Why is Kindle charging but not connecting to PC? Well, stay with us to learn all answers!
Your Kindle Paperwhite charges and connects to an external device in an identical way, through the same port.
If the device is charging, this verifies that there is no hardware fault with the port of the device itself, which only leaves a few possibilities to explore.
Let’s learn more!
Your Kindle is charging but not being recognized by a third-party PC probably because of a faulty USB cable or port.
Similar problems could also occur if your Kindle has been running on an outdated driver or is set by the system to be recognized in a different way.
Let’s dig deeper into this problem and learn more!
Why is Kindle Charging But Not Recognized By My PC?
By default, all PC systems are set to recognize a device connected via USB. It depends on whether you will be able to access advanced software options for the connected device or not.
However, the system should notify you if a new device has been recognized – USB connected.
Your Kindle Paperwhite may go unrecognized by the system due to:
- A fault in the USB cable of the Kindle
- A micro-USB port issue on your Kindle
- A charging issue with your Paperwhite
- Your PC system’s firmware is outdated
- There’s a port issue on your PC casing
- A hardware problem with your Kindle
Try This First!
Needless to say, you must verify that the USB cable is secured both on your Kindle and on your PC’s end.
If the USB cable is loose or isn’t secured into the ports, the signal of your Kindle Paperwhite reaching the system will fluctuate, and eventually, the device will disconnect.
Kindle Paperwhite Charging But Not Connecting to PC – Fixed!
Note: We’ve prepared 7 working solutions and we recommend following them in order!
1. Test with a Different USB Port
The first thing you should attempt is to connect the cable to a different port on the PC.
Especially if you’re using a desktop computer, it is likely that some of the USB ports on the PC’s case are not working properly and your Kindle cannot be recognized by the system.
- Connect your Kindle to one of the back USB ports on your machine!
Note: Also verify that the USB connection is secure on both ends and that the micro-USB connector of the cable is securely plugged in.
2. Charge the Kindle Paperwhite
Even if your Kindle is able to charge but isn’t detected by your PC’ system, the problem could still be battery-related.
Our best suggestion is to plug the Kindle Paperwhite with a charger and charge the device fully before re-attempting to connect the e-reader to your computer!
Recharging your Kindle Paperwhite?
Plug the USB connector of the cable into an adapter and connect the micro-USB end of the cable to your Kindle Paperwhite.
Wait for 20 minutes while the Kindle is charging and only then test whether the Kindle will be recognized by the computer.
How Do I Know if Kindle is Charging?
Your Kindle’s LED lamp next to the charging port should light up in an amber color whenever the device is plugged into a charger. In case the light is on, then your Kindle is surely charging well.
Note: If your Kindle’s LED light doesn’t go on, check all connections on the charger equipment.
3. Check the Device Manager
It is possible that your PC system failed to notify you of the connection of your Kindle Paperwhite.
To determine if your e-reader really has not been recognized by the system, we must check the Device Manager of your Windows device or the Utilities Folder on MacOS.
- The device manager displays all connected devices to your PC’s system!
How to Check Device Manager On Windows?
- Open the start menu and type “Device Manager” then press “Enter”
How to Check Device Manager On MacOS?
- Go to System Profiler > Utilities Folder and search for “Kindle Paperwhite”
How to Check Device Manager On Linux?
- Head to /dev directory and search for your Kindle device
Note: Your Kindle Paperwhite goes by only “Kindle” in the device manager of your PC!
4. Reboot your PC/Laptop
If there is no system notification that your Kindle has been detected by your Windows/Mac or Linux device, the proper solution is to reboot the device.
Once all system services have been re-launched, there’s a high chance that your Kindle will be detected upon plugging it.
How to Reboot a Windows Device?
- Press the Windows Start Menu > “Power” > “Restart”
How to Reboot a MacOS Device?
- Press the Apple icon > “Power icon” > “Reboot”
How to Reboot a Linux Device?
- Sign in to the root account and type “ sudo reboot “
Note: Unplug the Kindle device while your PC's system is still rebooting!
5. Try with a Different USB Cable
To determine the source of the problem, it is mandatory to connect the Kindle with an alternative USB cable.
With a defective USB cable, you will neither be able to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, nor connect it to your PC/laptop.
- Plug your Kindle Paperwhite into the PC/laptop with a different USB cable
Important – Old/Worn-Out USB Cables!
Avoid connecting your Kindle Paperwhite to your PC with potentially defective or older USB cables.
It is recommended to either use the original charging cable supplied with your Kindle to connect it to your PC or purchase a brand new charging cable only for the e-reader.
Tip: Test your current Kindle Paperwhite charging cable by connecting to another device!
6. Stop “USB Selective Suspend” (Windows)
A solution specifically for Windows is to deactivate a certain feature that could prevent some USB devices from connecting securely.
If your Kindle charging but not connecting to PC that runs Windows OS, it is most likely because of the enabled USB Selective Suspend feature!
Here’s how to disable the “USB Selective Suspend” feature on Windows:
- Open the Control Panel on your Windows device.
- Head into the “Hardware and Sound” tab next.
- Choose “Power Options” and go to “Preferred Plans”.
- Click on “Change Plan Settings” > “Advanced Power Settings”.
- Click on “USB Selective Suspend Setting” and set it to “Disabled”.
Note: Setting the suspend setting to “Disabled” will cause your PC to use more power!
7. Connect your Kindle as a Camera (Windows)
Again, a solution only possible on Windows is to connect your Kindle as a camera.
Though this may sound weird, setting your Kindle to be identified by the system as a camera may help the device get recognized by the computer immediately!
- Recognizing your Kindle as a camera is only possible if notification occurs!
Here’s how to connect your Kindle Paperwhite as a camera to your Windows PC:
- Connect your Kindle Paperwhite to your PC’s USB ports.
- Click the “Connection Options” button on the notification.
- Select “Connect as Camera” in the connection prompt.
Note: If you can’t find this setting, go to “Device Configuration and Storage” on your PC!
8. Factory Reset your Kindle Paperwhite
To erase any issues with your Kindle Paperwhite, you should perform a factory reset on the e-reader, which comes with a downside.
This will erase all content and settings on your Kindle Paperwhite and also refresh all software settings you have customized, so beware!
- Any data lost due to a factory reset cannot be recovered!
Follow these steps to factory reset your Kindle Paperwhite:
- From the home screen, press on “Quick Actions” > “Menu”.
- Navigate to “Settings” and head to the “All Settings” tab.
- Press on “Device Options” and tap on the “Reset” button.
- Press on “Reset Device” again to proceed to the next page.
- Confirm the factory reset on your Kindle Paperwhite.
Alert: Stop interacting with your Kindle once the device enters a reset mode!
One Last Thing!
Have you tried connecting your Kindle to a different computer or laptop? If not, then now is the time to do so, in order to draw a conclusion about the situation.
In case the e-reader cannot be recognized even by a secondary machine, this suggests a hardware issue with your Kindle!
Quick Recap:
When the Kindle charging but not connecting to PC, the best resolution is to plug the device into a different USB port on your PC.
If that didn’t work, renew the driver version of your Kindle Paperwhite, test with a different USB cable and factory reset the e-reader.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.