Why Is My Kindle Paperwhite Not Syncing? (Easy Fix!)
Are you worried and looking for solutions to – Kindle Paperwhite not syncing issue? Stay with us, we have the answer!
The Kindle Paperwhite is designed to automatically sync with any changes made through your Amazon account on the web or through the mobile application.
Potential syncing issues can be caused by an unstable internet connection, book problems, or faults with the “Whispersync.”
You can effectively address the Paperwhite’s syncing issues by:
For a thorough walkthrough of the solutions, progress further into the guide!
How to Fix Whenever Kindle Paperwhite Not Syncing?
Note: Have you tried refreshing the items list and rebooting the e-reader?
1. Sync the Kindle Paperwhite Properly
The first step is to conduct a proper synchronization of the Kindle Paperwhite. Although the synchronizations on your Paperwhite e-reader are automatic, the Kindle might have run into a one-time error.
Hence, it failed to display newly added items to your Amazon account’s library.
Here’s how to sync the Kindle Paperwhite in easy steps:
- Navigate to the Kindle’s home menu and swipe downwards.
- Varying on the model, navigate to “Quick Actions” or “Menu.”
- Locate the “Sync” option or “Sync and Check for Items” tile.
- Confirm the sync and wait until the Kindle adds the new items.
So, based on the Kindle’s performance, the synchronization procedure may take as long as 60 seconds.
Do not power off the e-reader or interact with the device in any way before the new items are displayed in your library.
2. Restore Kindle Paperwhite’s Wi-Fi
Since all Kindle e-readers sync automatically, there must be a stable connection to the internet in order for all of your books to transfer.
That’s why the internet connection is the most crucial thing to check whenever one or more of your books aren’t syncing.
Here’s how to restore the Kindle Paperwhite’s Wi-Fi connection:
- Swipe downwards from the home screen of the Kindle.
- Next, access the “Quick Actions” menu from the page.
- Navigate to the “Wi-Fi & Bluetooth” or “Wireless” tab.
- Wait until your Paperwhite scans all available networks.
- Select your home network from the list of connections.
- Write down your password to connect the Paperwhite.
Test Kindle On Mobile Hotspot:
Since an unstable Wi-Fi connection is the primary cause of synchronization issues, you can connect the Kindle to your smartphone’s hotspot and test it.
Most Androids and all iPhones have a built-in hotspot/tethering feature, allowing the sharing of mobile data and connection to it.
- To enable the hotspot on most Androids, go to “Settings” → “Network & Internet” or “Wi-Fi” → “Hotspot & tethering” and check the SSID and password.
- To enable the hotspot on your iPhone, open the “Settings” app, access the “Personal Hotspot,” enable “Allow Others to Join” and check the password.
Tip: Enable the “Maximize Compatibility” on the iPhone to ensure the e-reader discovers the Wi-Fi.
3. Use the “Sync to Furthest Page Read”
If not all books of a particular book are synchronized, you can use the “Sync to Furthest Page Read” feature on the Kindle Paperwhite.
All you need to do is access the books that are missing content and extend the quick actions menu to use the Furthest Page Read sync.
Here’s how to sync an incomplete book on the Kindle Paperwhite:
- Navigate to the library on the Kindle Paperwhite device.
- Access a book that could be missing content or pages.
- Tap the three vertical dots on the upper screen corner.
- Tap on “Sync to Furthest Page Read” from the menu.
- Next, wait until all of the book’s pages are synchronized.
It’s advised to go through all books accessible through the Kindle and determine if either pages or content is missing.
If so, apply the instructions above to synchronize all of the progress with your Amazon account.
4. Update Kindle Application’s Firmware
If the Kindle Paperwhite not syncing with Kindle app, the problem is possibly related to an outdated firmware of the platform.
Amazon tends to release updates for the Kindle application periodically and if not applied, there could be issues with the book transfer and the syncing.
4.1 How to Update the Kindle App On Android?
- Open the Google Play Store on your mobile Android device.
- Press on your profile icon situated in the upper-right corner.
- Click the “Manage apps & device” button from the options.
- Locate the Kindle application from the list of installed apps.
- Check if there’s an “Update Available” icon next to Kindle.
- Optional: Press “Update” to apply the latest Kindle version.
4.2 How to Update the Kindle App On iOS?
- Open the App Store on your iOS-powered iPhone or iPad.
- Next, tap the “My Account” button or on your profile icon.
- Scroll to the “Pending Updates and Release Notes” page.
- Tap the “Update” button next to the Kindle application’s icon.
- Optional: Tap “Update All” to update installed applications.
Note: Your smartphone must have a secure connection to a nearby Wi-Fi network or a cellular to update the Kindle platform and potentially other applications.
5. Reactivate the “Whispersync” Feature
The “Whispersync” is the technology used by Amazon to remotely share data from the Amazon account to any Kindle model.
Hence, a potential issue with the feature will cancel the automatic synchronization and prevent some of the books or book content from appearing on the e-reader.
You can manage the Whispersync feature both through the Kindle application or the settings of your Paperwhite e-reader.
5.1 How to Check “Whispersync” Through the Kindle App?
- Open the Kindle application and tap the More button.
- Navigate to “Settings” → “Whispersync for Books.”
- Check if the feature is set to “Enabled” or “Disabled.”
- Optional: Turn off the feature for about 15 seconds.
5.2 How to Check “Whispersync” Through Kindle Paperwhite?
- On your e-reader, go to “More” → “Settings” → “Device Options.”
- Select “Advanced Options” and locate the Whispersync feature.
- Select “Whispersync for Books and Notebooks” from the page.
- Set the feature to “Disabled” and wait for about 20–25 seconds.
Note: If Whispersync has been disabled until now, none of the books and items in your Amazon account will be transferred to Paperwhite.
6. Restore Kindle Paperwhite’s Settings
If the issue persists, and your e-reader is not syncing, we strongly recommend flushing the settings of your Kindle Paperwhite by performing a factory reset.
The reset takes about 2 minutes and requires the full capacity of the Kindle Paperwhite’s battery.
Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the Kindle Paperwhite:
- Go to “Quick Actions” or “Menu” from Kindle’s homepage.
- Enter the “Settings” or “All Settings” tab from the section.
- Access the “Device Options” or “Menu” tab from the page.
- Select “Factory Reset” or “Reset Device” for older models.
- Select “Yes” to initiate the restoration whenever prompted.
Note: Interfering with the Kindle Paperwhite in any way during the reset could cancel it.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.