How to set up a new Kindle

How to set raised a new Kindle

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

If you've got a new Enkindle for the holidays, or are giving one to someone, we've got a implemental set of things to make love about how to make the well-nig of your new twist. And while the Kindle tush be simple and easy to use of goods and services, it's a picayune subtle about some things.

Whether IT's the entry-level Amazon Kindle Oregon the best kindle there is (the Kindle Paperwhite 2021), there are many things that could make your e-meter reading experience electric sander and easier. And thankfully they're easy to explain.

Whether it's learning some unweathered tricks about the modern Kindle screens, making your reading experience more focused or removing ads from your device, we've got all the tips you want. Happy e-reading!

The Kindle app on your speech sound can be a huge help

If the Kindle ironware has any real big flaw, information technology's that typing on its keyboard is bad. Integer paper screens are okay for tapping single buttons, but spelling out a whole email address and watchword on a somewhat laggy screen is non a great experience.

So, before you even open your Kindle, download the Fire app onto your mobile telephone — information technology nates make the setup action an utter breeze.

You just sign into (Oregon create) your Amazon account along your call in the Kindle app (iOS / Mechanical man), and then via Bluetooth your telephone can easily transmit your account statement data to your Kindle. As soul who reviews Kindles and other tech, and sets devices up day in and day out, I wish this were the standard. It doesn't even require you pointing your speech sound's photographic camera at a QR cipher

Enable surgery Invalid Goodreads

A lot of digital ink has been spilled over whether or not Goodreads is actually good. It's one of Virago's many ways to make indication more 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 tamed. Sure it has an end-of-year "Your Year In Books" wrap-up, but it's atomic number 102 Spotify Wrapped.

If you want a list-making app to keep track of the books you want to read, and the ones you've translate, you tin can just use your phone's notes app.

So, when you're setting up your Kindle for the first time, think twice active if you want a social network, with weird and rote recommendations lists, happening your Kindle. The initial Kindle setup lets you opt-in surgery choose-out, merely (of course) you arse always interchange your mind.

To enable or incapacitate Goodreads:

Strike the three dots push in the top corner
Hydrant "Your Write u"
Solicit "Social Networks"
Tap "Goodreads"
And follow the on-block out instructions

Disable ads

Removing Kindle ads — (Image credit: Amazon)

This one's optional, but it's sledding to help with our next tip and we personally recommend it. Your Kindle may have go with ads on its operate sieve, and it's ne'er been a better time to remove it (again more happening wherefore below). Amazon charges $20 to dispatch these ads, and we think you'll be happy you did this if you use your Kindle a lot.

Sign into Amazon and open your My Devices page. Then bu Kindles, and select your Kindle. Search the Special Offers (Amazon's other elbow room of expression Ads) section, and tap Remove Offers.

Turn happening Cover along Lock Screen

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

Once you've removed ads (or if you bought the Kindle Paperwhite Theme song Variant, 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 handle of the volume you most recently read, is kind of a no-brainer.

The solely excuse for it, we imagine, is if you've been reading something so saucy or vulgar that you don't want others to make love about it. And no judgement for those raunchy readers. We salute your boldness, and infer your want for privacy.

But for everyone else? There's no reason to not do this, unless you roll in the hay Amazon's default images of composition. It's a good direction to flash the book you're actually reading, and remember what it was like to have books with actualised covers.

Here's how to do it (after disqualifying ads):

Tap the three dots clitoris in the clear quoin
Tap Device Options
Turn "Display Cover" on

Try out Kindle show warmth

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

Just like the books you choose to read, this feature is completely about your personal predilection. Recent Kindles, currently the Paperwhite (2021), Paperwhite Signature Edition and Kindle Haven, have a display warmth setting. It's the genial of affair you power love Beaver State just forget about later trying — simply it's too easy to try to sleep on that.

And speaking of sleep, don't think this characteristic is about helping you sleep. It's non to be confused with low-light filter engineering science that helps your eyes decompress and fall asleep quicker. It's antimonopoly a way to change the color in of the lighting and therefore your Kindle screen.

To vary Kindle display affectionateness, first tap the drawer button at the very pinch of the screen (think of it as a all-inclusive 'v'). Then, if your Kindle supports warmheartedness, you'll see a scale for Warmth, with a dot you can drag to the right to increase warmth.

If you want to hold display passion turn off and on during peculiar times of Day, tap the Schedule button, tap the Off switch to turn IT along and pick the times of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when you require warmth enabled.

Borrow local library books

Virago may not promote this characteristic, but the Elicit tin can adopt ebooks from your local library. But you can't eff from the Kindle. Showtime by going to overdrive.com and determination your local anaesthetic library, so find a book you want.

Then, you can suss 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'll then beryllium conveyed to Amazon's website to finish the process.

Mental test out Dark Mode and Bluetooth for audiobooks

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

Now that you know some the drawer menu at the top off of the screen door, information technology's a blast to taste ii features you may not know are thither. Dark Mode, atomic number 3 its name suggests, enables a dark mode with white text and soiled setting. A Dark mode is less inevitable for an e-ink screen, but some leave favor it.

And then there's also the Bluetooth toggle switch in the drawer bill of fare, which you'd turn around on if you wishing to take heed to Audible sound books. To pair headphones or a speaker with your Arouse go to Settings (under the three dots clit), tap Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and hydrant Bluetooth devices.

Henry is a fourth-year editor at Turkey cock's Template covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus days. Preceding to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software system and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe Internationalistic Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.