Kindle (11th generation) · Guides
Set up a new basic Kindle
Register a new entry Kindle, connect it to Wi-Fi, and understand the lock-screen ads and what removing them costs.
Setting up the entry Kindle is quick. The only part that surprises people is the ads: a Kindle sold “with Special Offers” will always have them unless you pay the one-time fee through Amazon’s website. Registration is what connects the device to your account and purchases — an unregistered Kindle still works, but only for books you load yourself over a cable.
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Charge the Kindle before setup
A new Kindle usually ships around half charged, and setup includes a software update. Plug it in with the supplied USB-C cable and give it time on the charger before you start.
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Turn it on and choose your language and Wi-Fi network
Hold the power button on the bottom edge. Pick your language, then your Wi-Fi network and enter its password. The Kindle needs Wi-Fi once to register and to download its current firmware.
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Sign in to your Amazon account
Enter the email and password for the Amazon account you want the Kindle tied to — this is "registering" the device. A registered Kindle can download your purchases and use Send to Kindle; an unregistered one can only read books you copy over by cable.
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Let the software update install
The Kindle checks for and installs the latest firmware, shows a progress bar, and restarts once. Leave it plugged in until it finishes.
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Understand the lock-screen ads
Most entry Kindles are sold "with Special Offers", which shows an advertisement on the sleep screen and a small banner on the home screen. They do not appear while you are reading. This is a permanent property of the device you paid a lower price for, not a setting you can switch off.
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Remove the ads if you want to, from Amazon's website
On a computer, go to "Manage Your Content and Devices", open the Devices tab, select the Kindle, and look for "Special Offers" with an option to unsubscribe for a one-time fee (around 20 US dollars). After you pay and the Kindle syncs, the sleep screen switches to book covers or Amazon artwork.
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Set the front light
Swipe down from the top of the screen for quick settings and adjust the brightness. The entry Kindle has a plain white front light only — there is no warm-light control on this model.
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Add your books
For Amazon purchases, open the Library and tap a book to download it. For your own EPUB files, use Send to Kindle or connect the Kindle to a computer by USB and copy files into the "documents" folder.