Kindle Paperwhite Not Downloading Books? (Quick Fix)

If your Kindle Paperwhite not downloading books automatically, we have a working solution!

By default, all Kindle e-readers are designed to sync with the content from your Amazon profile and automatically download all newly added books.

We’ve found that the most common reasons why Kindle isn’t downloading books include:

There are up to 6 unique solutions to address this problem, so keep reading further!

How to Fix When Kindle Paperwhite Not Downloading Books?

Note: Have you checked if the book you wish to download is supported on an e-reader?

1. Inspect the Kindle’s Internet Connection

Kindle will be unable to download any store books without a proper connection to the internet.

Therefore, the first thing you must check is Kindle’s Wi-Fi status and reconnect the e-reader with a network, before attempting to download any books.

Here’s how to reconnect Kindle to the Wi-Fi in easy steps:

1. From the homepage, swipe down and open “Quick Actions.”
2. Select “All Settings” or just “Settings” from the Kindle menu.
3. Navigate to the “Wi-Fi & Bluetooth” or “Wireless” category.
4. Wait until all compatible networks appear on the Paperwhite.
5. Pick your home network from the list and type the passcode.
6. Wait until the Kindle is connected and attempt to download.

If Kindle’s Wi-Fi status is “Connected” but there doesn’t seem to be any internet, the issue could be with the network’s router, modem, or the Wi-Fi settings.

Note: All Kindle Paperwhite models only support 2.4 GHz connections!

How to Test Kindle On Mobile Hotspot?

You can test the Kindle Paperwhite on a hotspot as long as your smartphone has mobile data and a hotspot feature. 

Here’s how to enable it on Android and iOS:

• To enable hotspot for most Android phones, go to “Settings” → “Network & Internet” then access the “Hotspot & tethering tab”, enable it, and check the password’s value.
• To enable hotspot on iOS, open the “Settings” app, go to “Personal Hotspot”, enable the “Allow Others to Join” feature, and check the password right underneath the feature.

You can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to a hotspot like you would to a regular Wi-Fi network, as long as the hotspot runs on a compatible frequency.

2. Re-Sync the Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader

Another reason why the books not downloading on Kindle Paperwhite is because of a syncing problem.

If the books do not appear automatically, the Kindle might have lost the connection to your Amazon account due to an issue with the automatic sync process. 

Here’s how to re-sync the Kindle Paperwhite manually:

1. Swipe down to “Menu” or “Quick Actions” from Kindle’s homepage.
2. Select the “Sync and Check for Items” or just the “Sync” feature.
3. Wait until the Kindle Paperwhite attempts to reestablish connection.

How to Solve Syncing Issues with Kindle Paperwhite?

If the Kindle is refusing to sync, there could be multiple causes resulting in this error. Here are some effective methods to address Kindle’s syncing issues:

• Ensure the Kindle app is updated to the latest version.
• Ensure the “Whispersync” feature on Amazon is “ON.”
• Check the registration status of the Kindle Paperwhite.

Syncing is what allows the Kindle Paperwhite to automatically display purchased books once they are added to your Amazon account.

3. Upload the Book to Kindle Paperwhite

In case of a syncing failure, there’s an easy way to deliver downloaded books manually through the Amazon application or website.

All you need is the user account shared with your Kindle and the purchased book you wish to deliver the Kindle Paperwhite.

Here’s how to manually deliver books to your Kindle Paperwhite:

1. Sign in to your Amazon account that has your purchased book.
2. Navigate to “Manage Your Content and Devices” from the menu.
3. Next, click on the “Books” tile to view all of the purchased books.
4. Click/tap the checkbox next to the book you wish to be uploaded.
5. Click the “Deliver to Default Device (or) Others…” and then Kindle.
6. When Kindle is specified as the delivery device, wait 15 seconds.

Quick Tip: You can specify the Kindle Paperwhite as the default delivery destination for books through the “Manage Your Content and Devices” section.

4. Update Kindle to the Current Firmware

If Kindle’s book downloading problem persists, the issue could be related to outdated device firmware.

All Kindle Paperwhite models have a “Firmware Update” section in their menu, but uploading the firmware manually remains an alternative.

Here’s how to check if there’s a newer version for your Kindle:

1. From the Kindle’s home screen, navigate to the “Menu” tab.
2. Go to “Settings” and tap the menu icon from the page again.
3. Tap “Update Your Kindle” and tap “OK” to begin the process.
4. If the Kindle is securely connected, the download should begin.

To update the Kindle Paperwhite manually, you will have to upload the firmware file to Kindle’s directory through a computer.

The procedure is relatively simple and all you need is the Kindle’s charging cable and a file containing the latest OS.

5. Free Up Storage on the Kindle Paperwhite

If Kindle Paperwhite not downloading new books, then you should free as much of the device’s storage as possible.

Consider uninstalling old and read books to reduce the amount of occupied storage on the e-reader and free up space for new books.

Note: You can either manage the Kindle’s storage through the device itself or use the connected Amazon account through any machine.

5.1 How to Uninstall Books Through Kindle Paperwhite?

1. Navigate to “Settings” → “All Settings” on the Kindle Paperwhite.
2. Extend the “Menu” tab (the three dots icon) and head to “Settings.”
3. Select “Device Options” and access the “Advanced Options” tab.
4. Pick “Storage Management” and select “Manual Removal” below.
5. Pick at least 10–15 books you’ve read or are no longer interested in.
6. Next, tap the “Remove” button on the bottom of the page for removal.

5.2 How to Uninstall Books Through an Amazon Account?

1. Sign in to your Amazon account through the app or website.
2. Expand the actions menu by pressing the three-line icon.
3. After that, scroll to the “Kindle Apps & Resources” section.
4. Click the “Manage Your Content and Devices” from below.
5. Select the checkbox next to each book you wish to uninstall.
6. Click “Delete” at the bottom to remove the books from Kindle.

Important: It’s always advised to uninstall books you’ve read or no longer need to preserve the storage on your Kindle Paperwhite. 

6. Factory Reset Kindle Paperwhite’s System

If the issue is still there, then you must certainly factory reset the Kindle Paperwhite to address the problem.

There could be storage-level corruption, requiring a full software cleanup so that the Kindle Paperwhite can download books uninterrupted.

Here are the instructions to factory reset the Kindle Paperwhite:

1. Access the “Quick Actions” or “Menu” page on the Kindle unit.
2. Head to the “Settings” or “All Settings” tab from the page below.
3. Access the “Devices Options” menu and select “Factory Reset.”
4. Optional: Select “Reset Device” again for older Kindle devices.
5. Wait until the factory reset finalizes before testing the Kindle unit.

Tip: Connect the Kindle Paperwhite to a charger for the factory reset’s continuity!

One More Thing!

Have you tried downloading a different book? Sometimes the problem might not be related to your Kindle e-reader, rather than to the book itself, especially if there is a server-related problem.

So, if you still can’t download the book you want, go for a book that is free, and try downloading it to tighten the circle of possibilities further.