How to Soft and Hard Reset a Kindle Fire Tablet

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A step-by-step guide on rebooting your Kindle Fire device

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 23, 2024 Fact Checked

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Soft Reset

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Factory Reset

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Is your Kindle Fire tablet running slow or glitching? If so, it may be time for a reset! Resetting your Kindle Fire can help troubleshoot issues like speed and overall performance. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of completing a Soft or Hard Reset on your device and describe which is likely best for you.

Things You Should Know

A Soft Reset restores your tablet's settings without deleting your data or personal information.
A Factory or Hard Reset restores your tablet to its factory settings (the way it was when you purchased it) and deletes all your data and personal information.
Do a Soft Resets by holding down the Power and Volume buttons simultaneously, or a Factory Resets by selecting “Reset to Factory Defaults” in settings.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Performing a Soft Reset

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1
Try a Soft Reset to reset the settings on your Kindle Fire. A Soft Reset restores your Kindle to its factory settings without deleting any data. This type of reset is the most helpful if your device has incorrect settings or needs to be rebooted.^{[1]
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- Soft Resets are typically the go-to for any and all troubleshooting. If your Kindle Fire is running slow, freezing, or isn’t updating, try a soft reset to kick it back in gear.
Before performing a Soft Reset, plug in your Kindle’s charger. This isn’t necessary to do a Soft Reset, but your Kindle may malfunction if it isn’t charged properly.

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Hold your Kindle’s Power and Volume buttons down for 20 seconds. This forces the Kindle to turn off (even if it’s frozen). Continue holding the buttons simultaneously until the screen turns off completely.^{[2]
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- The Power button is on the top right-hand side of the device.
- The Volume button is on the left corner of the tablet.
- If you have a Kindle HD or HDX (1st through 4th generation models), only hold down the Power button.^{[3]
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Release the Power and Volume buttons when your Kindle turns off. Once the screen blackens on your Kindle, let go of the buttons. Wait about 10 seconds before doing anything else to ensure the Kindle resets.^{[4]
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- If you’re charging the Kindle at the same time, wait at least 15 minutes for it to charge before moving on to the next step.
After waiting 10 seconds, press the Power button again to turn the tablet back on. Continue holding the Power button until the screen lights up.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Performing a Hard or Factory Reset

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Perform a Factory Reset to reset everything on your Kindle. A Factory or Hard Reset deletes all the data and files from your tablet and restores it to its factory settings (how it was when you bought it). This type of reset can be helpful if there are intermittent errors, failing hardware, or malfunctioning files on the device.^{[6]
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- A Factory Reset is ideal if you’re gifting, selling, or recycling your Kindle Fire, as it helps prevent any of your private information from falling into the wrong hands.
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Backup your data before doing the reset. Performing a Factory Reset on your Kindle will delete all of its data, including in-app purchases, passwords, and files. Make sure to back up anything important on your tablet to your computer or a cloud storage service. Do this by plugging your Kindle into your computer with its charging cable and following the on-screen instructions.
- Anything you've purchased from the Amazon App Store can be re-downloaded after you log back in.
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Plug your Kindle Fire into a charger if it’s not charged. You won't be able to perform a Factory Reset if the tablet has a low charge (anything above 30% is ideal).^{[7]
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- If your Kindle isn't charging, there could be a problem with the charging cable itself. Try a different charger to see if it’ll charge. If it doesn’t, contact Amazon for individualized support at 1-888-280-4331.
Swipe down on the top of the screen to open the menu bar. Then, click on “Settings” in the upper right corner.^{[8]
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Tap “Device Options” to open your Kindle’s settings. Locate “Device Options” on the list of available settings. Click on it to open a new window of more options.^{[9]
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- If you have a 1st or 2nd generation Kindle Fire, click on the option “More” after selecting “Settings” to find “Device Options.”
This will prompt a confirmation warning stating that resetting your device will remove all of your data and personal information. If you wish to continue with the Factory Reset, tap “Reset.”^{[10]
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The Factory Reset process takes a few minutes to complete, and your Kindle Fire will reboot when it’s finished. When the device reboots, it’ll start up like it’s being started for the first time.
Your tablet will act like it’s brand new after a Factory Reset. So, follow the instructions on the screen to set up the device. Logging in with your Amazon account will restore all of your books and data saved through your account.^{[11]
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Test out your newly-reset Kindle to see if the problem from before remains. Ideally, the tablet should have a better performance and speed than before. If it doesn’t and/or the problem remains, contact Amazon Support at 1-888-280-4331 for a more personalized solution.

Community Q&A

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My Kindle wiped away my photos and apps. How do I retrieve them?

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Community Answer

Unfortunately, you probably can't. It sounds like they were permanently deleted from your device. If you shared them on an app, you may be able to get them back from there.

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How do I put my apps back onto my Kindle Fire?

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If you had registered your device, your apps should be on your cloud. If not, you would have to go back to the app store and re download them from there.

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What do I do if I factory reset my Kindle Fire and can't remember my password?

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Look through the instruction manual, or look up the number call it and it will allow you to reset it through email.

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