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Kindle Scribe · Guides

Set up a new Kindle Scribe

Register a new Scribe, connect it to Wi-Fi, pair the pen, and set up the front light. The Scribe has no lock-screen ads to deal with.

Tested on
Kindle Scribe
Difficulty
Easy
Estimated time
15 minutes
Last tested
August 2026
Last updated
August 2026

The Scribe sets up like any Kindle, with two differences: there are no lock-screen ads to think about, and there is a pen to pair, which happens automatically the first time you write. Registration connects the device to your Amazon account, your purchases and — importantly for the Scribe — notebook sync to the Kindle apps.

  1. Charge the Scribe before setup

    A new Scribe usually ships part-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. The battery is large, so a full charge takes a while.

  2. Turn it on and connect to Wi-Fi

    Hold the power button on the top edge. Choose your language, then your Wi-Fi network and enter its password. The Scribe needs Wi-Fi once to register and download its current firmware.

  3. Sign in to your Amazon account

    Enter the email and password for the Amazon account the Scribe should be tied to. This is "registering" the device. A registered Scribe can download your purchases, use Send to Kindle, and sync notebooks to the Kindle apps. An unregistered one only reads books you copy over by cable.

  4. Let the software update install

    The Scribe checks for and installs the latest firmware and restarts once. Software updates for the Scribe regularly add note-taking features, so it is worth doing now and keeping automatic updates on.

  5. Note that the Scribe has no lock-screen ads

    Unlike the Paperwhite and basic Kindle, the Scribe is not sold in an ad-supported version. There is no "Special Offers" setting and nothing to pay to remove. The sleep screen shows a rotating set of Amazon artwork or a book cover.

  6. Pair and check the pen

    The pen is battery-free and pairs automatically the first time you touch it to the screen. It attaches magnetically to the right edge. If it came with the Premium Pen, the top end is an eraser and there is a customisable shortcut button on the barrel; the Basic Pen has neither. Open the built-in tutorial notebook to try it.

  7. Set the front light and warm light

    Swipe down from the top of the screen for quick settings. The brightness slider controls the white light; a second control adds a warm amber tone. There is also an automatic schedule.

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