Kindle Reader Tips & Tricks: 12 Settings Worth Using

You can get more from your Kindle by adjusting a handful of settings and learning a few navigation tricks—most take under a minute and work on nearly every model. This guide covers the most useful tips, from battery care and font tweaks to sending documents and organizing your library. Whether you have a basic Kindle, Paperwhite, or Oasis, these tips will make reading faster, easier, and more comfortable.

Why These Tips Matter

Kindles are designed to be simple, but their menus hide useful features that many owners never find. The default settings work for most people, but small changes can reduce eye strain, extend battery life, and make it easier to find your next book. The tips below are grouped by what they do, so you can jump to the section that solves your specific problem.

Adjust the Display for Comfort

The most impactful settings are the ones that change how text looks. Go to Settings → Device Options → Display Settings (or Fonts from the reading menu). There you can:

Change the font – Amazon offers several built-in fonts, including a dyslexic-friendly option. Pick one that feels easiest to read for long sessions.
Adjust boldness and size – Sliding the boldness up can help if the text looks faint, especially on older models without a front light.
Set margins and line spacing – Wider margins and more spacing can reduce line-jumping, but they mean fewer words per page.
Turn on dark mode – Available on most recent models, this inverts the screen to white text on black. It’s easier on the eyes in a dark room and can help you fall asleep after reading.

If you read in bright sunlight, increase the brightness to max and turn off the front light entirely—the e-ink screen is reflective, so it works best with ambient light.

Extend Battery Life

Kindle batteries last weeks, but a few habits can stretch that even further. The biggest drain is the front light, especially at high brightness. Turn it off during the day if you’re reading in a well-lit room. Also:

Use airplane mode – When you’re not downloading books, turn on airplane mode from the quick settings. It stops background syncing and can double battery life.
Reduce page refresh – Some models have a “Page Refresh” setting that redraws the screen every page to avoid ghosting. Turning it off saves battery, though you may see faint afterimages.
Avoid extreme temperatures – Heat drains lithium batteries faster and can damage them. Don’t leave your Kindle in a hot car.
Charge with a low-power adapter – A standard phone charger works, but a computer USB port is gentler and fine for overnight charging.

Master the Reading Interface

Most people tap the center of the screen to turn the page, but there are faster ways:

Swipe to turn pages – Swiping left or right works on all touchscreen models and is more reliable when your hands are wet or greasy.
Tap the top of the screen – This opens the menu bar, where you can adjust brightness, go to the home screen, or search within the book.
Use the progress bar – At the bottom of the reading screen, tap the bar to jump to a specific percentage. You can also tap the percentage at the bottom left to switch between chapter, page, and time remaining.
Highlight and take notes – Press and hold a word to select it, then drag the handles to highlight a passage. Tap “Note” to add a typed note.
Look up words instantly – Tap a word to see its definition in the built-in dictionary. You can change the dictionary language in settings.

Organize Your Library

As your collection grows, the home screen can become cluttered. Use these features to keep it tidy:

Create Collections – On the Library tab, tap the three-dot menu and select “Create New Collection.” You can add books from your library or from the collection’s edit screen. Collections work like folders.
Filter by type – Use the filter button (the funnel icon) to show only books, comics, or audiobooks. You can also filter by downloaded vs. cloud items.
Sort by recent – The default sort is “Recent,” which shows the last book you opened. Change it to “Title” or “Author” if you prefer.
Remove from device – If you’re out of storage, long-press a book and select “Remove from Device.” It stays in your cloud library and can be re-downloaded anytime.

Send Documents to Your Kindle

You’re not limited to Amazon books. You can send PDFs, Word files, and even web articles to your Kindle using your Send-to-Kindle email address. Find it in Settings → Your Account → Send-to-Kindle Email. Then:

Email the document as an attachment to that address. The subject line can be blank.
Within a few minutes, the document appears in your library, synced across devices.
For web articles, use the browser extension “Send to Kindle” (available for Chrome and Firefox) to push a clean version of the article to your device.

Amazon converts most documents to the Kindle format, which lets you adjust font size and add notes. PDFs are displayed as-is, so zooming is limited.

Common Problems and Fixes

If your Kindle freezes, won’t turn on, or has a blank screen, try these steps in order:

Restart – Hold the power button for 40 seconds, then release. This forces a restart even if the screen is frozen.
Charge for 30 minutes – If the battery is completely drained, the screen may stay black until it has enough power to boot.
Check for software updates – Go to Settings → Device Options → Advanced Options → Update Your Kindle. Install any pending update.
Reset to factory – This wipes your device, but your books are safe in the cloud. Use it only if nothing else works.

If the screen has a permanent ghost image, it’s a hardware issue—contact Amazon support if it’s under warranty.

Kindle vs. Other E-Readers

Kindles are the most popular e-readers, but they’re not the only option. Kobo devices support more file formats (like EPUB natively) and have better library integration with OverDrive. Barnes & Noble’s Nook is also available. However, Kindle’s main advantage is the vast Amazon ecosystem: exclusive books, Kindle Unlimited, and seamless syncing with the Kindle app on phones and tablets. If you already own many Kindle books, switching is a hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get free books on my Kindle? Amazon has a “Kindle Deals” page with daily discounts, and many classics are free in the Kindle Store. You can also borrow e-books from your local library using the Libby app, which sends them to your Kindle via Amazon’s website.

Can I read Kindle books on my phone? Yes, download the free Kindle app for iOS or Android. Your books, notes, and reading progress sync automatically via Whispersync.

Why is my Kindle battery draining fast? The most common causes are a bright front light, Wi-Fi being on, and frequent page refreshes. Turn on airplane mode and lower brightness to see a big improvement.

How do I take a screenshot on my Kindle? Tap the top-right and bottom-left corners of the screen simultaneously (or top-left and bottom-right). The screenshot is saved in the root folder of your Kindle’s storage.

Can I read in the bath? Most newer Kindles (Paperwhite and above) are water-resistant with an IPX8 rating, meaning they can survive immersion in fresh water. The basic Kindle is not water-resistant, so keep it away from splashes.

How do I return a book I bought by mistake? Go to Amazon’s website, find the order, and select “Return for a refund.” You have 7 days from purchase, and the book is removed from your device.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →