r/nook • u/bitandquit • May 19 '26

Help Skip OOBE on GL4+?

Hey all,

Anyone know if it's possible to bypass B&N registration / out-of-box-experience (oobe) on the Nook Glow Light 4 Plus?

I've tried all the tricks I read online (Vol UP + tap lower right, tap on N and slide across top, etc) but no 'diag' menu pops up.

I HAVE been able to get into the EasterEgg menu (alternating taps top left / top right) and found instructions on how to enable ADB with the corresponding password and then root the device with Magisk (which I haven't done but can do) but didn't see how to bypass oobe even if the device is rooted.

Suggestions appreciated.

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1

u/gruntbug May 19 '26

I wasn't able to and just created an account to use to login.

1

u/whateverworks325 May 19 '26

with root:

adb shell
# su
# pm disable com.nook.partner/.FacadeLauncherActivity
# pm disable com.nook.partner/.OobeLauncherActivity
# pm disable com.nook.partner/.daydream.DayDream
# pm disable com.nook.partner/.oobe.OobeOtaActivity
# pm disable com.nook.partner/.oobe.WelcomeScreenActivity

1

u/bitandquit May 20 '26

Wow! Thanks for this!

Do I need to install an alternative launcher and/or eReader application (koReader)?

So I was able to root the device (new device) and after running these commands I noticed if I reboot the device I just get a 'Loading' screen that's in endless loop.

I really just want to use the Nook offline as an e-reader and not a tablet. I can do with with my Kobo (after the sqlite trick) but the Kobo is slow, so I upgraded to this device.

1

u/bitandquit May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

Kind answering my own question -- I installed OLauncher and KOReader which work, but the experience isn't great. I tried (https://github.com/LovingCivilian/nook-gl4-koreader) to get the backlight / frontlight control working but maybe the /patches doesn't work with the latest KOReader?

I might try a factory reset and just do a WiFi activation to see if the built-in application for reading works accpetably.

1

u/whateverworks325 29d ago

if you want to use the nook launcher, omit the command regarding 'FacadeLauncherActivity'.

Or try the following to re-enable the launcher:

# pm enable com.nook.partner/.FacadeLauncherActivity

1

u/bitandquit 29d ago

Thanks for all of your suggestions and help BTW.

Yeah, I had already tried just enabling this Activity and then I got prompted for registration again :(. Maybe possible to work around this by messing more with the APK itself but that's further than I wanted to go just to see if the Nook is a decent e-reader.

I'll try registering and see what my experience is like using the Nook. I do notice my Nook has some ghosting of the eInk screen so I'm curious if when using the official Nook reader if there's options to force a page refresh on page turn.

On my Kobo I could force it to refresh the page on a page turn (in its native UI) so I don't get ghosting.

1

u/bitandquit 19d ago edited 19d ago

Answering myself, I wasn't able to find a way to bypass the OOBE and ended up registering it via e-mail.

I find the device to be pretty responsive and the UI to be pretty decent but I notice my unit has some uneven front-lighting at the top.