Kindles like the Paperwhite, Scribe and Scribe are great reading companions, but they can occasionally freeze or become unresponsive, which is frustrating. When this happens, the screen may stop responding to touch or buttons may not work, and it will be stuck. But not to worry, in this guide you will learn how to reset a frozen Kindle and get your it to working again.
What is a Frozen Kindle?
A Kindle device might be frozen if –
- The screen is stuck on the same page, even while charging.
- It doesn’t respond to touch
- Power button doesn’t work.
- It charges but doesn’t restart.
If your Kindle shows one or more of these signs, then it is basically frozen.
How do you fix a Frozen Kindle?
1. Try a Soft Reset (simple restart)
This is the easiest and safest fix to restart a frozen kindle
- Press and hold the power button for 40 second
- Keep holding it even if nothin happens.
- Release the button after 40 seconds
- Now wait and the Kindle logo should appear
Tip: If the Kindle doesn’t restart this way, your Kindle battery might be dead. Charge the device for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then try again.
2. Use Kindle Setting Menu (if responsive but freezes sometimes)
If your Kindle is slow and sometimes freeze but still responds to touch after some minutes, try these steps to get rid of the lag –
- Go to Settings
- Tap the Menu (three dots) in the top right corner
- Select restart
This will safely restart the device. It should feel a little faster than before.
3. Free up storage
Do not fill your Kindle storage up 100%, instead leave some free space. When my Kindle runs out of storage it feels more laggy. Just delete the unnecessary stuff, this can help too.
- You can delete books you have already read
- Remove large files, PDFs.
4. Still not working? Try a factory reset (Last Option)
Warning : A factory reset will erase all data from your Kindle including downloaded books, notes and settings etc.
If your Kindle still lags and stutters even after a restart, follow these steps to factory reset your Kindle –
Steps (if your screen responds)
- On the HOMESCREEN swipe down from the top to open the Menu
- Tap the (three dots)
- Open settings
- Select Device Options
- Choose [reset device] or [factory reset] depending on your model.
- Confirm, and wait for the device to reboot.
After a reset you will need to sign in your Kindle with your Amazon account.
5. Use the original charger and cable
If you use a cheap or faulty 3rd party charger that can cause battery and charging issues which can lead to freezing or charging issues. So, make sure to always use the official charger or at least the right quality of output voltage.
When should you contact Amazon Support
Contact Amazon support if –
- Your Kindle does not turn on at all.
- It doesn’t charge even after hours
- None of the methods above work
If your Kindle is under warranty, you might get a free replacement or repair.
Bonus tips to avoid Kindle lag and Freezing
- Keep your Kindle software updated.
- Do not jailbreak or install unofficial software.
- Restart it occasionally if you use it frequently
- charge it regularly
FAQ
Will I lose my notes and bookmarks after a reset?
Yes, If you do a factory reset you’ll lose them locally, but if you have synced them with cloud, you can restore notes and bookmarks later. Books downloaded from Amazon will reappear after you sign in again.
Final words
A frozen Kindle can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of a good book. The good thing is in most cases, a simple restart is all it takes to fix the issue and you are ready to continue your reading. I hope this guide helped you fix your Kindle quickly. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to share them in the comments.
Also Read:
How Kindle Trade In Works – Benefits & Tips
Kindle Slow? 10 Ways To Speed Up Kindle
5 Reasons Why Kindle is better than iPad for reading
Send to Kindle – How to send files wirelessly to your Kindle?