If your Kindle eReader isn’t turning on, it could be attributed to four primary reasons: your Kindle isn’t charged; there’s an issue with the battery, the hardware is damaged, or the software is outdated.
This article elaborates on the four reasons your Kindle won’t turn on and possible solutions.
4 Reasons why your Kindle won’t turn on
No charge
As per The Book Buff, depending on the type of your Kindle, the charge should last between 4 to 10 weeks, considering that the average reading time per day is an hour.
It could be that your Kindle is discharged, so it isn’t turning on. Usually, the Kindle will display a discharged screen when its battery is drained, but if it has been discharged for a while, the screen will appear blank. You can charge your Kindle using a USB cable, attaching it to your laptop, or a compatible power adapter plugged into a socket.
To rule out issues with the charging, check whether the light next to the power button turns amber when the device is plugged in for charging. If not, try using a different USB cable, power adapter or socket. The light turns green once fully charged. Leave the Kindle charging for 2 to 5 hours to ensure it is charged completely.
Due to a decrease in battery capacity or other issues with the battery, the device might not hold the charge for long or may take longer to charge if your Kindle is over 4 years old.
Battery issues
Most Kindle devices are powered by a lithium-ion or lithium polymer battery, lasting between 2 to 5 years depending on the usage.
If you find the following problems with your Kindle, it might be due for a battery replacement:
- Takes much longer to charge.
- Quickly loses charge even with the same usage as before.
- Doesn’t charge up to 100% even after charging it for over 5 hours.
Damaged hardware
Some basic internal hardware components comprising a Kindle include FPC (Flex Printable Circuit) connectors, controller boards, a wireless card and lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries. Being an electronic device, the Kindle could malfunction if any of its hardware components are damaged.
If you recently dropped your Kindle or if it suffered any other physical damage, it could be that the internal hardware was also damaged due to the impact. In such a case, it would be best to take it to a repair shop to determine the exact cause of why your Kindle isn’t turning on and have it repaired.
Outdated Software
Outdated software may have certain bugs that prevent the Kindle from turning on properly or may cause other performance issues like lagging or a frozen screen. The Kindle is programmed to auto-update upon the availability of new software versions; however, it requires a stable internet connection to do so.
If you do manage to turn your Kindle on briefly, here is how you can manually update it.
Ensure your WiFi is turned on and you are connected to a stable internet connection.
- Step 1: Tap the 3 horizontal bars to open the side menu and tap Settings.
- Step 2: On the Settings tab, tap the 3 horizontal bars at the top-right again, and tap Update Your Kindle from the drop-down menu.
Note that if your Kindle is already up to date, this option will appear greyed out.
How to get your Kindle to switch on?
As mentioned briefly in some of the pointers above, this section details a few solutions to why your Kindle won’t turn on.
Charge the device
Although an obvious fix, it could be that your Kindle hasn’t charged enough for it to start. Leave it to charge for 2 to 5 hours before switching it on.
Next, check whether the indicator light next to the power button has turned amber in colour to eliminate issues with the charging cable, adapter or socket. Try changing each of these parameters if you cannot see the light. Wait till the light turns green, and try pressing the power button long enough to switch on your Kindle.
Reboot your Kindle
If your Kindle screen won’t turn on after pressing the power button with ample charge, you can try rebooting the device.
Step 1: Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds.
Step 2: Wait until the screen turns slightly bright, then release the button.
When you release the power button, the reboot screen should appear, characterised by a graphic depicting the silhouette of a child under a tree, with a progress bar toward the bottom of the screen. Once the progress bar reaches the end, your Kindle should turn on.
Replace the battery
Check whether your Kindle falls under warranty. Most Kindles are covered by Amazon’s One-Year Limited Warranty, where you can have it repaired, replaced or refunded for certain parts per their terms and conditions. This is applicable for up to one year from the date of purchase.
If your Kindle is old, say 4 or 5 years, it might need a battery replacement.
You can buy a replacement battery on Amazon or third-party websites like Ifixit. The battery costs around 18$ – 50$ depending on the marketplace and the model of your Kindle. Make sure to buy the correct battery for your device type. You can either buy and change the battery replacement kit yourself or have it changed from an Amazon-authorised service provider or a local repair shop at an additional charge.
Contact customer care
Before you take your Kindle apart at a repair shop, consider contacting customer service to rule out any other possible reasons why your Kindle isn’t turning on.
Consult a hardware repair shop
If neither of the options mentioned above is working, consider taking the Kindle to an Amazon-authorised service provider or a trusted local repair shop to determine the cause of the issue and have it fixed by a professional.
Also read: How to turn off Kindle?
