Why is my Kindle Paper white slow? [How to fix it]

Why is the Kindle Paperwhite so slow? The Kindle Paperwhite problems include it being slow for some users and this is because older models would ghost images, not connect to the internet, battery would drain quickly, and the device may not had shown the items in the right location in the menu.

Luckily, the more recent models and updates to the Kindle devices have fixed most of these issues…

However, if you are still having problems with your kindle or if your kindle paperwhite is slow, then we will discuss why its slow and how you can fix it.

What can you do to fix the kindle paperwhite being so slow? The most common fix to a slow kindle paperwhite is to restart the device or update it.

The Kindle Paperwhite and Oasis is super portable and newer models even have a waterproof construction… It’s everything you need to have with you wherever you go.

If you’re confused about ads vs no ads on the kindle, see our post: Kindle (Ads vs No Ads) Is Without Ads Worth It?

Still, many users have reported slow response issues or even freezing. All of these problems can be fixed with a few simple factory reset and additional tricks. 

In this post, we will answer all the important questions about the reported issues that your Kindle Paperwhite might have. After this 5 minute read, you will be able to solve any problems you might have with your Kindle being slow and why it is slow or freezing.

Why is my Kindle Paperwhite Slow?

Many users report that Kindle Paperwhite is slow to respond and takes forever to turn a page of your e-book or even restart the device.

The Kindle Paperwhite is a device that is not made for multitasking. If you only use it for reading, the device would work perfectly and live longer.

It can handle images and PDFs, but not too many. In this case, you need to check if there is anything running in the background of the device because that could slow it down.

Another important factor to consider is if you are trying to download more than one document at once. This would cause the device to slow down and affect its performance.

If you’re in need of a stand for kindle, see the 9 Best Kindle Paperwhite Stands and Holders (stand cases)

Moreover, if you are downloading documents from sources other than Amazon, this could be difficult for the Kindle to handle and it won’t respond optimally. This is not a normal tablet where you can freely use a browser to download documents of any kind.

How do I fix a slow Kindle Paperwhite?

In case your Kindle Paperwhite slows down and the performance of the device is not what it should be or what it was in the beginning we have a few tricks you can try.

First, try restarting the device. Many problems can be fixed if you turn the device off and on again. Sometimes we forget to restart electronic devices properly and that leads to such problems.

• To restart a Kindle, just press the power button for approximately 6-7 seconds. On the screen, you will see the option to restart your device. Press it and maybe this will fix the problem.

If this does not work, try rebooting your Kindle Paperwhite. To reboot a Kindle, all you have to do is press and hold the power button for 40-45 seconds. The device will turn black and then it will restart.

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If you try this trick, the Kindle will turn off all background activity. Rebooting your device can also help if your device is frozen.

Last but not least, you can try updating the software. In most cases, if you are connected to the internet, the device will update the software itself to the latest version.

Related: Fire HD vs Kindle Paperwhite: Which is Better for Reading?

But sometimes this doesn’t happen, so you can check. Go to the device’s settings by pressing the menu button. Then hit the menu button again to access the settings. In the settings, you may see “Update Your Kindle.”

If this option is grayed out, it means you don’t have any updates. However, if you can press it, you should be able to update the device. It will take a while, but your device will probably work like new without being slow afterwards.

Why is the Kindle so laggy

Many users report that the Kindle Paperwhite sometimes lags or freezes and becomes unresponsive. But what does it mean that the Kindle lags or freezes? It means that your device may stop responding even if you press the menu button or don’t open your e-books.

In this case, there are a few things you should check. First, you need to check if your device is trying to download documents. In this case, it all depends on your internet connection. You have probably tried to download a document before and the device had problems with it.

Also see: 11 Best Bluetooth Headphones for Kindle Fire, PaperWhite, and Oasis

So, make sure you have enough space on the device and that you are only downloading e-books from Amazon. Otherwise, your Kindle won’t be able to process and open them as it normally would.

Moreover, Kindle Paperwhite is not designed to download many documents at the same time, especially those that require a lot of storage space. Therefore, you might experience delays and performance might not be as usual. 

How do I make my Kindle run faster (Speed up)

Kindle Paperwhite may run or respond slower than usual. Most often, this happens while you are trying to access the next page of your e-book or while you are surfing the web.

There is no need to panic, as many devices show such symptoms after a while of use. In this case, you can try a few things to get your Kindle running like new again.

The first thing you should try is to restart the device because you may have forgotten to turn it off. In such cases, the device simply needs to be restarted in order to work properly.

If this is not the case for you, check the Settings of your Kindle to see if you have enough free space. If you don’t have much free space, you can go to Downloads and get rid of some large files and documents that you no longer need.

If any of the previous steps didn’t help, check to see if there are updates available for your Kindle Paperwhite. Normally it should do the updates automatically, but sometimes the update will fail if you don’t have a stable internet connection.

Related: 7 Best Amazon Fire HD Tablets for Reading E-books

If you are able to press the “Update your Kindle” command, the update will start, if not, you already have the latest version of the software. I found it particularly interesting that the e-reader ownership doubled in six months (source).

Kindle Paperwhite won’t turn on

Many users have reported in the past that their Kindle Paperwhite isn’t turning on, as if the battery is dead. If your Kindle is experiencing such a problem, you need to check a few things.

First, you need to check that your Kindle charger and USB cable are working properly. Try charging another device with this charger. If the other device is charging properly, the problem is not with the charger.

Keep in mind that a damaged battery will show some signs before it dissipates. You may see an orange light flashing while you charge your Kindle, or it may shake even if it’s on a flat surface.

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Another possible scenario is that the battery itself drops below the voltage required for proper operation. For example, if you have not used your device in a while and you try to charge it, an exclamation mark will appear on the screen and you won’t be able to do anything.

In this case, you simply need to leave the device plugged in longer. It will charge, but it will take a little longer than usual, probably around 3 hours. The exclamation mark will probably disappear after an hour on the plug.

How long does a Kindle Paperwhite last

When fully charged, the Kindle Paperwhite will last up to 28 hours. In any case, as the instructions correctly mentions, it depends on usage. For instance, battery life depends on light settings.

Another factor that affects battery life is whether you stream audiobooks via Bluetooth. That being said, if you only use your Kindle once in a while or for half an hour a day, it will last up to 6 weeks.

Related: How Long Does a MacBook Pro Battery Last?

You can try turning off settings you don’t use, such as the backlight, or while downloading new e-books, connect the device to your computer. Another solution is to turn off your device when you aren’t using it.

Kindle Paperwhite Frozen: How to fix it

If your Kindle Paperwhite freezes or locks up, then there are a few things that you can try. Simple steps can help your device in this situation.

To fix your Kindle Paperwhite that is frozen or locked up, you can restart your device by holding down the power button for 40-45 seconds. This will fix the frozen problem with your Kindle. The Kindle will turn black and then it will restart.

If this doesn’t work and you can still see the e-book you are reading on the screen, you will need to close the e-book by removing it. Press the menu button to go on the Home screen. If this is the case, press and hold the button on the e-book.

Also see: Best Digital Writing Pads (Electronic Notebooks)

From the pop-up menu, select Remove from Device. Then restart the device.

For most, the kindle frozen screen means the screen saver won’t budge and the device is unresponsive. In the past, the older kindle Paperwhite would stuck on the tree screen and the factory reset would work wonders on fixing this.

Why are kindles so slow compared to other current devices

Kindle Paperwhite devices are designed exclusively for reading. That means they have long battery life and are not multitasking devices. So their hardware isn’t optimised for speed.

Over the years, the Kindle has gotten better and faster, but it’s still not particularly fast. If by “not fast” you mean the Kindle is slower than usual when browsing or downloading e-books, there are some tricks you can try to make it faster.

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Still, Kindles usually run slower than other devices like tablets or laptops because they are not designed for multiple purposes.

Kindle stuck on waking up

According to many users their Kindle device sometimes gets stuck on the wake-up screen. If this happens to you as well, you should try to reboot your device by holding down the power button for 40-45 seconds.

If this doesn’t work and you are still stuck, try connecting the device to your laptop or PC and updating the software. In most cases, if a Kindle is on the wake up screen, it needs to be updated. The only way to do this manually is to use another device (laptop or computer).

Kindle paperwhite page turn problems

If you are facing page problems, try a simple but helpful solution. Refresh the page by selecting the “Settings” option (at the top right corner on the screen), then hit the “Reading Options” and “Turn on Page Refresh.”

This will allow your Kindle to refresh the page. By following this solution, you will continue using it in no time.

How to switch off my kindle Paperwhite

Switching off your Paperwhite is a smart thing to do, especially if your device is lagging. But even if it isn’t slow, you should turn off your Kindle Paperwhite from time to time.

Turning off a Kindle Paperwhite is very easy. All you have to do is press and hold the power button for 7-8 seconds until the power on menu appears. From the menu, select the “Screen Off” option.

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Kindle Paperwhite won’t turn off

If the Kindle Paperwhite won’t turn off, it’s likely the same type of error that is causing the kindle to react slow or lock up on the frozen screen saver display. In this case, a restart is required. If the restart does not solve the issue, then updating the device or ensuring it is fully charged is your next option. Finally, if the kindle paperwhite still won’t turn off, you can reach out or seek amazon support for more answers.

Bottom line

The Amazon Paperwhite being so slow is usually the result of an older model that is not updated or not upgraded. This is particularly true when connecting to wifi and looking up a definition or a search function. I found my older kindle paperwhite was very slow. The newer model and the oasis are much faster and this is just one way to speed up your kindle.

Even though Amazon has developed Kindle Paperwhite, an amazing device solely made for reading e-books, the lock screen would occasionally stick to its current image and won’t turn off.

It’s newer models work much better and it is considered an affordable device that has been updated over the years to make you feel like you are holding a real book and turning the pages, meaning less lag and stuttering.