How to set up a new Kindle

How to prepare upwards a new Kindle

(Prototype credit: Henry T. Casey)

If you've got a new Kindle for the holidays, or are giving one to someone, we've got a helpful set of things to know nigh how to make the most of your new device. And while the Kindle can be uncomplicated and easy to use, it'south a little subtle nigh some things.

Whether it'due south the entry-level Amazon Kindle or the best kindle at that place is (the Kindle Paperwhite 2021), at that place are many things that could make your eastward-reading experience smoother and easier. And thankfully they're piece of cake to explain.

Whether information technology's learning some new tricks virtually the modern Kindle screens, making your reading experience more than focused or removing ads from your device, nosotros've got all the tips you need. Happy east-reading!

The Kindle app on your telephone can be a huge help

If the Kindle hardware has any real big flaw, it'south that typing on its keyboard is bad. Digital paper screens are okay for tapping unmarried buttons, but spelling out a whole email address and password on a slightly laggy screen is non a dandy experience.

Then, before yous even open your Kindle, download the Kindle app onto your mobile phone — it tin can make the setup process an utter cakewalk.

Y'all just sign into (or create) your Amazon business relationship on your phone in the Kindle app (iOS / Android), and so via Bluetooth your phone can easily transmit your account data to your Kindle. As someone who reviews Kindles and other tech, and sets devices up all the fourth dimension, I wish this were the standard. It doesn't even require you pointing your telephone'due south photographic camera at a QR code

Enable or Disable Goodreads

A lot of digital ink has been spilled over whether or not Goodreads is really proficient. Information technology's one of Amazon'due south many ways to make reading more than social and online. And to us, it's unnecessary. As Angela Lashbrook explained for OneZero (and others have explained elsewhere), Amazon's Goodreads is practically cleaved. Sure it has an end-of-year "Your Year In Books" wrap-upwards, simply information technology's no Spotify Wrapped.

If yous want a list-making app to go on rail of the books you want to read, and the ones you've read, y'all tin can but use your telephone's notes app.

So, when you're setting up your Kindle for the first time, call back twice nigh if you lot want a social network, with weird and rote recommendations lists, on your Kindle. The initial Kindle setup lets you opt-in or opt-out, merely (of course) you lot can always modify your mind.

To enable or disable Goodreads:

Tap the three dots button in the acme corner
Tap "Your Account"
Tap "Social Networks"
Tap "Goodreads"
And follow the on-screen instructions

Disable ads

Removing Kindle ads — (Paradigm credit: Amazon)

This i's optional, only information technology'due south going to help with our side by side tip and we personally recommend it. Your Kindle may have come with ads on its lock screen, and it's never been a meliorate time to remove it (again more on why below). Amazon charges $20 to remove these ads, and we think you'll be happy you did this if you utilise your Kindle a lot.

Sign into Amazon and open your My Devices page. Then tap Kindles, and select your Kindle. Await for the Special Offers (Amazon'south other fashion of saying Ads) section, and tap Remove Offers.

Plough on Cover on Lock Screen

The Kindle Paperwhite 2021 with dune on the cover — (Paradigm credit: Henry T. Casey)

In one case you've removed ads (or if y'all bought the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which has none), you're ready to unlock the depression-key all-time Kindle feature. This setting, which lets you change the lock screen to the the cover of the volume you most recently read, is kind of a no-brainer.

The merely excuse for it, nosotros imagine, is if yous've been reading something so saucy or vulgar that you don't want others to know almost it. And no judgement for those raunchy readers. We salute your disrespect, and empathize your want for privacy.

But for everyone else? In that location'southward no reason to not practice this, unless you beloved Amazon'due south default images of typography. Information technology's a good style to show off the volume you're really reading, and remember what it was like to have books with actual covers.

Here's how to practice it (later on disabling ads):

Tap the iii dots push in the top corner
Tap Device Options
Turn "Display Cover" on

Effort out Kindle brandish warmth

The Kindle Paperwhite 2021 with display warmth off and on — (Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

Just like the books you choose to read, this feature is all about your personal preference. Recent Kindles, currently the Paperwhite (2021), Paperwhite Signature Edition and Kindle Haven, have a display warmth setting. It'south the kind of thing you might love or simply forget well-nigh after trying — but it's also piece of cake to try to slumber on it.

And speaking of slumber, don't think this feature is about helping you sleep. It'due south not to be confused with blue-light filter engineering that helps your eyes relax and fall asleep faster. Information technology's just a way to change the color of the lighting and therefore your Kindle screen.

To change Kindle display warmth, first tap the drawer button at the very top of the screen (think of it as a wide 'v'). Then, if your Kindle supports warmth, you'll see a scale for Warmth, with a dot you can drag to the correct to increase warmth.

If you want to take display warmth turn on and off during specific times of day, tap the Schedule push button, tap the Off switch to turn it on and pick the times of day when you desire warmth enabled.

Borrow local library books

Amazon may not promote this feature, just the Kindle tin borrow ebooks from your local library. But y'all can't practise it from the Kindle. Start past going to overdrive.com and finding your local library, and then find a book y'all want.

Then, yous tin check out the book by clicking Borrow. You may demand to sign in or create an account. Then, look for a push button called Read Now with Kindle. Y'all'll then exist sent to Amazon'southward website to terminate the process.

Test out Dark Fashion and Bluetooth for audiobooks

The Kindle Paperwhite 2021 in dark mode — (Prototype credit: Henry T. Casey)

Now that you know about the drawer carte du jour at the top of the screen, it'due south a expert time to effort out two features you may not know are there. Nighttime Manner, as its name suggests, enables a night fashion with white text and black groundwork. A Nighttime mode is less necessary for an e-ink screen, but some will adopt it.

Then in that location's also the Bluetooth toggle in the drawer menu, which you'd turn on if you want to listen to Audible audio books. To pair headphones or a speaker with your Kindle go to Settings (under the three dots button), tap Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and tap Bluetooth devices.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple tree, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional person wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.