Whether you're crushing a new TV series or sending work emails, there's nothing more frustrating than when your Amazon Fire® tablet suddenly stops working. Fire tablets (formerly known as Kindle Fire) are great for reading, watching, gaming, and more, but like all devices, they do experience glitches. Unsure what to do when your Fire is stuck on the logo or suddenly can't connect to Wi-Fi? You've come to the right place.
Here at Asurion, we find and fix tech issues—fast. Whether you need help speeding up your phone, fixing a TV with no sound, or stopping annoying spam text messages, our experts can help no matter what the problem is. Here's their guide to troubleshooting five common Amazon Fire issues: a frozen or unresponsive screen, charging issues, problems connecting to Wi-Fi, app errors and audio problems.
Fire stuck on logo screen
If your Fire tablet is frozen and stuck on the logo screen or the screen isn't responding, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try. We'll start with the most straightforward solution and restart your Fire tablet, otherwise known as a soft reset. Here’s how:
- Press and hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds or until your device turns off.
- If you see an onscreen prompt to turn off your tablet, ignore it.
- Once the device is off, press the Power button again to turn it back on.
If your device is still frozen after performing a soft reset, you can try a hard reset, aka resetting your device to its factory settings. If that doesn't help, reach out to an expert for help with Amazon Fire repairs.
Charging issues
There are a few reasons your Fire tablet might not charge. Before you read on, make sure that:
- You're using the power adapter and cable that came with your tablet.
- You're charging from a power outlet that works. (Don't rely on a USB port connected to a computer—it increases charging time and may not charge at all.)
- The cable fits snugly into your device and power adapter.
- Your device isn't charging in a cold or hot environment. Tablets and extreme temperatures don't mix.
Once you've checked those items, try these fixes.
- Unplug the power adapter and cable from your device.
- Reconnect them to your device and a power outlet.
- If your device doesn't indicate that it's charging, unplug the power adapter and restart the device.
- Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. If you see the message "Do you want to shut down your Fire?" tap OK. Once your device has completely turned off, press the Power button for a few seconds to turn it back on.
- Plug the power adapter and cable into the device and charge for at least an hour.
- If your tablet still isn't charging, you may need a repair. Schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
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How to factory reset your Fire tablet
A factory reset—also known as a hard reset—erases the personal data and downloaded content on your Fire, restoring it to its original settings. It's an important step if you're selling or donating your device, but it can also fix your Fire tablet if it's stopped responding. If your tablet is frozen, you won't be able to use the screen to reset it. However, Recovery Mode will let you reset your device. Here's how:
- Turn off your Fire.
- Press and hold a combination of buttons, depending on your model. For Kindle Fire® HD (3rd generation) and Amazon Fire tablet (5th generation and newer): press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Release after 5 seconds. For Kindle Fire HDX (3rd generation) devices, Amazon Fire (4th generation) devices, and Amazon Fire HD 10 (7th generation): press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time. Release them immediately after a logo appears on the screen.
- Since the touch screen won't be active, use the Volume buttons to navigate the Recovery Mode options. Select wipe data/factory reset, then press the Power button to confirm.
- Your device will now be deregistered from your Amazon account. Simply register it again.
Can't connect to Wi-Fi
Before reading further, make sure that other devices in your home can connect to Wi-Fi. If they can't, you may have a larger issue and should contact your internet service provider (ISP). Once you know a Wi-Fi connection is possible, follow these steps.
Is Airplane mode on?
- Swipe down from the top of the screen, and look for the Airplane mode icon.
- If the icon is not grayed out, tap to disable it.
Is your software updated?
It's always a good idea to keep your devices up to date. Your Fire tablet should update automatically when it is connected to Wi-Fi, but you can check that it has the latest software by visiting the Device Software Updates page on the Amazon site.
Restart your Wi-Fi connection
- Restart your Wi-Fi connection on your device by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the Wi-Fi icon to turn wireless off.
- Wait a moment, then tap it again to turn Wi-Fi back on.
Restart your tablet
Press and hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds or until your device restarts. Once the device is off, press the Power button again to turn it back on.
App errors
If the apps on your Amazon Fire keep crashing, freezing, or simply not opening, first try restarting your device. If that doesn’t work, try these troubleshooting tips:
Force close the app
- Go to Settings > Select Apps & Games or Apps & Notifications.
- Tap Manage All Applications (if shown), then select the app you'd like to force close.
- Tap Force Stop.
Clear the app cache and data
Follow the directions for the device model you have.
8th generation and newer:
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Manage All Applications or See all … apps.
- Choose the app you're having trouble with.
- Tap Storage then Clear Data, Clear Storage, or Clear Cache.
4th to 7th generations:
- Open the Settings menu, then select Apps & Games > Manage All Applications.
- Open the app you're having trouble with.
- Select Clear Cache and Clear Data.
Uninstall and reinstall the app
To uninstall an app, tap and hold the app until it becomes gray and then tap UNINSTALL.
To reinstall the app, select Games & Apps or open the Apps or Games app. Select an app from your Library to download it to your device, or search for a new one in the Store.
Audio problems
If you can't hear audio through your headphones or speakers on your Fire tablet, here are some potential fixes.
Is your volume turned up?
Never overlook the obvious. Simply press the Volume Up button on the side of your tablet to confirm that it's turned up. Next, swipe down from the top of the Home screen, and tap Settings > Display and Sounds to check that the volume slider is at the level you want.
Headphones check
While audio is turned on, try plugging in a set of headphones, then unplugging them. Sometimes this quick fix will get your speakers working again.
If this doesn't work, hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds until your Fire powers down. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
Take off your case (if you use one)
If you use a case on your Amazon Fire tablet and still don't hear any sound, try removing the case. It could be blocking your headphone pin from fully being inserted into the jack.
Check the headphone jack
If the audio still isn't working, gently wiggle the headphone pin. If you hear intermittent sound, or if you hear audio when it's in one position but not another, you likely have a faulty speaker or port.
If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as the same day.
Protection beyond a tablet warranty
With the Asurion Home+ protection plan, we’ll cover all your favorite home tech—including your tablet, TV, laptop, smart devices and more—and provide 24/7 live expert support, all in one simple plan. To learn more about tablet protection, visit asurion.com/homeplus.
*The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.*
FAQs
Why is my Amazon Fire tablet not working properly? ›
Force reset the tablet by holding the power button for 40 seconds or until it restarts and then sync or e-books again. You might also need to clear the app cache. Go to Settings > Apps and Games > Manage All Applications to do so. Find the Kindle app and tap on “Force Stop” and “Clear Cache.”
How do I hard Reset my Amazon Fire? ›Power off your device, then press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously. For more help, go to Factory Reset Your Fire Tablet from Recovery Mode.
How do I clear cache and data on Amazon Fire? ›- Open the Settings menu.
- Select Apps & Notifications.
- Select Manage All Applications or See all... apps and choose the app you are having trouble with.
- Select Storage, tap to Clear Data or Clear Storage, then Clear Cache.
Restart your Fire tablet. Force close the app. Clear the app cache and data. Uninstall and reinstall the app.
How many years should an Amazon Fire tablet last? ›Recent Kindle device models have a lifespan of 5 – 8 years, provided you proper care of the device. Kindle Fire tablets last for about 2 – 3 years, which is a shorter life span compared to the e-ink versions.
Is there a hard reset for Amazon Fire tablet? ›Once you're ready to proceed, there are two ways to reset your Fire tablet. One way is to press and hold the Power button for 40 seconds or until the screen turns off. When you see the logo screen again, release the Power button and press the Volume Down button.
How do I force a factory reset on my Fire tablet? ›Press and hold the Volume Up + Power buttons until you see the Amazon logo on the screen. Select Wipe Data / Factory Reset and press the Power button. Select Yes ‒ Delete All User Data and press the Power button.
How do I factory reset my Fire tablet without setting? ›- Hold the Power button until the Amazon Fire switches off.
- Hold the Power button and the Volume Up button together until it turns back on again.
- Release the Volume Up button when the Amazon logo appears, but keep holding the Power button down. ...
- Highlight the 'wipe data/factory reset' option.
Resolve intermittent app performance issues. CAUTION: Clearing the app's data restores the app to its default settings and clears all stored app data. This includes settings like parental controls, account login, etc.
What does clearing cache do? ›The primary reason for someone to clear the application cache would be to free up storage, which might impact the phone's performance. But clearing data is a much more dramatic step, which is generally reserved for when an app is buggy or fails to start.
Does clearing cache log you out? ›
It seems that clearing the browsing and cache data in Google Chrome doesn't close all open tabs, but it will refresh each tab and log you out of websites. Once you tap on one of the tabs you want to access, you'll have to log back in.
How do you fix a glitchy tablet? ›- Close your apps.
- Delete data.
- Delete apps.
- Perform a software update.
- Restart.
- Reset your tablet.
In many cases, your phone screen glitching is due to software-related issues. Some app bugs will also lead to a glitching phone screen. After you mistakenly install unknown viruses or malicious software on your phone, especially on an Android device, you may get the phone display flickering issue.
Why is my Amazon so glitchy? ›Low internet speed.
There are internet speed requirements for streaming content from Amazon. 3Mb/s is recommended for SD quality content, 5Mb/s is recommended for HD video, 25Mb/s is for streaming Ultra HD 4k quality. If the connection is not fast enough, the streaming will freeze, buffer, or lag.
Kindle Fire tablets need antivirus protection.
Amazon's Fire OS has some good built-in protections, but it's just a modified version of the Android OS, so it's susceptible to all the same malware files and cyber attacks that affect Android users.
Your Fire tablet receives guaranteed software security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase on our websites.
How do I know if my Amazon Fire tablet needs an update? ›Open the Settings menu on your Fire tablet and select Device Options. Select System Updates, then Update. Your Fire tablet restarts during the software update.
Will anything bad happen if I clear my cache? ›It's not bad to clear your cached data now and then. Some refer to this data as “junk files,” meaning it just sits and piles up on your device. Clearing the cache helps keep things clean, but don't rely on it as a solid method for making new space.
Does clearing cache fix problems? ›When you use a browser, like Chrome, it saves some information from websites in its cache and cookies. Clearing them fixes certain problems, like loading or formatting issues on sites.
How many times should you clear cache? ›It should only be cleared when it takes up an increased amount of storage and hinders the performance of your Android smartphone as a result. This may also depend on the storage capacity of your smartphone. Typically, it is advised to clear the cache periodically every few months.
What problems do cache cause? ›
Caches are generally small stores of temporary memory. If they get too large, they can cause performance to degrade. They also can consume memory that other applications might need, negatively impacting application performance. Outdated information.
Does clearing cache delete passwords and bookmarks? ›Clearing out a web browser's cache does not damage any information stored in a browser, such as bookmarks or your homepage. Instead, it simply makes the web browser think that you have not visited a webpage before.
Does clear data delete everything? ›Clear the app's cache & data
Clear cache: Deletes temporary data. Some apps may be slow the next time you open them. Clear data storage: Permanently deletes all app data.
Clear your cache on Android
However, caches build up over time and may actually end up slowing down your tablet performance. Clear out the cache of individual apps in the App Menu or click Settings > Storage > Cached data to clean all app caches with one tap.
- Step 1: Refresh Your Tablet.
- Step 2: Initiate a Soft Restart.
- Step 3: Initiate a Hard Restart.
- Step 4: Factory Reset.
- Forcefully Restart Your Smartphone.
- Make Use Of The High-Quality Charger.
- Detach The Charging Cable.
- Clean Your Android Smartphone's Display.
- Check Your Charger.
- Remove The Case And Screen Protector.
- Factory Reset Your Android Smartphone.
Flickering is usually caused by a software issue which can be caused by glitches in apps or software bugs. To best protect your device, make sure to update the software so that it is running the latest operating system and has the latest security updates installed.
Is Amazon glitching today? ›Our service is currently operating as expected at the location you provided.
Is Amazon having system issues? ›No recent issues
All dates and times are reported in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
Please try again. A: When the keyboard is up, press and hold the Mic icon to the left of the space bar. Select "Android Keyboard Settings". Uncheck "Vibrate on keypress".
How do I check the firmware on my Fire tablet? ›
- Swipe a finger down from the top of the tablet.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Device Options.
- Tap System Updates.
- Your OS version will be displayed toward the top of the screen.
As of August 17, 2022, you'll no longer be able to browse for, buy, or borrow books directly from certain Kindle devices introduced 10+ years ago. You can still use these devices to read.
What to do if your tablet is unresponsive? ›Restart Android Phone/Tablet
The first step to perform when your touch screen is not working is to restart your device. This is referred to as soft resetting. Since the touch screen is not responding, you cannot turn your device off from the option on the screen.
Unplug the power cord or adapter for three seconds, and then plug it back in. To restart your device from the menu: Go to Settings. Select My Fire TV, and then Restart.