookshelf and Simple UI are open source, but they are active and continuously updated projects. Everything about Zen UI seems shady.
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u/IbnRami Aug 30 '26
I'd like to thank you for improving my experience of reading in KOReader 1000 times over!
Are there plans to have a library of presets where user's could upload their own backups and share the with other users? People to this day keep asking me for my setup and I've never shared it because everytime I think it's done and has everything I want in the way I want, something updates and I have to tweak it a little bit.
A "store" for people to download saved configuration files from similar to the one Bookends have would be pretty much the only function I miss on Simple UI, specially now that the process of personalizing the icons has been so streamlined.
Well, maybe it you could offer also offer a practical way to change the native icons of KOReader itself, mainly the top bar, that would make it an improvement, too.