Navigating Your Kindle

Using the Controls

Learn how to navigate your Kindle, including the onscreen keyboard. 

Previous Page button: takes you to the previous page in your reading material.

Next Page button: takes you to the next page in your reading material.

Back button: retraces your steps on Kindle just like the back button on a web browser. For example, you can follow a link in a book and then press the Back button to return to your place.

Keyboard button: displays the onscreen keyboard. Press again to close the onscreen keyboard.

Menu button: displays choices that are related to the screen you are viewing.

Home button: shows content stored on your Kindle and directs you to your Archived Items.

5-way controller: selects an item or action when pressed down. Use the arrows to control the on-screen highlight or cursor up, down, left, or right. Use the left or right arrows to skip to the next or previous chapter, section or article.

Power button: puts your Kindle to sleep, wakes it up, and turns your Kindle on or off. Learn more about the power button.

USB/power port: use for charging your Kindle and connecting it to your computer. Learn more about charging your Kindle. You can also use the USB port to transfer content between your computer and your Kindle.

Using the Onscreen Keyboard

Press the keyboard button to display the onscreen keyboard. Use the 5-way controller to navigate to the letter or symbol you need to enter.

Five different keyboard menus are available at the top of the keyboard display, including a symbol keyboard at the far left. Use the 5-way controller to select which keyboard you'd like to use.

If entering text in a search field, you'll need to type in your search term and then close the keyboard in order to use the 5-way controller to start your search.

Using the Menus

Use the 5-way controller to navigate within your Kindle's menu screens and use the 5-way controller to make your selections.

Press the Menu button to display choices related to the screen you are viewing. The sample screen below shows you the screen you would typically see when you press the Menu button from within a book.

The illustration below shows the Home menu; the bold line under "Shop in Kindle Store" indicates that it is ready to be selected.

Using the Home Screen

The Home screen displays a list of all of your Kindle content and collections: books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, active content, personal documents and audiobooks.

Note: Audiobooks are not supported on Kindle.

To display the Home screen: Press the Home button near the bottom of your Kindle.

• Device name: The name of your Kindle. You can edit this name on the Settings screen.
• Show options: Choose which types of content you want displayed in Home.
• Sort options: Choose the order you want content displayed in Home.
• Title: The title of the item.
• Author or Date: For books, the author of the item is listed. For periodicals and blogs, the date is listed.
• Unread title: The "new" label indicates the item has never been opened and is less than 24 hours old. Once you open a new item or more than 24 hours have passed, the "new" label is removed.
• Archived Items: Downloadable items stored at Amazon.co.uk not currently on your device.
• Sample: Indicates the book is a sample. If you like it, you can purchase the full book when viewing the sample.
• Progress indicator: The series of dots below the item shows how long the book is and bold dots show how far you have read in a particular item.
• Audiobook title: The "audio" label indicates the book is an audiobook. Audiobooks are not compatible with Kindle.
• Pages in Home: Indicates the total number of pages in Home. Use the Next Page or Previous Page button to navigate the pages.
• Periodicals: Select to access older issues of newspapers and magazines.
• Collections: Sorts content based on categories you create on your Kindle to organize your content.
• Active: Kindle active content  is software that can be downloaded and used on your Kindle device.

Shortcuts on Your Kindle

Kindle Tools

Know Your Kindle

Kindle FAQs | Kindle Discussions | Manage Your Kindle | Troubleshooting Your Kindle