How to turn a tablet into an e-reader: The best settings and accessories

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In a world full of endless specialty devices, do you really need one more thing? For readers, the answer is often yes. E-readers like Kindles and Kobos are devices that bridge the gap between a physical book and a tablet. They’re extremely portable, hold thousands of books at once, and are gentle on the eyes. But what if you already have a tablet?

Tablets and e-readers aren’t exactly the same — you can do a lot more on a tablet — but both let you read digital books. I’ve read dozens of books on my iPad and think it makes a perfectly good e-reader — as long as you make a few changes. Here’s how to turn your tablet into an e-reader.

Anti-glare screen protectors

When I first read on my iPad, I experienced some eye fatigue. The glare and bright light of the screen were often too much, even when I turned down the brightness and turned up the display warmth. The solution was easy: a screen protector that adds a matte finish. Paperlike’s screen protectors immediately tone down the screen, making it gentler on the eyes. As a bonus, if you’re using a stylus or Apple Pencil with a tablet, these screen protectors emulate the feel of writing on paper rather than a slick screen.

Download the essential apps, Libby, Kindle, Apple Books

To read on your tablet, you’ll need access to books. For iPad users, Apple Books comes pre-installed, and for Android users, there is Google Books. The Kindle app is also available across devices, which provides access to all the e-books you’ve purchased through Amazon.

Probably our favorite reading app is Libby, which connects to your local library and allows you to borrow e-books. Plus, it’s totally free, whereas on Apple Books, Google Books, and the Kindle app, you’ll have to purchase books.

Turn on grayscale

Color is new to the world of e-readers, and previously, everything was black and white. If that’s part of the appeal of an e-reader, you can adjust the settings on your tablet.

To move to grayscale on your iPad, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Within Display and Text Size, navigate to Color Filters. In Color Filters, turn on grayscale.

On an Android tablet, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Color and motion > Color correction. Once you’re in color correction, you can select grayscale.

Turn on do not disturb

Another perk to e-readers — they’re distraction-free. There’s no internet to browse or texts to pop up. With tablets, there will be distractions, and the best you can do to avoid them is to turn on do-not-disturb modes, which should be available on most tablets.

Accessorize with a grip, stand, or remote

E-reader users are a devoted bunch who love to personalize their devices, and why shouldn’t that be the same with a tablet? Lots of users like a clear case paired with a PopSockets for their e-reader, something you can easily replicate on a tablet.

Another favorite in the e-reader community? A page-turning remote so you don’t actually need to hold your e-reader. Thanks to the world of the endless scroll, there are a variety of page-turning remotes compatible with iPads. Yes, these remotes scroll through your social media, but they also turn the pages on your e-book. Since you don’t won’t want to hold your tablet either, you’ll need a stand, too. This could be as simple as a folio-style case, or maybe you want to go all out with a floor stand.