Kindle Won’t Turn On? Here’s What to Do! [Full Guide]

As Kindle owners, we understand how important our devices are to us. And we appreciate it even more when the Kindle refuses to turn on when we are bored and need it the most! I understand how you feel because I’ve been in the same situation!

You may feel tempted to panic. But don’t worry, you don’t have to throw away your Kindle just yet because there are ways to repair it!

Kindle Won’t Turn On, I spent a lot of time researching ways to fix my Kindle because it wouldn’t turn on normally. During this time, I learned a lot about the various reasons why the Kindle could be dead!

So, in this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned along the way, including the reasons why your Kindle won’t turn on and what you can do to fix it!

Let’s get this party started!

Troubleshooting: Issues on Kindle Won’t Turn On

Issue	Solution
Dead battery	Charge your Kindle for at least 2 hours using the official Amazon power adapter. If your Kindle is still not turning on after 2 hours, try a different power adapter or cable.
Software glitch	Try restarting your Kindle by pressing and holding the power button for 40 seconds. If that doesn’t work, you can try doing a factory reset by pressing and holding the power button and the down volume button at the same time for 20 seconds.
Faulty power adapter or cable	Try using a different power adapter or cable to charge your Kindle. If you don’t have a spare power adapter or cable, you can try charging your Kindle from your computer.
Physical damage	If your Kindle has been dropped or otherwise physically damaged, it may not turn on. In this case, you will need to contact Amazon customer service for assistance.
Firmware issue	If your Kindle is running outdated firmware, it may not turn on. You can check for firmware updates by going to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > System Updates. If there is an update available, download and install it.

Video: Kindle Paperwhite Won’t Turn On 

WHY IS YOUR Kindle Won’t Turn On?

You may be annoyed and frustrated as you stare at your Kindle and wonder why it won’t turn on! As it turns out, there are a few simple explanations for this.

Let’s go over them one by one –

1. The Kindle battery is dangerously low.

One possible reason for your Kindle won’t turn on is that the battery is critically low on charge. This could happen if you haven’t used your Kindle in a long time or if you didn’t charge it before the battery ran out!

A Kindle cannot be used as a smartphone. When the battery is low, it does not turn off. As a result, when the Kindle is not charged, the battery falls below a certain charge capacity and the device simply cannot restart, displaying the “battery is critical” error.

If this is the case, you will notice the error displayed on the Kindle screen, as shown in the image above.

If you have an older Kindle, you may see an error message that says something like “Kindle battery critically low, connect your Kindle to a charger.”

Some newer Kindle models simply display a “Charger and a lightning bolt” icon beneath a “Low Battery” icon on the Kindle screen (as shown in the image above).

In this case, make sure you charge your Kindle fire sufficiently to power it. Even when the orange light indicator turns green, indicating that the battery is fully charged, your Kindle may remain stuck on this screen.

If this is the case, the solution is the same as for the next reason on this list.

2. Kindle Screen Is Stuck on the Battery Exclamation Point

This is another reason why your Kindle won’t turn on! The Kindle screen is stuck on the “Battery” icon with a “Exclamation Mark” for some users.

When there is a problem with the charging parameters of the Kindle battery, the dreaded “Battery with Exclamation Mark” icon appears on the Kindle screen. It can also happen when the device’s battery is running low.

Contrary to popular belief, the “Battery Exclamation Mark” icon can appear regardless of your Kindle’s battery charge level! Furthermore, even when your Kindle is plugged in and charging, this error can prevent it from turning on!

This problem requires several detailed steps to resolve. All of the steps are compiled in another article with a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to fix a Kindle with a battery exclamation mark! Make sure to read the entire article and follow all of the steps to resolve the problem on your amazon fire tablet.

3. The battery isn’t charging

This is an indirect cause of why your Kindle won’t turn on!

Perhaps you’ve been using your Kindle frequently and even remembered to charge it, but you may not have realized that the battery of your Kindle was not charging, resulting in a dead Kindle!

If your Kindle isn’t charging, that doesn’t always mean the battery needs to be replaced! This issue could be caused by a number of factors.

Perhaps the issue with kindle e is with the charger or the charging cable!

I’ve written a detailed article on the subject. Check out my other article for 8 reasons why your Kindle battery may not be charging and solutions to those problems!

4. The battery must be replaced.

Another reason your Kindle may not turn on is that there is a problem with your Kindle battery!

The battery in your Kindle, like most modern devices, has a limited lifespan and must be replaced if it can no longer hold a charge!

How Do You Tell If Your Kindle Battery Is Dead?

The Kindle app Orange Light indicator can tell you if your battery is unable to hold a charge and needs to be replaced.

When your Kindle is charging, the orange light illuminates. When charging normally, it usually displays a steady orange light.

If the Kindle battery has failed, the orange light charge indicator will blink repeatedly (sometimes up to 5 times and then stop). The orange light’s behavior indicates that the Kindle battery has failed and must be replaced.

However, the only sure way to tell if the battery is faulty is to open the back panel and measure the battery capacity (voltage) of your Kindle battery with a voltmeter. If it is unusually low, it means your battery needs to be replaced.

Having said that, replacing a Kindle battery is not difficult. Anyone with the right tools can replace the Kindle battery at home in 15 to 20 minutes! See my other article on how to replace the Kindle battery for more information. It walks you through the entire process and provides links to the necessary tools!

5. Hardware Problems

Another reason your Kindle may not turn on is a hardware problem. Although uncommon, this can occur.

For example, the connector that connects the Kindle battery app to the motherboard could have come loose or come off (which can be easily fixed). Alternatively, there could be some other damage to the Kindle’s motherboard.

Any damage to the motherboard will usually necessitate a trip to a mobile repair shop.

6. Software Problems

The final reason your fix Kindle won’t wake up could be a software problem.

If you haven’t performed a software update for your Kindle in a long time, it’s possible that this is why your Kindle has turned into a brick!

Although Kindles are programmed to check for updates and download the software as soon as you connect the device to the internet. As a result, the likelihood of this occurring is quite remote. But it is possible.

When the Kindle does not start, it is best to contact Amazon’s Customer Service team to see if there is a way to update the software.

HOW DO YOU FIX A KINDLE THAT WON’T TURN ON?

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to try to fix your Kindle if it won’t turn on! Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can try to turn on your Kindle!

1. Energize Your Kindle

As previously stated, one possible reason for your Kindle not turning on is that the battery has run out of charge!

So, a simple solution to this problem is to charge your Kindle’s battery!

Make sure to charge your Kindle for at least a couple of hours before attempting to turn it on again.

It is important to remember that charging a Kindle with a completely depleted battery will take longer than usual. So, if your Kindle doesn’t start right away, be patient. Furthermore, if your Kindle battery has been completely depleted, make sure to charge it with an official Amazon wall charger.

Charging your Kindle with a power adaptor rather than a laptop will help speed up the charging process.

It’s critical to know if your Kindle is charging, especially if it’s dead!

When your Kindle is charging, an “Orange Light” will appear next to the charging port to indicate that charging is taking place. This occurs even if your Kindle is dead or refuses to turn on.

So, regardless of whether your Kindle is turned on or off, the “Orange Light” is a great indicator of whether or not it is charging!

To learn more, read my detailed article on the “Kindle Orange Light” indicator and how to decode the various signals provided by this light to troubleshoot Kindle issues!

2. Perform a hard reset on your Kindle

Despite charging your Kindle for several hours, it may become stuck on the “Kindle Battery Critical” screen and refuse to turn on!

In this case, you will need to perform a “Hard Reset” on your device.

This is how it works:

Connect your Kindle to a computer’s USB port. This is a critical step. The “Orange Light” charging indicator will appear. This means the Kindle battery is charging. Now, for 40 seconds, press and hold the “Power” button on your Kindle. Count to 40 before releasing the power button. You will notice the Kindle screen blinking once. Now, press the “Power” button again to see if you get a response. If your Kindle is still stuck on the battery with an exclamation mark screen, charge it from a computer’s USB port for about 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat steps 3 and 4 after about 20 to 30 minutes. If your Kindle screen remains stuck, repeat steps 5 and 6.

Usually, the Kindle will start automatically after about 20 minutes of charging via a computer’s USB port, or performing a “Hard reset” will do the trick.

Here’s a helpful video that goes over the steps mentioned above in detail!

3. Disconnect and reconnect the battery to the motherboard!

Sometimes, no matter what you do, your Kindle simply will not turn on, despite everything working properly in its own right!

Changes in the charging parameters of the battery are one of the scenarios that the Kindle faces. The only solution is to reset the battery. And, while “Hard Reset” is designed to do exactly that, the problem with that method is that it requires multiple attempts and, in most cases, you may not get it completely correct.

To reset the battery, simply unplug it from the motherboard and reconnect it after 10 seconds.

This may appear to be more difficult than you believe! However, here’s how you can easily implement this at home.

Get a prying tool (like this one on Amazon) and a Philip Screwdriver #0 (links to Amazon). Then, follow the detailed steps described in my other article to open the back of your Kindle panel.

Remove the battery from the board.

Simply reconnect the battery to the board (instead of replacing the battery as described in my other article)

To check if the Kindle is operational, press the “Power” button.

If your Kindle starts working, simply close the back panel of the Kindle!

4. Change the battery

If your Kindle still does not work after following all of the steps outlined above, it is likely that your Kindle battery has failed!

I’ve written a detailed guide on how to replace your Kindle battery in 15 to 20 minutes in the comfort of your own home! To replace the Kindle battery, simply follow the instructions in my other article.

5. Speak with Customer Service

Finally, before you trade in your Kindle for a new one, contact Amazon’s customer service team to see if anything else can be done.

If you do decide to replace your Kindle, I recommend purchasing the most recent version of the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon.

SUMMARY There are two main reasons why your Kindle Paperwhite won’t turn on: the device has frozen and requires a hard reset, or the battery has been fully discharged and requires more time to charge.

If the device has a flaw, Amazon will most likely replace it for free if it is less than two years old.

Aside from that, you may need to weigh the cost of repairing versus purchasing a new device. While a repaired device is less expensive, other parts may fail in the future, so it’s worth thinking about before you buy.

FAQs

How do I restart an inoperable Kindle Paperwhite?

Reset to factory settings: Go to Menu (three lines) > Settings > Menu > Reset Device from the Home screen. Restarting from scratch: Keep pressing the Sleep button until the Paperwhite restarts (about 20 seconds). All of your books and settings will be erased if you perform a factory reset.

Why isn’t my Kindle turning on?

Problems with charging or batteries – Recharge the device or replace the battery. Another common cause of Kindle not turning on is a low battery, which prevents the device from turning on until it is recharged. Connect the Kindle device to your computer and wait 30 minutes before attempting to turn it on again.

How do I restart a frozen Kindle?

You can wait a few minutes for it to unfreeze, but resetting is a quick and easy process that does not erase any data. Press and hold the power button until the screen flashes, then release the power button to restart an unresponsive Kindle. The Kindle will restart, and you can resume reading.

References:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G9WDGDTCSDQMSU7Z

https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Amazon_Kindle_First_Generation_Troubleshooting