What a Nook Tablet Does and How to Turn It On

A Nook Tablet is a device made by Barnes & Noble that reads e-books, magazines, and newspapers, and also runs apps and plays video like other tablets. When you press the power button on the edge or back of the device, it boots up to a home screen showing your library, recent reads, and app icons. The screen is a touchscreen — you tap, swipe, and pinch with your fingers to navigate, just as you would on any tablet.

The Nook Tablet connects to the internet through Wi-Fi (and on some models, cellular data). Once connected, it can read books from the Barnes & Noble store, load apps from the Nook App Store, and stream video and music. The battery typically lasts several days of moderate reading or a full day of heavy use before you need to plug it in.

Key Takeaways

  • The Nook Tablet is a touchscreen device that reads e-books, magazines, and apps, powered by a battery that lasts days on a single charge.
  • You buy and read books directly from the Barnes & Noble store through the Nook app or the device itself.
  • The home screen shows your library, reading progress, and app icons; swiping left and right moves between sections.
  • Nook Tablets run on Android software and can install apps from the Nook App Store, though app selection is smaller than Google Play.
  • You control brightness, font size, and page-turning speed in the reading settings, and can highlight text and take notes while reading.

Getting Books Onto Your Nook Tablet

Books arrive on your Nook Tablet in two ways: you buy them from the Barnes & Noble store, or you load them from your computer. To buy a book, open the Nook Store app on the tablet, search for the title, and tap the price button. The book downloads to your library within seconds. Your purchase is tied to your Barnes & Noble account, so if you buy a book on the tablet, it also appears in your account on the website and on any other Nook device you own.

If you have e-books you already own — files in EPUB, PDF, or other formats — you can transfer them to the tablet by connecting it to a computer with a USB cable. The tablet appears as a folder on your computer; you drag the book files into the Books folder, and they show up in your Nook library. Some Nook models also let you email a book file to a special address tied to your account, and it will appear on all your devices.

How Reading Works on the Screen

When you open a book, the text fills the screen. You turn the page by tapping the right edge of the screen or swiping from right to left. Tap the left edge or swipe left to right to go back a page. At the bottom of the screen, a progress bar shows how far through the book you are; tap it to jump to a specific location.

The reading toolbar appears when you tap the top or bottom of the screen. From there, you can adjust the font size, change the background color (white, sepia, or dark), alter the line spacing, and switch fonts. You can also set the brightness and turn on a night-light feature that reduces blue light. These settings stick to each book, so if you make the font larger in one book, it stays larger when you return to it later.

To mark your place, highlight text, or add a note, tap and hold a word. A menu appears with options to highlight, bookmark, or add a note. Highlights and notes sync to your Barnes & Noble account, so you can review them on the website or on another device.

Installing and Using Apps

The Nook Tablet runs Android, the same software that powers most Android phones. You can install apps from the Nook App Store, which is built into the tablet. Tap the Apps icon on the home screen, then tap the Store button. Search for an app by name, tap it, and tap the Install button. The app downloads and appears on your home screen or in your app drawer.

The Nook App Store is smaller than Google Play, so not every app available for Android phones is available for Nook Tablets. Common apps like Netflix, Spotify, Gmail, and web browsers are usually there. If an app you want is not in the Nook Store, it may not be available for that device. Once installed, apps work the same way they do on phones — you tap the icon to open them, and they run in the background when you switch away.

Charging, Storage, and Battery Life

Nook Tablets charge through a USB cable (the type varies by model — older models use micro-USB, newer ones use USB-C). Plug the cable into a wall adapter or a computer, and the battery charges in two to four hours. The battery itself lasts several days if you are mostly reading, because e-ink-style reading uses very little power. If you are streaming video, playing games, or using apps constantly, the battery drains in a day or less.

Storage on a Nook Tablet ranges from 8 GB to 32 GB depending on the model. E-books take up very little space — a typical novel is 1 to 3 MB — so even an 8 GB tablet can hold thousands of books. Apps and video take up much more room. If you run out of space, you can delete books or apps you have finished, and re-read them later from your account at no cost.

Connecting to Wi-Fi and Syncing Your Account

When you first turn on a Nook Tablet, it asks you to connect to a Wi-Fi network and sign in with your Barnes & Noble account. Once you do, the tablet syncs your library, your reading progress, and your bookmarks across all your devices. If you read a book on the tablet and get to page 150, then open the same book on your phone or computer, it opens to page 150.

You can change Wi-Fi networks in the Settings app. Tap Settings, then Wi-Fi, and select a network from the list. If the network is password-protected, type the password and tap Connect. The tablet remembers networks you have used before and connects automatically when you are in range.

What Happens When Your Nook Tablet Is Old or Broken

Nook Tablets are no longer manufactured — Barnes & Noble stopped making them around 2015 and shifted focus to the Nook app for phones and tablets made by other companies. If you own an older Nook Tablet, it will still work as long as the battery holds a charge and the screen does not break. Books you bought are yours to keep and read on that device.

If the battery dies, some models can be repaired by a technician, but parts are hard to find. If the screen cracks or the device stops turning on, repair is usually not worth the cost. At that point, you can read your Nook books on a phone or tablet using the free Nook app, which syncs your library and reading progress just as the tablet did.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read library books on a Nook Tablet?

Yes. If your library offers e-books through OverDrive or Libby, you can borrow them and read them on the Nook Tablet. read the Libby app from the Nook App Store, sign in with your library card, and borrow books the same way you would on a phone. The books appear in your Nook library and open in the Nook reading app.

What if I forget my Barnes & Noble password?

Go to the Barnes & Noble website on a computer, click Sign In, and select Forgot Password. Enter your email address, and Barnes & Noble will send you a link to reset it. Once you have a new password, sign out of the tablet in Settings and sign back in with the new password.

Can I read PDF files on a Nook Tablet?

Yes. You can transfer PDF files to the tablet via USB cable, and they appear in your library. The Nook reading app opens them, though PDFs do not reflow the way e-books do — the text stays in its original layout, so you may need to zoom in to read small print.

Does the Nook Tablet work without Wi-Fi?

Yes, but only for books and content you have already downloaded. You cannot buy new books, update apps, or stream video without an internet connection. Once a book is on the device, you can read it anytime, even in airplane mode.

How do I delete a book from my Nook Tablet?

Press and hold the book cover in your library until a menu appears, then tap Remove from Device. The book stays in your account on the Barnes & Noble website, so you can re-read it later. Deleting it from the device frees up storage space.