If your Kindle is frozen, try a restart before considering a factory reset. Hold the power button until a power dialog appears or the screen goes blank, keep holding for 40 seconds, then release it and let the reader reboot. A restart is different from a factory reset: it reboots the Kindle without the factory-reset data and account consequences described below.
Restart a frozen or unresponsive Kindle
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Press and hold the power button until the power dialog appears or the screen goes blank.
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Continue holding the button for 40 seconds, then release it.
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Wait for the Kindle to restart. Amazon says the charge indicator light may turn back on after a few seconds before the device reboots.
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Amazon recommends restarting to address intermittent problems such as a frozen screen or slow performance. This procedure is a restart, not a factory reset. Amazon’s Kindle restart instructions
If the Kindle does not respond, check its power
If charging is appropriate, connect the Kindle with a USB cable compatible with your exact model. Amazon recommends a compatible cable, but charging accessories and connectors are not established as identical across all Kindle models. Amazon’s Kindle battery guidance
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- Light and compact - With adjustable brightness, high contrast ratio, and fast page turns.
- Effortless reading in any light - Read comfortably with a 6“ glare-free display, adjustable front light—now 25% brighter at max setting—and dark mode.
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- Read for a while - Get up to 6 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
- Take your library with you - 16 GB storage holds thousands of books.
For the 11th-generation Kindle covered by Amazon’s setup guide, the supplied cable can charge the device from a computer; wall charging requires an Amazon 5W charger, sold separately. Check the guidance for your model rather than assuming this arrangement applies to every Kindle. Amazon’s 11th-generation Kindle setup guide
Factory reset only if you can navigate the menus
A factory reset returns the Kindle to factory settings. Amazon warns that it removes personal data, downloaded content, and content that has not synced, and deregisters the device from your Amazon account. You will need to register the Kindle again to use it. Before proceeding, make sure any content you want to keep has synced and that you understand these consequences. Amazon’s factory-reset instructions
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- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
If you still want to reset it and the menus work, use the path available on your model:
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Open Quick Actions or Menu, then choose Settings or All Settings.
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Choose Device Options or Menu, then select Factory Reset. On some older devices, you may need to choose Reset Device as well.
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Confirm the reset when prompted.
Menu names and paths can vary by model. Amazon’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting guidance also places a restart before a factory reset when the issue persists. Amazon’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting steps
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- Our fastest Kindle Paperwhite ever – The next-generation 7“ Paperwhite display has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
When the screen stays frozen
If the restart does not work and you cannot reach the settings menus, contact Amazon device support for model-specific help. The reset guidance cited here does not establish a physical-button factory-reset method for a Kindle that is entirely unresponsive, so do not rely on undocumented button combinations.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
