Your Kindle is not working because one part of the chain is failing: the screen, Wi-Fi, sync, the app, the account, charging, or the software. Start with the fastest Amazon-supported fix for the symptom in front of you, then move to account checks, updates, and reset only after the earlier steps fail.
1. Restart a frozen or slow Kindle
- 1.Press and hold the physical Power button.
- 2.Keep holding Power until the power dialog box appears or the screen goes blank.
- 3.Continue holding Power for 40 seconds, then release it.
- 4.Let the Kindle restart, then check the screen and page turns again.
If the touchscreen still responds, hold Power until the dialog appears, then select Restart.
2. Restore Wi-Fi, downloads, and sync
This fixes store access, downloads, registration, and syncing.
Swipe down from the home screen to open Quick Actions.
Make sure Airplane Mode is off. If it is on, select it to turn it off so wireless is enabled.
Open Settings or All Settings.
Select Wi-Fi & Bluetooth.
Select Wi-Fi Networks.
Choose the correct network name and enter the Wi-Fi password when prompted.
Restart the Kindle.
Reboot your modem and router.
Confirm the Kindle has the latest software version.
3. Pull in missing books and reading progress
For a missing purchased book, reading position, note, or store change, use Quick Actions or Menu from the Kindle home screen, then select Sync or Sync and Check for Items.
If the title still does not appear, open Manage Your Content and Devices, go to Content, choose Books, then select Deliver or Deliver or Remove from Device for the right Kindle or app.
Confirm the book is in the same Amazon account and library as the device.
4. Revive the Kindle app
On Android, open the device Settings app, select the Kindle app, then choose Force Stop.
On iPhone or iPad, open the app switcher, swipe the Kindle app up off the top of the screen, then reopen it.
On a Fire tablet, force close the app, restart the tablet, clear the app cache and data, then uninstall and reinstall the app when that option appears.
On Fire tablets, use Settings, then Apps & Games or Apps & Notifications, then Manage All Applications when shown, then select the Kindle app and choose the force-stop option.
In the mobile Kindle app, select More, then Settings, then Sync to confirm sync is on.
To sync the mobile app manually, select More, then Sync now.
For desktop, install or update Kindle from Amazon’s official Kindle app download page.
5. Sign out of the wrong Kindle account
On iOS, open the Kindle app, select More, open Settings, select Sign Out, then confirm with Sign Out again.
On Kindle for Windows, open the app, select the Settings icon in the top toolbar, select Sign out, then confirm.
On Kindle for Mac, open the app, select More, then Settings, find the registered account name under Registration, then select Deregister or Sign Out and confirm.
For Kindle for Web, use the web reader’s sign-out or deregister option.
To remove Kindle for Web from the account page instead, open Manage Your Content and Devices, select Devices, choose Kindle for Web, then deregister it.
Sign back in with the Amazon account that owns the missing Kindle books.
6. Correct registration and account errors
When an e-reader fails to register, check the time at the top of the screen and connect the Kindle to Wi-Fi before trying registration again.
To set the time, use Quick Actions > All Settings > Device Options > the available time setting on your Kindle.
Once the time and Wi-Fi connection are correct, run registration again.
7. Fix charging, battery, and moisture warnings
Charge with a compatible USB cable, preferably the cable supplied with the Kindle.
When using a wall outlet, connect the Kindle to a compatible Power Adapter.
Leave the Kindle connected long enough to recover from a fully drained battery.
Lower the device Light settings to reduce battery drain.
Turn off the internet connection when you are not using it.
Keep the Kindle charging during large downloads or indexing.
When a liquid-detection warning appears, unplug the cable, hold the device with the port facing down, gently shake it for about 5 seconds, then let the port dry before charging again.
For a wireless-charging Kindle, use a Made for Amazon charging dock or compatible Qi-certified charger, center the Kindle on the charger, remove cases or objects that interfere, then restart the Kindle if charging still fails.
If the battery was fully drained, keep the Kindle on a compatible charger before checking power again.
8. Update or reset the Kindle e-reader
To identify the exact model, swipe down from the top, select All Settings, open Device Options, then select Device Info.
Download the update file for that exact Kindle model from Amazon’s Kindle e-reader software update page.
Connect the Kindle to your computer with the included charging cable.
Drag and drop the downloaded update file onto the Kindle drive.
Eject the Kindle after the file transfer completes.
On the Kindle home screen, tap Menu, then Settings.
Tap Menu again, select Update Your Kindle, then tap OK.
When ordinary troubleshooting fails, factory reset from Quick Actions or Menu, then Settings or All Settings, then Device Options or Menu, then Factory Reset.
On older devices, select Reset Device again, then select Yes to confirm.
9. Stop before resetting an older Kindle
For Kindle e-readers released in 2012 or earlier, use Manage Your Content and Devices only to understand the device status, not to deregister it if you need the downloaded books already on it.
Amazon says those e-readers can no longer connect to Amazon Services after May 20, 2026 to purchase, borrow, download, register, or re-register.
Keep reading already-downloaded books on the device, use Kindle apps, Kindle for Web, or a newer Kindle for Amazon services, and transfer personal documents over USB because Send to Kindle is not available for those impacted e-readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Kindle frozen and not responding to touch?
Use the physical power-button restart. Hold Power for 40 seconds, release it, and let the Kindle restart.
Why are my Kindle books not showing up after I bought them?
Sync the Kindle first. If the book still does not appear, open Manage Your Content and Devices, choose Books under Content, and deliver the title to the correct Kindle or app.
Will a factory reset fix a Kindle that is not working?
Factory reset is the last e-reader step after restart, Wi-Fi, sync, charging, and software update steps. It removes personal data, downloaded content, and registration.
Why will my Kindle not register to my Amazon account?
Check that the time at the top of the Kindle screen is correct and connect the device to Wi-Fi. Then try registration again.
Can an old Kindle still use Amazon services?
Amazon says Kindle e-readers released in 2012 or earlier can no longer connect to Amazon Services after May 20, 2026. Keep already-downloaded books on the device and use a newer Kindle, Kindle apps, or Kindle for Web for Amazon services.