How to set up a new Kindle

How to ready 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 up of things to know nigh how to make the most of your new device. And while the Kindle can be uncomplicated and easy to employ, it's a little subtle most some things.

Whether it's the entry-level Amazon Kindle or the best kindle there is (the Kindle Paperwhite 2021), there are many things that could brand your e-reading experience smoother and easier. And thankfully they're easy to explain.

Whether information technology'southward learning some new tricks most the modern Kindle screens, making your reading feel more focused or removing ads from your device, we've got all the tips y'all demand. Happy e-reading!

The Kindle app on your phone tin exist a huge aid

If the Kindle hardware has any existent big flaw, it'due south that typing on its keyboard is bad. Digital paper screens are okay for tapping single buttons, but spelling out a whole email address and password on a slightly laggy screen is not a swell experience.

So, before you even open up your Kindle, download the Kindle app onto your mobile phone — it can make the setup process an utter breeze.

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

Enable or Disable Goodreads

A lot of digital ink has been spilled over whether or not Goodreads is actually adept. It'south 1 of Amazon's many ways to make reading more social and online. And to us, it'south unnecessary. As Angela Lashbrook explained for OneZero (and others accept explained elsewhere), Amazon'southward Goodreads is practically broken. Sure it has an stop-of-twelvemonth "Your Year In Books" wrap-upwardly, but information technology's no Spotify Wrapped.

If you want a list-making app to keep runway of the books you want to read, and the ones you've read, you lot tin but apply your phone's notes app.

So, when you're setting up your Kindle for the first time, retrieve twice well-nigh if you want a social network, with weird and rote recommendations lists, on your Kindle. The initial Kindle setup lets you opt-in or opt-out, but (of grade) you tin ever alter your mind.

To enable or disable Goodreads:

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

Disable ads

Removing Kindle ads — (Epitome credit: Amazon)

This one'due south optional, but information technology's going to help with our next tip and nosotros personally recommend it. Your Kindle may have come up with ads on its lock screen, and it's never been a better fourth dimension to remove it (once again more on why beneath). Amazon charges $twenty to remove these ads, and we call up you'll exist happy you did this if you use your Kindle a lot.

Sign into Amazon and open your My Devices folio. So tap Kindles, and select your Kindle. Look for the Special Offers (Amazon's other way of saying Ads) section, and tap Remove Offers.

Turn on Cover on Lock Screen

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

Once y'all've removed ads (or if you bought the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which has none), you're ready to unlock the low-key best Kindle feature. This setting, which lets you change the lock screen to the the cover of the book y'all virtually recently read, is kind of a no-brainer.

The only excuse for it, nosotros imagine, is if you lot've been reading something so saucy or vulgar that y'all don't desire others to know well-nigh it. And no sentence for those raunchy readers. We salute your disrespect, and empathise your want for privacy.

Only for everyone else? There's no reason to not do this, unless you love Amazon's default images of typography. It's a expert way to show off the book y'all're actually reading, and remember what it was like to have books with actual covers.

Here'due south how to do it (after disabling ads):

Tap the iii dots push button in the top corner
Tap Device Options
Plough "Brandish Embrace" on

Try out Kindle display warmth

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

Just similar the books you choose to read, this characteristic is all about your personal preference. Recent Kindles, currently the Paperwhite (2021), Paperwhite Signature Edition and Kindle Oasis, have a display warmth setting. Information technology'south the kind of thing you lot might honey or simply forget most afterward trying — but it's also piece of cake to try to sleep on it.

And speaking of sleep, don't think this feature is nearly helping you sleep. It's non to be dislocated with blue-light filter technology that helps your eyes relax and autumn asleep faster. Information technology'due south merely a way to change the colour of the lighting and therefore your Kindle screen.

To change Kindle brandish warmth, first tap the drawer button at the very top of the screen (recollect of information technology as a wide 'v'). Then, if your Kindle supports warmth, you'll run into a calibration for Warmth, with a dot you can elevate to the right to increment warmth.

If yous want to take display warmth plough on and off during specific times of twenty-four hours, tap the Schedule push button, tap the Off switch to turn it on and pick the times of 24-hour interval when y'all desire warmth enabled.

Borrow local library books

Amazon may non promote this feature, but the Kindle can infringe ebooks from your local library. But you tin't practise it from the Kindle. Start by going to overdrive.com and finding your local library, and and so find a volume you want.

Then, you can check out the book by clicking Borrow. You may need to sign in or create an account. Then, look for a button called Read Now with Kindle. You lot'll and then be sent to Amazon's website to finish the process.

Test out Dark Mode and Bluetooth for audiobooks

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

Now that y'all know virtually the drawer carte at the pinnacle of the screen, it's a good time to try out ii features you lot may not know are there. Dark Mode, every bit its proper noun suggests, enables a night mode with white text and black background. A Nighttime way is less necessary for an e-ink screen, but some will adopt it.

Then at that place's too the Bluetooth toggle in the drawer card, which you'd turn on if you want to mind to Aural 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'due south Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Mag. He's also covered the wild globe of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.