Calibre 8.9 released with improved annotations, better search, plugin filtering, and more

Calibre 8.9 introduces several new usability features for ebook users and power readers. The annotation browser now displays a color swatch in the results list, making it easier to distinguish highlight types during review. Users merging books via drag and drop will see the cover of the target book, helping ensure that the correct items are combined.

When searching for book titles on connected devices, Calibre now automatically retries if no matches are found — removing any trailing text in parentheses or after a colon and searching again. This enhancement improves the likelihood of successful matches for titles that may appear differently on devices.

HTMLZ ebook output gains support for embedded fonts, benefiting those needing more advanced ebook formatting. Following these interface updates, plugin installation is now simpler: the window offers plugin filtering by category, streamlining third-party extension discovery.

In the Fetch News tool, users can quickly find recently downloaded sources via a new right-click submenu for faster access to periodicals. The release also includes several bug fixes and updates to various news sources, supporting ongoing performance and source compatibility improvements.