Kindle Paperwhite Blank Screen? (Here’s The Fix You Need!)

If you’re facing the well-known Kindle Paperwhite blank screen, don’t worry and keep reading!

Suppose the Kindle Paperwhite appears to be unresponsive or even “frozen” on the loading screen.

In that case, the issue is often related to the firmware version, the system’s health, and the e-reader battery.

We’ve discovered multiple reliable solutions for Kindle’s blank screen issue:

Keep reading for a full walkthrough of the solutions from above!

How to Fix the Kindle Paperwhite Blank Screen in Easy Steps?

Note: Have you checked if the Paperwhite responds to any inputs at all?

1. Force Restart the Kindle Paperwhite

The force reset is a working solution to any faults impacting the Kindle Paperwhite functionality.

In order to perform a force restart, the Kindle must first be connected to power and charged to a sufficient battery capacity. 

Here’s how to perform a force restart on the Kindle Paperwhite:

1. Connect the Kindle Paperwhite to the micro-USB charger.
2. Plug the other end of the cable into an A/C power adapter.
3. Wait for 2–3 minutes until the Paperwhite receives power.
4. Next, hold the Kindle’s “Power” button for 30–40 seconds.
5. Release the button if Kindle’s display changes or lights up.

If your Kindle is still unresponsive, press the e-reader’s screen and hold the “Power” button for another 30 seconds to test. 

Note: This time, disconnect your Paperwhite charger, regardless of how much it has charged.

2. Charge Kindle to Maximum Capacity

The Kindle Paperwhite’s battery could have bricked up, preventing the OS from starting up and resulting in a constant blank screen.

There are a few tips for ensuring that the Kindle is charging properly and checking if the internal battery is faulty.

First, connect the Kindle Paperwhite to the original charger provided by Amazon and wait for at least 5–10 minutes until the e-reader shows a sign of functionality. 

How to Check for Charging Issues?

If the blank white screen is still there after charging the Kindle for several minutes, there could be a fault with the charging process. 

Well, there are several steps you can undertake to verify that the Kindle is receiving power and eliminate potential charging issues:

• Ensure the charging cord is securely connected.
• Connect your power adapter to a different outlet.
• Check if the Kindle’s charging port is obstructed.
• Use a different charging cable for the Paperwhite.

If the Kindle is receiving power steadily, the “Battery” lamp right next to the charging port should be illuminated at all times.

If the lamp does not light up at all, your Kindle Paperwhite is failing to receive power from the charger.

Quick Tip: If you have a replacement power adapter/cable, try implementing it into your setup.

3. Deregister the Kindle From Amazon

The blank white screen on Kindle Paperwhite can also be fixed by deregistering your e-reader from your Amazon account.

Conducting deregistration revokes the Kindle’s access to all of your books, but your Amazon account will still have access.

Follow these steps to deregister the Kindle Paperwhite:

1. Open the Amazon app or Amazon website on your device.
2. Extend the “Quick Actions” section in the upper-right corner.
3. Navigate to “Settings” or “All Settings” from the menu pane.
4. Head to “Your/My Account” from the Amazon settings section.
5. Find the Kindle Paperwhite and tap on the “Deregister” option.

Note: You cannot return a deregistered Kindle Paperwhite for a warranty repair or replacement.

How to Free Up Storage On Kindle Paperwhite?

In some cases, the Kindle Paperwhite may behave unusually if the storage is filled up and even refuse to start.

You can free up space on Kindle by uninstalling read or books you don’t need.

1. Access your Amazon account through the app or a browser.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines located in the upper right.
3. After that, scroll to the “Kindle Apps & Resources” category.
4. Click the “Manage your Content and Devices” from the bottom.
5. Select all read or unnecessary books from the storage section.
6. Click “Uninstall” at the tab to uninstall your books from Kindle.

Tip: Always keep the Kindle’s storage occupation at less than 80% to ensure optimal speeds.

4. Press the Kindle’s Screen and Bezel

So, if the Kindle’s battery is having issues with remaining intact, pressing on your Paperwhite’s display and back panel could help with the loading issue.

It’s an unusual resolution, but many users suggested that the Paperwhite was failing to load due to the battery not staying in place.

First, disconnect the Kindle Paperwhite from the charger and press on the upper part of the display and bezel.

Turn the Kindle Paperwhite and proceed to push from the upper section of the back panel towards the bottom using your two thumbs.

After you’ve gone over both the display and back panel of the e-reader, hold the “Power” button for 40 seconds and test the e-reader’s functionality. 

5. Issue a Factory Reset Through a PC

There’s a workaround to initiating a factory reset on your Kindle Paperwhite, even if the e-reader appears unresponsive and frozen.

To issue a remote factory reset, you need a compatible USB cable and a computer or a laptop using a Windows OS.

Here’s how to start a factory reset on your Kindle through a computer:

1. Disconnect your Kindle’s charging cable from the A/C adapter.
2. Connect one end of the cable to your Kindle and into the PC.
3. Go to “This PC” and access the new Kindle drive that showed.
4. Create an empty text document in the main folder of the drive.
5. Name the file “DO_FACTORY_RESTORE” after the file is there.
6. Next, access the File Explorer through the Windows start menu.
7. Click on “View” and uncheck “Hide extensions for known files.”
8. Click “Apply” → “OK” and exit the file explorer configuration tab.
9. Delete the “.txt” extension from the new text file you’ve created.
10. Next, close the Kindle’s driver and safely eject the device’s USB.
11. Hold the “Power” button on the Kindle Paperwhite for 40 seconds.

If the factory reset file has been registered correctly, your Kindle Paperwhite should initiate the factory restoration.

This will start after 15–20 seconds of holding the device’s “Power” button.

6. Temporarily Remove Kindle’s Battery

If you still face the Kindle Paperwhite screen blank issue and your e-reader is out of coverage, then you might as well reinstall the e-reader’s battery.

It takes less than 2 minutes to take out the Kindle’s battery and does not require advanced technical knowledge or skills.

• It’s also recommended to wait until your e-reader battery is fully depleted prior to accessing the hardware.

The blank screen will accelerate the battery depletion, as it signifies that the e-reader is currently working and consuming power.

How to Access & Remove Kindle Paperwhite Battery?

1. Remove the 10 screws keeping Kindle’s back panel intact.
2. Use a prying tool to separate the back panel of the Kindle.
3. Carefully lift the cover to expose the Kindle’s hardware end.
4. Use the appropriate screwdriver to undo the battery screws.
5. Next, eject the Kindle Paperwhite battery and hold “Power.”
6. Release the button after 30 seconds and install the battery.

Note: Verify the Kindle’s battery is charging to an optimal capacity before turning on the device.