RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
March 30, 2023
Amazon Kindle devices are among the best eReaders you can buy. They are easy to use, but to get the most out of your Kindle, there are some features you may not know about. Let’s explore the best ones.
This is for the Amazon Kindle. Screenshots are from Kindle Paperwhite (11 generation)
Let’s start with something everyone really needs to know about. One of the advantages of using an eReader over a physical book is you can customize the size and look of the text. It’s a simple feature but can make a world of difference.
First, open a book and tap anywhere near the top of the screen to bring up the menu, then tap the Aa icon to see the text options. Refer to the below image:
Next, tap the Font tab and select your font for reading. See the below image:
Using Dark Mode
Dark Mode is everything. If that’s your mantra, you will be happy to know Kindle eReaders have Dark Mode too. It’s super easy to toggle on and off.
First, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Dark Mode icon. See the following image:
Hide Audiobooks
Modern Kindle readers can download and play audiobooks as well as ebooks. However, if you do not want your Kindle to be your audiobook-listening device, it can be annoying on the Home screen.
Thankfully, it’s possible to hide audiobooks from your library. That way you will only see ebooks on the Home screen. The option can be found in the Home & Library section of the Device Options settings.
Use Collections
First, tap the three-dot menu in the top right of the Home screen and select Create Collections. You will be asked to enter a name for the collection, then select all the books you want to add to it. The collection will be in the Library tab. Refer to the below image:
Use Landscape Mode for Reading
The default orientation for Kindle eReaders is vertical, the Portrait Mode. This matches the orientation of most physical books, so it makes sense. However, you can switch to horizontal Landscape Mode as well. You can swap the orientation by going to the Layout tab in the Text options while reading a book. See the below image:
Turn Off Highlights
Kindle’s Popular Highlights feature underlines text in ebooks when more than ten people have highlighted the passage. It sounds like a cool idea, but it can get annoying.
First, open the book you want to turn off Popular Highlights on. Next, tap the screen to bring up the menu and select the Aa button. Switch over to the More tab and toggle the Popular Highlights switch to OFF. See the following image:
Use Passcode
You might not think of your Kindle as a device containing a lot of personal information that you might want to add some privacy. The Passcode feature is an easy way to add a layer of security between another person and your library. Refer to the below image:
Transfer EPUB Books
While Amazon is heavily integrated into the Kindle eReader experience, you are not limited to books from the Amazon Store. EPUB is a common format you will find outside of the store, and it can be transferred to a Kindle.
Amazon started supporting EPUB on Kindle devices in August 2022. Now it’s very easy to send EPUB files to a Kindle eReader with the Kindle app on Android, iPhone, or iPad.
Borrow Books
This might be the best feature of Kindle devices. You can get free eBooks from your local library right on your Kindle, and all you need is a library card. This works with a service called OverDrive.
Since it’s a library, there are typical library limitations. There is not an infinite number of ebooks to rent, so you may have to wait your turn. Also, you will have to “return” the book after a certain time.
Use Less Storage Space
Kindles have enough storage space for hundreds or thousands of ebooks, but you may still run into storage issues, especially if you download a lot of audiobooks, which take up more space.
Kindle devices have a couple handy ways to clear out some extra room. It’s somewhat difficult to find your storage screen. To view and/or clean your Kindle storage space, head to:
Settings > Device Options >Advanced > Storage Management
There’s a manual option and a Quick Archive feature, which will automatically remove items that have been downloaded from the cloud and not opened yet. See the below image:
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is their static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote for The Day
Technology alone is not enough.
Steve Jobs
Tweet Info
You are finished. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Tweet
I Would Like to Hear From You
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
Tech Savvy Life 