Amazon’s Fire Tablet is a fairly in-demand gadget. This line of tablets is reasonably priced, reliable, and has a wide range of sizes and feature levels, and they’re especially well-suited for kids. However, like any other gadget, Amazon tablets can be unstable.
If you notice that your Fire Tablet won’t turn on, this is a serious problem indeed. After all, you can’t access your data or use your apps like before. But you shouldn’t despair, because there are effective ways to bring your tablet back to life. Here’s what you can try to do.
How to troubleshoot an Amazon Fire Tablet that won’t turn on
There are different reasons why your Fire Tablet may not turn on. However, there are only three main ones:
- Something is wrong with the battery (most likely).
- A hardware component of the tablet can fail (more likely).
- A software error (pretty unlikely).
Let’s take a closer look at these problems and how you can solve them.
How to check the battery on Amazon Fire Tablet
The problem may be due to a hardware malfunction in your tablet’s battery or to a damaged battery charger. Therefore, try plugging the charger into an outlet and plug in the Fire Tablet. If you see a green light, then the battery is charging. Leave it for a couple of hours and then check again.
If you see a red light, it means the battery is completely discharged. In this situation you need to do the following:
- Hold down the power button for 20 seconds to make sure the Fire Tablet is off.
- Charge the tablet for at least three to four hours without using it.
- Turn on the Fire Tablet normally without unplugging it from the power outlet.
The LED should change from red to green as the battery charges. If the light is green, the device should turn on and boot up. If the light is red again, switch from the wall outlet to USB charging from your PC (if you have one) to make sure the charger is working properly.
How to check for hardware problems
You can self-diagnose hardware problems with your Amazon Fire Tablet using the steps below.
- One common problem with Fire tablets is that the charging port can become loose. Try inserting the charging cable firmly into the port and see if your tablet charges.
- If that’s not the problem, try using a different charger with the tablet.
- Another problem may be that the tablet is on, but its screen is broken or defective. Shine a light on the screen and take a close look at the image that may be displayed, sometimes the screen may not have a working backlight.
You are unlikely to be able to detect expensive hardware malfunctions. Therefore, in such cases, it is recommended to contact a specialist or exchange your Fire Tablet for a new one from Amazon.
How to force a software update on Amazon Fire Tablet
If you can’t boot into the Fire OS, this option may be your last resort before buying a new tablet. So follow these steps:
- First of all, hold down the volume up button and the power button for 40 seconds.
- Then continue to hold down the volume up button, but release the power button until the message “Installing the latest software” appears.
- Finally, allow the update to complete, after which the Fire Tablet will reboot.
This process will force the tablet to reboot the configuration and, should eliminate any problems that caused it not to start. Your data should be fine after the update process is complete.
Read Also:
- How to add Spectrum TV to your Fire Tablet
- How to use WhatsApp on a Fire Tablet
- How to use Zoom on Kindle Fire
How to factory reset Amazon Fire Tablet
A factory reset is the last thing you should use when nothing else works. However, you will need access to the settings to do this. If you can turn the tablet on for a while, then follow these instructions:
- Swipe down from the Fire home screen to open the menu.
- Then go to “Settings” and select “Device Options”.
- Finally, select “Reset to Factory Defaults” and tap “Reset” to confirm the action.
All of your data and settings will be erased after a factory reset. If you have the option, it is better to transfer at least the most important data to another storage (PC, cloud). Most of your Amazon data will be stored in the cloud, but anything you have added yourself won’t be saved.
