To reset a Kindle that's frozen, hold the power button for 40 seconds until it restarts. That's a restart and keeps everything. To wipe it back to new, open Settings, then Device Options, and choose Factory Reset, or Reset Device on older models.
When people search for how to reset a Kindle, they usually mean one of two things. Either the Kindle is frozen, stuck on a screen or won't respond, and they want it working again. Or they're selling or passing it on and want it wiped. These need different resets, and doing the wrong one can lose you your notes and downloaded books. Here's which to use and how.
Which reset do you need?
| Problem | Reset to use | What you lose |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen, slow or stuck screen | Restart (hold power 40 seconds) | Nothing |
| Selling or giving it away | Factory reset | Everything on the device |
| Persistent errors after restarting | Factory reset, after syncing | Downloads and unsynced notes |
Restart a frozen Kindle
- Press and hold the power button.
- Keep holding when a power menu appears or the screen goes blank.
- Hold for a full 40 seconds, then let go.
- Wait. The charge light comes back on after a few seconds and the Kindle reboots.
Amazon's own instructions use the 40-second hold, and it's longer than most people expect, so count it out slowly or watch a clock. This fixes most freezes and doesn't delete anything. If the Kindle doesn't respond at all, plug it into a charger for half an hour and try again, because a flat battery looks a lot like a frozen screen.
Factory reset a Kindle
- Sync first, so your reading position, highlights and notes are saved to your account.
- On the home screen, open the menu or swipe down and tap Settings, sometimes shown as All Settings.
- Tap Device Options.
- Tap Factory Reset, or Reset Device on older Kindles.
- Confirm. The Kindle restarts and shows the setup screen.
Amazon warns that a factory reset removes all your personal data, downloaded content and anything that hasn't been synced. Books you bought from Amazon aren't lost, because they stay in your account and can be downloaded again. What can be lost is anything that only lived on the Kindle.
What doesn't come back after a factory reset
- Documents and books you copied over a USB cable. Amazon's cloud doesn't store those, so back them up to a computer first.
- Notes and highlights that hadn't synced.
- Collections, if they weren't synced to your account.
- Wi-Fi passwords and settings such as font size, which you set up again from scratch afterwards.
Selling or giving away your Kindle
A factory reset deregisters the Kindle from your Amazon account, so the next owner can't see your library. It's still worth checking your Amazon account afterwards: go to Manage Your Content and Devices, open Devices, and make sure the Kindle is gone from the list. If it isn't, deregister it there.
Kindle Fire tablets are different
Fire tablets run a different system from Kindle e-readers, and Amazon has separate reset instructions for them. A Fire tablet has its own factory reset inside its Settings, and Amazon also documents a recovery-mode method for a tablet that won't start. Don't use e-reader steps on a Fire tablet or the other way round.
When resetting doesn't fix it
- Charge for at least an hour with the original cable, then restart again.
- Try a different plug and cable, in case the charger is the fault.
- If you see a repeating error or a sad Kindle screen, contact Amazon support and describe the error message exactly as it appears.
- Check for a software update in Device Options once it's working again.
Signs a restart will fix it
- The page won't turn, or taps do nothing.
- A book won't open, or opens to a blank page.
- Wi-Fi won't connect even though other devices are fine.
- The Kindle feels much slower than usual.
- New books won't download.
All of these usually clear after the 40-second restart. A factory reset is only worth it if the same fault comes straight back after several restarts and a full charge.
After the reset
If you're keeping the Kindle, set it up again: connect to Wi-Fi, sign in with your Amazon account and your books appear in the library ready to download. Downloading only what you're reading now keeps the Kindle fast and leaves plenty of space. Your reading position usually syncs back to the right page, and any highlights you'd synced reappear in each book's notes. Collections may need rebuilding if they weren't saved to your account, so it's worth taking a note of them before a factory reset.
If you're looking for your next read once it's working, my list of book club questions is a good way to get more out of whatever you pick next.
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My verdict
For a frozen Kindle, hold the power button for a full 40 seconds; that's all most problems need and it deletes nothing. Save the factory reset for selling or for faults a restart can't fix, and sync and back up any USB-transferred files before you do it. For writers using a Kindle to proof their own drafts, my book writing prompts are a good next stop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset a frozen Kindle?
Hold the power button for 40 seconds until it restarts. Nothing is deleted.
How do I factory reset a Kindle?
Settings, Device Options, then Factory Reset, or Reset Device on older models.
Will I lose my books if I reset my Kindle?
Books bought from Amazon stay in your account and can be downloaded again.
What does a factory reset delete on a Kindle?
Personal data, downloaded content and anything not synced, including files copied by USB.
Should I factory reset my Kindle before selling it?
Yes, and check it's removed from your Amazon account's device list.
Is resetting a Fire tablet the same as a Kindle?
No. Fire tablets have their own reset steps.
