If you’ve bought a new Kindle device from anywhere other than through your Amazon account, you need to register the device before purchasing books and audiobooks.
Fortunately, the registration process is straightforward.
Below we’ve included a step-by-step guide on how to register a Kindle on Amazon and get you started reading.
How to register a Kindle on Amazon
As mentioned, Amazon automatically registers a Kindle to the account that purchased the device. However, many people buy their e-readers elsewhere.
The device is not automatically registered when you purchase indirectly through other retailers. That means you have to set up your account and register by yourself.
Similarly, Kindle devices are a popular gift choice, so even a device purchased through an account may need to be deregistered from the purchaser’s account and re-registered to another.
The registration process is straightforward but varies slightly between types of devices. For all types, you’ll need a fully charged device and a strong connection to a Wi-Fi network.
Below, we’ll show you how to:
- Register a new Kindle Paperwhite device and Kindle Fire
- How to change registration on a previously registered kindle device.
- How to register a Kindle Device without Wi-Fi
- How to register a Kindle with your smartphone
Kindle Fire registration process
Amazon’s Fire tablet, also known as Kindle Fire, is a versatile e-reader with an Android operating system.
Unlike the standard ebook reader, Fire lets users browse the web and use android-friendly applications like YouTube, Netflix, social media apps, and more.
Registering your Fire tablet follows a similar process to the Paperwhite and other Kindle devices.
- Turn on the Kindle Fire device and follow the set-up prompts
- Connect to Wi-Fi
- You will be prompted to register – enter your Amazon login credentials
- If you don’t already have an Amazon account, create one. It may be easier to create an account on your computer or phone first instead of attempting to do so on the Kindle device.
- When you enter your account details, simply click register.
Kindle Paperwhite registration process
The Kindle Paperwhite is a lightweight, easy-to-carry, affordable Kindle device with a glare-free screen and up to ten weeks of battery life on a single charge (depending on use).
This device boasts 8GB of storage and can be increased to 32GB, meaning you can carry a significant library with you wherever you go.
If you’ve just bought a Kindle Paperwhite, you’ll be prompted to fill in a device registration form.
- Turn on the device by pressing the power button on the side
- Connect your device to the Wi-Fi network.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to register.
- Enter the email address and password linked to your Amazon account. (These account credentials are the same as the credentials you’ve used on a previous Kindle device.)
- If you don’t already have an Amazon account, you can choose to create one.
How to register a Kindle to another account
The Kindle setup process is relatively easy. Just follow these steps:
1. Connect to Wi-Fi
Re-registering requires you to connect to the Amazon account you want to link to the device, so you’ll need a good Wi-Fi connection.
If you struggle to connect to the Wi-Fi, check if your device is in airplane mode. If it is, turn off the airplane and try to connect to Wi-Fi again.
2. Deregister the device
Next, you’ll deregister the device from the account to which it had been registered previously.
Open settings, and click registration.
On the screen, you will see the account details of the account to which the device has been registered.
Click on the account shown, then follow the prompts to ‘deregister’ it.
You may be asked to confirm this choice. If so, simply click ‘confirm.’
3. Re-register Your Kindle
Now that the device has been deregistered from its existing Amazon Kindle account, you can re-register it to another account.
Don’t worry if you want to register to the same account; you can do that too!
If you want to register to a different account (perhaps your account rather than that of the person who purchased through Amazon or the person who gave you their already-registered device):
- Open the settings on the device
- Click Registration
- Enter the account detail of the account you wish to register (email address and password)
- Click Register
How to register a Kindle without Wi-Fi
The easiest way to register your Kindle on Amazon is to use a Wi-Fi connection and register on the device itself.
However, you may not have immediate access to a Wi-Fi connection. If you can’t register with Wi-Fi, there is another way to register your device.
On the top right corner of your Kindle home page, you’ll see three dots. This is a drop-down menu. Click on the menu, then go to settings.
Kindle Home Page > Settings > Device Options > Device Info > Serial Number
Under ‘serial number,’ you’ll find the serial number of your particular device.
Once you’ve identified the serial number, contact Amazon Customer Service.
USA and Canada: 866-216-1072
International customer service: 1-206-266-2992
You can also connect with Amazon Customer Support over chat. From there, you can send a registration request for your Kindle device.
Make sure you identify the serial number before you call or chat with customer support. You cannot register your device with this method unless you know your serial number.
When you contact customer support, let them know what they can help you with and explain that you want to register your device but do not have access to Wi-Fi.
Do I have to register my Kindle?
At their basic functionality, Kindle devices are e-readers. That means that while there are many advantages to registering your Kindle with your Amazon account, you don’t need to register your account to use the device.
With a registered device, you can download books and other reading material from the kindle store through your kindle account. You can download it online or through the Kindle app.
With an unregistered device, you can still upload books to the device with a USB cable connected to a source that has books already downloaded.
The problem with not registering is that you don’t have any access to Kindle downloads.
If you download books from Amazon and manually upload them to your device, you’ll notice that they won’t open unless you log in to Amazon.
Can I register my Kindle on my smartphone?
You can use the Kindle app on your smartphone to set up your device.
Before you begin the process, make sure you’re ready by downloading the Kindle app from your phone’s app store and signing into your Kindle account on the app.
Next, turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
To turn on Bluetooth on your Kindle device:
- Swipe down from the top of the display screen.
- Click settings, then tap ‘Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- .’From there, switch on Bluetooth.
If you’re setting up a Kindle Paperwhite, the first screen you see when you first turn on your device should show two options: ‘Set up with this Kindle’ and ‘Set up with your phone.’
Choose the second option.
Open the Kindle app. On the bottom right, click ‘more,’ then open ‘settings.’
See ‘Amazon Device Simple Setup’? Toggle on that setting, then ‘Allow Bluetooth.
Finally, hit the link, continue, and you’re ready to go!
Conclusion
Kindle devices are a popular gift and handy reading tool for people of all ages and lifestyles.
Setting up a kindle device is straightforward, and some allow you to connect other features of your Amazon membership, such as your Amazon Prime account, and some devices, such as Kindle Fire, run like an android.
Hopefully, this guide on setting up and registering a Kindle has been helpful. Enjoy your reading!
