How to Reinstall Kindle

If your Kindle device becomes unresponsive or crashes frequently, you can fix the problem by trying to reset the device. The standard reset method (soft reset) usually solves most problems, but you can also do a hard reset for a long-term fix. Fortunately, with each Kindle device, there are a few basic steps you can take to restore the device’s proper functionality.

Table of Contents

Prepare Before Reinstalling Kindle

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Try rebooting before starting. Sometimes the Kindle can get stuck on the on/off switch. At this point, the screen will stop responding or the buttons will be temporarily inactive. You just need to turn off the Kindle, connect the device to a charger and turn on the Kindle. It’s best to try this first so you don’t have to spend a lot of time troubleshooting basic problems.

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Select soft reset or hard reset method (return to default settings). The soft reset method will not delete saved passwords or any e-books. This is a method to help Kindle work faster or exit an unresponsive screen. The hard reset method will erase all data and restore the Kindle to its original settings. You should only use this method when you’ve run out of options, i.e. Kindle experiencing critical issues, intermittent screen unresponsiveness, internal damage, etc. ^{[1] X Research Source}^{[2] X Research Source}

If you’ve tried soft reset many times, maybe it’s time to do a hard reset.
Amazon’s customer service is very good, helping you get the best choice.
If you accidentally drop your Kindle or drop it in water, it’s best to take your Kindle to a technician. Amazon has a free exchange if the product is still under warranty. If the product is out of warranty, they can send you a repaired Kindle at a discounted price. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Charge Kindle. This is an important step for the soft reset or hard reset method. You connect your Kindle to a power source using the included charging cord. Make sure the battery shown at the top of the home screen is full. After charging is complete, unplug the Kindle’s charging cord. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Kindle must have at least 40% battery to be able to perform the hard reset method.

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Backup important passwords and files. When deleting data on Kindle, all data on the device will be lost. Content that you have purchased on Amazon will remain connected to your account and can be reloaded. However, e-books and third-party apps need to be stored separately. This is done by connecting the Kindle to the laptop via a USB cable. You can click and drag everything into a special folder from your downloads. ^{[5] X Research Sources}^{[6] X Research Sources}

Implement soft reset method for Kindle

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Perform a soft reset for Kindle First Generation (First Generation). First, you turn off the power. Open the back cover of the Kindle and remove the battery. Wait a minute before you put the battery back in place. Close the back cover of the Kindle and turn on the power. ^{[7] X Research Sources}^{[8] X Research Sources}

To remove the battery from your Kindle, use your fingernail or a pointed object like a pen. Do not use scissors or knives as this may damage the battery.
Make sure the back cover of your Kindle is securely closed. You will hear a “click” sound when the lid is tightly closed.

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Reinstall Kindle Second Generation and/or later. First, you hold the power button for about 20 seconds. Slide the power button and hold it for about 20 to 30 seconds before releasing it. This commands the device to reboot, rather than just shutting it down. The reboot screen (all black or bright) will show up as soon as you release the power button.

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Wait for Kindle to restart. Kindle will restart in a minute or two. Be patient and give the device time to complete the reinstallation process. Once the reboot is complete, the device will reopen on its own. If Kindle doesn’t turn back on by itself after 10 minutes, manually turn on the power button.

There is a chance that the screen will stop working when the Kindle restarts. This happens when Kindle is unresponsive at the restart screen for longer than 10 minutes.

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Charge Kindle. If the device stops working during reboot or doesn’t respond to the reset command, connect your Kindle to a power source and charge it for 30 minutes or more. Make sure the Kindle has enough time to get fully charged. If you disconnect your Kindle from power too soon, you may need to repeat the steps above.

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Press the power button one more time. After charging your Kindle, slide the power button and hold it for another 20 seconds. The boot screen will reappear. Wait a minute or two for the device to reboot before you can test. This will complete the reinstallation.

Reset Kindle to factory settings

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Return Kindle First Generation (First Generation) to factory settings. First, you turn on the power button. Open the back cover of the device with a fingernail or a pointed object. Find a small hole – is the reset button. Use a sharp-pointed pen or toothpick to press the button for about 30 seconds or until the Kindle turns off. Wait until Kindle restarts on its own. ^{[9] X Research Source}^{[10] X Research Source}

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Restore Kindle Second Generation (Second Generation). Slide and hold the power button for about 30 seconds. Immediately after doing this, press and hold the Home button until the Kindle screen lights up. Next, you wait for the Kindle to restart by itself. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Return the Kindle Keyboard to its original settings. Hold the power button for about 15-30 seconds. After this step, you just need to wait for Kindle to restart by itself. This is a restore operation to the original settings of the Kindle. If this doesn’t work, you can repeat and try again. Make sure Kindle is fully charged.

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Restore Kindle DX. You just need to press the power button for at least 20 seconds. Kindle turns off and the screen goes black. Next, you wait until Kindle restarts by itself. If this doesn’t work, you can always try again. Make sure your Kindle has at least 40% battery to be able to perform the hard reset method. ^{[12] X Research Sources}^{[13] X Research Sources}

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Troubleshooting on Kindle Touch. First you click the “Home” button. Next, you click “Menu” on the screen. When the toolbar is displayed, click “Settings”. Finally, what you need to do is wait until the Kindle restarts. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Restart and restore Kindle 5-Way Console – including Kindle Fourth and Fifth Generation. Open the “Menu” page on your Kindle. Select “Settings” then select “Menu” one more time. Finally, select “Restore to Factory Settings” and wait until Kindle restarts by itself. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Advice

If reinstalling Kindle doesn’t fix the problem, try contacting Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/contact-us. You can also call Amazon Kindle support at 1-866-321-8851 or international 1-206-266-0927. ^{[20] X Research Source}
Try many times. Sometimes Kindle won’t respond after one reboot. You need to do it two or three times.
Pause for a while between each retry. You shouldn’t restart your Kindle multiple times in a row. Give Kindle time to rest. You can also charge your Kindle during this time.

Warning

If you’re worried that your Kindle has a serious problem, you should take it to a technician. You should not repair the device yourself.
Always keep backup files of e-books and passwords. Even when performing a soft reset method, you may also lose information.

Steps

Prepare Before Reinstalling Kindle

Implement soft reset method for Kindle

Reset Kindle to factory settings

Advice

Warning

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