Sync Not Working
Kindle E-Reader
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Kindle sync not working is almost always caused by Whispersync being disabled in Amazon account settings, the Kindle not connected to WiFi, or the Amazon account not being signed in. Check Whispersync is enabled at amazon.com > Manage Your Content and Devices.
Affected Models
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Kindle Scribe
- Kindle Oasis
- Kindle Basic
- Kindle Colorsoft
Common Causes
- Whispersync disabled in Amazon account settings — the most common cause
- Kindle not connected to WiFi — sync requires an internet connection
- Sync paused on the device — tap Sync in the device menu
- Amazon account signed out or account mismatch between devices
- Server-side Amazon sync outage (temporary)
How to Fix It
-
Check that Whispersync is enabled in your Amazon account.
On a computer, go to amazon.com > Account > Manage Your Content and Devices > Preferences. Scroll to Device Synchronization (Whispersync Settings) and confirm it is turned ON. If Whispersync is off, your reading position will not sync between any Kindle devices or apps.
-
Manually sync the Kindle.
On the Kindle, swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Actions. Tap Sync My Kindle. Or go to the Home screen, tap the three-dot menu, and select Sync My Kindle. The device will connect to Amazon's servers and pull the latest sync data.
-
Check the WiFi connection.
Sync requires an active WiFi connection. Swipe down from the top of the screen and check the WiFi indicator. If not connected, tap the WiFi icon and connect to your network. If WiFi shows connected but sync still fails, toggle WiFi off and on to refresh the connection.
-
Sign out and back in to your Amazon account on the Kindle.
Go to Settings > Your Account > Deregister, then re-register with your Amazon credentials. This refreshes the authentication token used for sync. All downloaded books will be removed during this step but can be re-downloaded from the cloud.
-
Check all Kindle devices and apps are on the same Amazon account.
Sync only works between devices registered to the same Amazon account. If you have a Kindle device and the Kindle app on your phone, confirm both are signed in to the same account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Kindle sync the library but not my reading position?
Reading position syncs separately from the library. If library sync works but position does not, open the book on one device, read a few pages, then close the book. On the other device, open the book and tap Go to > Furthest Page Read. If it offers to jump to a newer position, Whispersync is working but was simply waiting for the book to be opened.
Does Kindle sync work without WiFi?
No — Kindle sync requires an active WiFi or mobile data connection (on Kindle models with cellular). There is no offline sync. If you read offline on one device, the sync will happen automatically the next time that device connects to WiFi.