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Calibre-Web: Access Your Ebook Library from Anywhere

2 min read

Calibre-Web is a web-based ebook reader and library manager for your seedbox. Browse your ebook collection, read books directly in your browser, send books to your Kindle, and access your library from any device. It’s the web interface for Calibre — if you use Calibre on your desktop, Calibre-Web gives you that same library accessible from anywhere.

Why Use Calibre-Web? #

  • Read in your browser — EPUB and PDF reader built-in, no app needed
  • Send to Kindle — One-click delivery to your Kindle email address
  • Library management — Search, sort, browse by author/series/tag
  • OPDS catalog — Compatible with e-reader apps like KOReader, Moon+ Reader
  • Multi-user — Share your library with separate reading progress per user

How It Works #


  CALIBRE-WEB ARCHITECTURE
  ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

  Your Ebook Files               Calibre-Web            Your Devices
  (on seedbox)                   Server

  ┌──────────────────┐       ┌──────────────────┐    ┌───────────┐
  │ Calibre Library  │       │                  │    │ 📱 Phone  │
  │ (metadata.db)    │──db──▶│  Web interface   │◀───│  (browser) │
  │                  │       │  EPUB/PDF reader  │    └───────────┘
  │ ~/books/         │       │  OPDS catalog    │    ┌───────────┐
  │   Author/        │       │  Kindle sender   │◀───│ 📖 Kindle │
  │     Book/        │       │                  │    │  (email)   │
  │       book.epub  │       │  Port: 8083      │    └───────────┘
  └──────────────────┘       └──────────────────┘    ┌───────────┐
                                                     │ 💻 Browser│
  Requires a Calibre                                 └───────────┘
  metadata.db file ✓

Step 1: Install Calibre-Web #

  1. Log in to your EvoSeedbox Client Area
  2. Go to Services > your seedbox > Apps
  3. Find Calibre Web and click Install
  4. Click Open when ready

  WHAT GETS INSTALLED
  ───────────────────
  ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
  │ Docker: linuxserver/calibre-web │
  │ Internal port: 8083             │
  │ Config: ~/.config/calibreweb/   │
  │ Books: ~/downloads/books/       │
  └─────────────────────────────────┘

Step 2: Set Up Your Library #

Calibre-Web needs a Calibre database (metadata.db) to work. You have two options:


  LIBRARY SETUP OPTIONS
  ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

  Option A: Fresh library               Option B: Existing library
  (start from scratch)                   (already use Calibre desktop)

  1. Install Calibre Server too          1. Upload your Calibre
  2. Calibre creates metadata.db            library folder via FTP
  3. Point Calibre-Web to it             2. Must include metadata.db
                                         3. Point Calibre-Web to it

  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  │  The key file is metadata.db — without it,         │
  │  Calibre-Web can't read your book library.         │
  │  Calibre Server auto-creates it.                   │
  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

On first login, Calibre-Web asks for the location of your Calibre database. Point it to the folder containing metadata.db (e.g., /books or /downloads/books).

Default login: Username: admin / Password: admin123 — change this immediately after first login.

Step 3: Add Books #


  HOW TO ADD EBOOKS
  ═══════════════════════════════════════════════

  Method 1: Upload via Calibre-Web
  ─────────────────────────────────
  Click upload icon → select EPUB/PDF/MOBI
  → auto-imports with metadata

  Method 2: Readarr (automated)
  ─────────────────────────────
  Set up Readarr to monitor & auto-download
  → saves to your Calibre library folder

  Method 3: Upload via Filegator/FTP
  ──────────────────────────────────
  Place ebooks in your Calibre library folder
  → refresh Calibre database

  Supported: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, FB2

Reading in Your Browser #

Click any book, then click Read. Calibre-Web opens a built-in reader:

  • EPUB — Full reader with page turn, font size, themes (light/dark/sepia)
  • PDF — Rendered directly in browser
  • CBR/CBZ — Comic reader with page-by-page viewing

Send to Kindle #

  1. Go to Admin > Edit Basic Configuration > Email
  2. Configure SMTP (e.g., Gmail: smtp.gmail.com, port 587, TLS)
  3. Set your Kindle email address in your user profile
  4. Add Calibre-Web’s sending address to your Amazon approved senders
  5. Now click “Send to Kindle” on any book — delivered in minutes

OPDS Catalog #

OPDS lets e-reader apps browse and download books directly from your Calibre-Web library:


  OPDS FEED URL
  ═════════════

  https://YOUR-SERVER:PORT/opds

  Compatible apps:
  ├── KOReader (Kindle, Kobo)
  ├── Moon+ Reader (Android)
  ├── Librera Reader (Android)
  └── Panels (iOS, comics)

  Enter the OPDS URL + your Calibre-Web
  credentials in the app's OPDS settings.

Troubleshooting #

“DB Location Not Valid” #

  • The folder must contain a metadata.db file (Calibre database)
  • If starting fresh, install Calibre Server first — it creates the database automatically
  • Check the path is the container-internal path (e.g., /books), not the host path

Books Not Showing After Upload #

  • Files uploaded via FTP/Filegator need a database refresh. Use Calibre Server or re-import via Calibre-Web’s upload
  • Calibre-Web reads from metadata.db — the file must be on disk, not just the ebook

Related Guides #

Updated on April 12, 2026

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