Ghost Images / Screen Artifacts
Amazon Kindle
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Ghost images (faint remnants of previous pages) are normal on e-ink screens. This is not a defect — it is how e-ink technology works. A page refresh clears ghosting. You can enable full page refresh in settings.
Affected Models
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Kindle Oasis
- Kindle Scribe
- Kindle Basic
- All e-ink Kindles
Common Causes
- Normal e-ink behaviour — particles do not fully reset
- Page refresh interval set too high
- Displaying images with high contrast
- Screen has been showing the same image for a long time
- Very old Kindle with degraded e-ink layer
How to Fix It
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Enable full page refresh: Settings > Reading Options > Page Refresh.
This flashes the screen black between every page turn, clearing all ghosting. The downside is a brief flash on every page turn.
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Restart the Kindle to clear persistent ghosting.
A restart forces a full screen refresh that clears any stuck artifacts.
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Open a solid black image or book cover to reset the screen.
Displaying a high-contrast image forces all e-ink particles to move, clearing ghosts.
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If ghosting is severe and permanent: the screen may be damaged.
Permanent marks that do not clear with refresh indicate physical screen damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ghosting a defect?
No. Mild ghosting is completely normal on e-ink displays. It is a characteristic of the technology, not a fault.
Why does e-ink ghost?
E-ink works by moving tiny particles between black and white. Some particles do not fully move during a partial refresh, leaving faint traces of the previous image.