10 common Amazon Fire tablet issues & how to fix them

Whether you're crushing a new TV series or sending work emails, there's nothing more frustrating than when your Amazon Fire® tablet suddenly stops working. Fire tablets (formerly known as Kindle Fire) are great for reading, watching, gaming, and more, but like all devices, they do experience glitches. Unsure what to do when your Fire is stuck on the logo or suddenly can't connect to Wi-Fi? You've come to the right place.

Here at Asurion, we find and fix tech issues—fast. Here's a guide from our experts for troubleshooting five common Amazon Fire issues: a frozen or unresponsive screen, charging issues, problems connecting to Wi-Fi, app errors and audio problems.

Fire tablet stuck on logo or gray screen

If your Fire tablet is frozen and stuck on the logo screen or showing a gray screen that won’t respond, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try. We’ll start with the most straightforward solution and restart your Fire tablet, also known as a soft reset. Here’s how:

1. Press and hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds or until your device turns off.
2. If you see an onscreen prompt to turn off your tablet, ignore it.
3. Once the device is off, press the Power button again to turn it back on.

If your Fire tablet is still stuck on the logo or gray screen after performing a soft reset, you can attempt a hard reset (restoring the device to its factory settings). Be aware this will erase all data on your device, so backup any important files beforehand.

If that doesn't help, reach out to an expert for help with Amazon Fire repairs.

Overheating 

If your Amazon Fire tablet is overheating, start by powering it off and allowing it to cool completely before turning it back on. Avoid using intensive apps, like games or video streaming, while charging, and disconnect the charger if the device gets too warm. Make sure you’re using the original charger and cable, and remove any case or cover to improve heat dissipation.

Wi-Fi connectivity issues

Wi-Fi issues? They happen. Check out our guide on how to resolve Wi-Fi issues on an Amazon Fire tablet, or follow the troubleshooting steps below.

• Restart the device by holding the Power button and selecting Restart or Power Off.
• You can forget and reconnect to the network by going to Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth > Wi-Fi, selecting your network, tapping Forget, and re-entering the password.
• Restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds before reconnecting.
• Lastly, check for updates under Settings > Device Options > System Updates to address potential software bugs.

Battery draining quickly

If your Amazon Fire tablet's battery drains faster than usual, there are a few steps you can take to extend its life. Start by adjusting some settings and optimizing performance:

1. Lower screen brightness: Go to Settings > Display and reduce the brightness level.
2. Turn off unused wireless connections: Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or location services when not in use to preserve battery life.
3. Close unused apps: Open the Recent Apps screen and close apps that are running in the background.
4. Update your software: Make sure your tablet is running the latest software version by going to Settings > Device Options > System Updates.

If your battery continues to drain quickly after these steps, consider replacing the battery or reaching out to an expert for further troubleshooting.

Touchscreen not responding

If your Fire tablet’s touchscreen becomes unresponsive, there are a few things you can try before seeking repairs:

1. Clean the screen: Dust or dirt may cause the touchscreen to not register touches. Wipe the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth.
2. Restart the device: Press and hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds to force a restart. This can often fix minor glitches that cause touch issues.
3. Remove the case or screen protector: If you have a case or screen protector, it might interfere with the touchscreen’s functionality. Try removing it to see if the screen responds.
4. Calibrate the touchscreen: If the screen is still unresponsive, go to Settings > Device Options > Display and try recalibrating the touchscreen.

If the problem persists after trying these solutions, you might need professional assistance for a more in-depth repair.

Storage issues

If your Amazon Fire tablet is running out of storage, it can slow down performance and make it difficult to install new apps or save files. Here's how to free up space:

1. Delete unused apps: Go to Settings > Storage > Apps & Games and uninstall apps you no longer use.
2. Clear cache: Temporary files can take up unnecessary space. In Settings > Storage> Cached Data and clear it.
3. Move files to the cloud: Use Amazon’s cloud storage or another cloud service to back up photos, videos, and documents, then delete them from your device.
4. Add a microSD card: If your device supports expandable storage, insert a microSD card to increase your storage capacity for apps, media, and files.

Before making any significant changes or deletions, it's a good idea to back up your device. This makes sure that important data is stored safely and can be easily restored if needed.

Fire tablet won't charge

There are a few reasons your Amazon Fire tablet is not charging. Before you read on, make sure that:

• You're using the power adapter and cable that came with your tablet.
• You're charging from a power outlet that works. (Don't rely on a USB port connected to a computer—it increases charging time and may not charge at all.)
• The cable fits snugly into your device and power adapter.
• Your device isn't charging in a cold or hot environment. Tablets and extreme temperatures don't mix.

Once you've checked those items, try these fixes.

1. Unplug the power adapter and cable from your device.
2. Reconnect them to your device and a power outlet.
3. If your device doesn't indicate that it's charging, unplug the power adapter and restart the device.
4. Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. If you see the message "Do you want to shut down your Fire?" tap OK. Once your device has completely turned off, press the Power button for a few seconds to turn it back on.
5. Plug the power adapter and cable into the device and charge for at least an hour.
6. If your tablet still isn't charging, you may need a repair. Schedule an appointment with an Amazon Fire repair expert.

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How to factory reset your Fire tablet

A factory reset—also known as a hard reset—erases the personal data and downloaded content on your Fire, restoring it to its original settings. It's an important step if you're selling or donating your device, but it can also fix your Fire tablet if it's stopped responding. If your tablet is frozen, you won't be able to use the screen to reset it. However, Recovery Mode will let you reset your device. Here's how:

1. Turn off your Fire.
2. Press and hold a combination of buttons, depending on your model. For Kindle Fire® HD (3rd generation) and Amazon Fire tablet (5th generation and newer): press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Release after 5 seconds. For Kindle Fire HDX (3rd generation) devices, Amazon Fire (4th generation) devices, and Amazon Fire HD 10 (7th generation): press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time. Release them immediately after a logo appears on the screen.
3. Since the touch screen won't be active, use the Volume buttons to navigate the Recovery Mode options. Select wipe data/factory reset, then press the Power button to confirm.
4. Your device will now be deregistered from your Amazon account. Simply register it again.

Fire tablet won't connect to Wi-Fi

Before reading further, make sure that other devices in your home can connect to Wi-Fi. If they can't, you may have a larger issue and should contact your internet service provider (ISP). Once you know a Wi-Fi connection is possible, follow these steps.

Is Airplane mode on?

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen, and look for the Airplane mode icon.
2. If the icon is not grayed out, tap to disable it.

Is your software updated?

It's always a good idea to keep your devices up to date. Your Fire tablet should update automatically when it is connected to Wi-Fi, but you can check that it has the latest software by visiting the Device Software Updates page on the Amazon site.

Restart your Wi-Fi connection

1. Restart your Wi-Fi connection on your device by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the Wi-Fi icon to turn wireless off.
2. Wait a moment, then tap it again to turn Wi-Fi back on.

Restart your tablet

Press and hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds or until your device restarts. Once the device is off, press the Power button again to turn it back on.

App errors

If the apps on your Amazon Fire keep crashing, freezing, or simply not opening, first try restarting your device. If that doesn’t work, try these troubleshooting tips:

Force close the app

1. Go to Settings > Select Apps & Games or Apps & Notifications.
2. Tap Manage All Applications (if shown), then select the app you'd like to force close.
3. Tap Force Stop.

Clear the app cache and data

Follow the directions for the device model you have.

8th generation and newer:

1. Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Manage All Applications or See all … apps.
2. Choose the app you're having trouble with.
3. Tap Storage then Clear Data, Clear Storage, or Clear Cache.

4th to 7th generations:

1. Open the Settings menu, then select Apps & Games > Manage All Applications.
2. Open the app you're having trouble with.
3. Select Clear Cache and Clear Data.

Uninstall and reinstall the app

To uninstall an app, tap and hold the app until it becomes gray and then tap UNINSTALL.

To reinstall the app, select Games & Apps or open the Apps or Games app. Select an app from your Library to download it to your device, or search for a new one in the Store.

Audio problems

If you can't hear audio through your headphones or speakers on your Fire tablet, here are some potential fixes.

Is your volume turned up?

Never overlook the obvious. Simply press the Volume Up button on the side of your tablet to confirm that it's turned up. Next, swipe down from the top of the Home screen, and tap Settings > Display and Sounds to check that the volume slider is at the level you want.

Headphones check

While audio is turned on, try plugging in a set of headphones, then unplugging them. Sometimes this quick fix will get your speakers working again.

If this doesn't work, hold the Power button for 20–40 seconds until your Fire powers down. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

Take off your case (if you use one)

If you use a case on your Amazon Fire tablet and still don't hear any sound, try removing the case. It could be blocking your headphone pin from fully being inserted into the jack.

Check the headphone jack

If the audio still isn't working, gently wiggle the headphone pin. If you hear intermittent sound, or if you hear audio when it's in one position but not another, you likely have a faulty speaker or port.