Issue opening eBooks on the Android app (v3.5.12)

[NAA67 10]

Hola a todos,

Quería consultar un problema que estoy teniendo con la lectura de libros desde la última actualización de la app de Emby para Android.

Contexto:

• Servidor Emby: Versión 4.9.1.80

• App Android: Actualizada a la versión 3.5.12

Descripción del problema: Antes de actualizar la app de Android, al intentar abrir un libro, recibía un mensaje de que el formato no era compatible. Esperaba que la nueva versión de la app solucionara esto.

Sin embargo, desde que actualicé a la versión 3.5.12, cuando intento abrir un libro, el sistema no abre un lector integrado. En su lugar, me aparece el diálogo de Android "Abrir con..." y me sugiere aplicaciones que no son para leer, como VLC o Google Fotos.

Me resulta extraño, ya que si accedo a Emby desde el navegador web, el lector de libros integrado funciona perfectamente.

Mis preguntas son:

• ¿Este es el comportamiento esperado en la nueva versión de la app?

• ¿Se ha eliminado el lector de libros integrado y ahora necesito instalar una aplicación de lectura externa en mi Android?

Muchas gracias por vuestro tiempo y ayuda.

----------

 

Hello everyone,

I'd like to ask about an issue I'm experiencing with reading books since the latest update to the Emby app for Android.

Context:

• Emby Server: Version 4.9.1.80

• Android App: Updated to version 3.5.12

Problem Description: Before updating the Android app, when I tried to open a book, I would get a message saying the format was not compatible. I was hoping the new version of the app would fix this.

However, since updating to version 3.5.12, when I try to open a book, the system doesn't open a built-in reader. Instead, the Android "Open with..." dialog appears and suggests applications that are not for reading, such as VLC or Google Photos.

I find this strange because if I access Emby from a web browser, the integrated book reader works perfectly.

My questions are:

• Is this the expected behavior in the new app version?

• Has the built-in book reader been removed, and do I now need to install an external e-reader app on my Android device?

Thank you for your time and help.

[Neminem 1126]

I don't think that the Android app has been updated to support ebooks yet.

 

[NAA67 10]

2 hours ago, Neminem said:

I don't think that the Android app has been updated to support ebooks yet.

 

Oops. Sorry, it seems my Android update arrived two months late, and I thought it was due to the update along with the latest server version.

[Neminem 1126]

But if you use your browser on your phone is should work.

It just is not polished yet.

Example it will not save you position is your book, you need to remember where you left off

[Luke 41257]

The Android app is currently not bundling the book reading libraries as they are quite large. What it tries to do instead is launch it with another app on your device, if you have one installed for  that type.

[horstepipe 391]

15 hours ago, Luke said:

The Android app is currently not bundling the book reading libraries as they are quite large. What it tries to do instead is launch it with another app on your device, if you have one installed for  that type.

so opening a pdf ebook should work on a nvidia shield with the Emby Android Version installed, as long as some external book reader is installed there?

Edited October 13 by horstepipe

[Luke 41257]

7 hours ago, horstepipe said:

so opening a pdf ebook should work on a nvidia shield with the Emby Android Version installed, as long as some external book reader is installed there?

Correct.

[horstepipe 391]

18 hours ago, Luke said:

Correct.

unfortuantely there does not seem to be one single pdf reader app for Android TV

[NAA67 10]

On 10/12/2025 at 7:53 PM, Luke said:

The Android app is currently not bundling the book reading libraries as they are quite large. What it tries to do instead is launch it with another app on your device, if you have one installed for  that type.

But is it planned to have an e-book reader included or do we have to download an external app?

[Luke 41257]

On 10/14/2025 at 12:25 PM, NAA67 said:

But is it planned to have an e-book reader included or do we have to download an external app?

Right now external app. We are currently planning out what the book reader functions in the native apps are going to be.

[Gilgamesh_48 1217]

4 hours ago, Luke said:

Right now external app. We are currently planning out what the book reader functions in the native apps are going to be.

I have several ebook readers on my Shield and Emby does try to use one of them but the one it chooses is not one that works and I cannot find how to make Emby use another reader. I tried force stopping Emby and clearing all data but that made no difference and I still cannot use the reader I want. 

I know this is probably a "me" problem and not Emby's but I would sure be grateful if someone could direct me as to how to make Emby use a different reader. 

I suppose I need to work some to learn Android but I feel like the little boy in a Farside cartoon. He was sitting in the back of a class in school and raised his hand and said, "Mrs Brown, can I go home now, my brain is full."
Learning Android might just cause my brain to explode.   

[horstepipe 391]

7 hours ago, Gilgamesh_48 said:

I have several ebook readers on my Shield and Emby does try to use one of them but the one it chooses is not one that works and I cannot find how to make Emby use another reader. I tried force stopping Emby and clearing all data but that made no difference and I still cannot use the reader I want. 

I know this is probably a "me" problem and not Emby's but I would sure be grateful if someone could direct me as to how to make Emby use a different reader. 

I suppose I need to work some to learn Android but I feel like the little boy in a Farside cartoon. He was sitting in the back of a class in school and raised his hand and said, "Mrs Brown, can I go home now, my brain is full."
Learning Android might just cause my brain to explode.   

hey

could you tell me one reader for Shield / Android TV? Or did you sideload them? I only found one which did not work
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deepakpk.tvpdfviewer&hl=en

[Gilgamesh_48 1217]

10 hours ago, horstepipe said:

hey

could you tell me one reader for Shield / Android TV? Or did you sideload them? I only found one which did not work
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deepakpk.tvpdfviewer&hl=en

I just went into the Google Play Store on my Shield and searched for "Ebook reader" and something like a dozen came up. I just picked the first couple. I also have "FX Media Player" which I did not get lately as it has a nice and easy to use interface for finding and editing files of many sorts. Unfortunately "FX Media Player" does not work for PDFs but Emby seems to think it does as it is the only reader that Emby seems to think I have but I also have "TV PDF Viewer" and I cannot make Emby even try to use that one. 

It seems that once Emby makes a choice it will not even try another app even though the first choice does not work at all.

In the Play Store I see several dozen PDF readers and a few dozen more ebook readers. "TV ePUB Viewer is the last one I tried. 

So far every one I have tried, except FX Media Player,  works as a stand alone player but Emby only tries to call FX Media Player and I cannot find how to change that to one of the programs that work. 

@LukeWould you please recommend a PDF/Epub reader that works on the shield and with Emby.

Edited October 16 by Gilgamesh_48

[horstepipe 391]

@Luke ?

[Luke 41257]

34 minutes ago, horstepipe said:

@Luke ?

I haven't looked at other apps but there must be some that can open book files.

[horstepipe 391]

I spent some time on Reddit & co, all dead ends - so unfortunately there isn’t.

[horstepipe 391]

But I read somewhere that the OS is able to by itself, didn’t test that yet.

[Luke 41257]

2 minutes ago, horstepipe said:

But I read somewhere that the OS is able to by itself, didn’t test that yet.

I’m sure pdf yes but probably not the others.