Two ways to reset your Kindle Fire, depending on what you need
A soft reset (restart) closes all apps and clears temporary files without erasing anything you own. A hard reset (factory reset) wipes the tablet completely and returns it to the state it left the factory. Most problems—freezing, slow performance, an app that won't close—are fixed by a soft reset. Use a hard reset only if you plan to sell the tablet, give it away, or the soft reset did not work.
Both take just a few minutes. You do not need a computer, a password, or any special tools. If your tablet is completely unresponsive and will not turn on, scroll to the troubleshooting section at the end.
Key Takeaways
- A soft reset (restart) closes all running apps and fixes most freezing or slowness problems without erasing your books, apps, or settings.
- To soft reset, hold the power button for 20 seconds until the Amazon logo appears, then release.
- A hard reset erases everything on the tablet and returns it to factory settings, so back up your content first if you want to keep it.
- To hard reset, go to Settings > Device Options > Reset to Factory Defaults, enter your Amazon password, and confirm.
- If your tablet will not turn on at all, charge it for at least 30 minutes, then try the soft reset again.
How to soft reset (restart) your Kindle Fire
A soft reset is the first thing to try when your tablet is slow, frozen, or an app is not responding. It closes everything running in the background and refreshes the system without touching your files or settings.
Locate the power button on the top edge of your tablet. Press and hold it for about 20 seconds. You will see the screen go black. Keep holding. After a few more seconds, the Amazon logo will appear on the screen. Release the button and wait for the tablet to finish restarting—this usually takes 30 to 60 seconds. Your home screen will appear when it is ready.
If the tablet was frozen and would not respond to taps, it should work normally now. If the problem persists, move on to a hard reset.
How to hard reset (factory reset) your Kindle Fire
A hard reset erases all your personal content—books, apps, photos, documents, everything—and returns the tablet to the state it came in. Use this only if you are giving away or selling the tablet, or if a soft reset did not fix the problem. If you want to keep your books and apps, do not do this.
Before you start, make sure your tablet is charged to at least 50 percent. Open Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon. Scroll down and tap Device Options. Tap Reset to Factory Defaults. A warning message will appear. Tap Reset again to confirm.
The tablet will ask for your Amazon password. Enter it and tap Continue. The reset will begin when ready. Do not turn off the tablet or unplug it during this process. The screen will go black, and you will see a progress bar. This can take 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much content was on the tablet. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen, as if the tablet is brand new.
What happens after a hard reset
Once the reset is complete, your tablet will ask you to sign in with an Amazon account. If you are keeping the tablet, sign in with your own account. If you are giving it to someone else, they can sign in with their own account when they first use it.
After sign-in, the tablet will read your library of books and apps from Amazon's servers. This can take several minutes on a slow internet connection. You will not have to re-read every single file—Amazon remembers what you own, and the content will appear in your library automatically.
If you had photos, documents, or files stored only on the tablet (not backed up to Amazon's cloud), those are gone permanently. That is why a hard reset should be your last resort, not your first step.
When to soft reset versus hard reset
| Problem | Try This First | If That Does Not Work |
|---|---|---|
| Tablet is slow or freezing | Soft reset | Hard reset |
| An app crashes or will not open | Soft reset | Hard reset |
| You are selling or giving away the tablet | Skip soft reset | Hard reset |
| Tablet will not turn on | Charge for 30 minutes, then soft reset | Hard reset (if soft reset fails) |
| You forgot your Amazon password | Not applicable | See troubleshooting below |
Troubleshooting: tablet will not turn on or respond
If your tablet is completely black and will not respond to button presses, it may have a dead battery. Plug it into a charger using the USB cable that came with it. Leave it plugged in for at least 30 minutes. Some tablets take longer to show any sign of life. After 30 minutes, press the power button once and wait another minute.
If you see the Amazon logo or any screen activity, the battery was the problem. Let it charge fully before using it. If the screen remains black after 30 minutes of charging, try the soft reset: hold the power button for 20 seconds even though you see nothing on screen. The tablet may restart even if the screen does not show it charging.
If the tablet still will not respond after 30 minutes of charging and a 20-second power button hold, the hardware may be damaged. Contact Amazon support through your account on a computer or phone, or visit amazon.com/help to start a chat with a representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a soft reset delete my books and apps?
No. A soft reset only restarts the tablet, like restarting a computer. All your books, apps, photos, and settings stay exactly as they are. Nothing is erased.
Do I need my Amazon password to soft reset?
No. A soft reset requires only the power button. A hard reset is the one that asks for your Amazon password.
How long does a hard reset take?
The reset process itself takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much content was on the tablet. After that, the tablet will ask you to sign in and read your library, which can take another 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed.
Can I stop a hard reset once it starts?
You should not interrupt a hard reset once it begins. If you turn off the tablet or unplug it during the reset, the tablet may not work properly afterward. If something goes wrong, let it finish, then try the reset again from the beginning.
What if I forgot my Amazon password and need to hard reset?
Go to amazon.com on a computer or phone, click Account & Lists, and select Login & Security. Click Forgot Password and follow the steps to reset it using your email address. Once you have a new password, you can complete the hard reset on your tablet.