There are many different models of the Kindle Fire, some of which have a known persistent design problem. This makes it difficult for the Kindle team to keep up with all of them. These devices can experience problems when they’re not working properly, which can lead to a complete loss of functionality, but you’ll be able to use them without a hitch if you replace them with new ones.
When you buy a tablet, you should know that it doesn’t necessarily come with a case for it. But, if you want it to last for a while without getting damaged, it will help to invest in a decent tablet case. There are several troubleshooting approaches you can take to figure out the source of your charging problems, and in this brief tutorial I’ll show you how to solve this problem, and also discuss some precautions to take to avoid developing “charger port rot” the underlying cause of most of these charging problems.
I’ll show you how to resolve some issues with USB ports. These aren’t plug-and-play fixes, but they’re simple to do in most cases.
In addition, I’ll include a few guides to full-fledged repair of charger-related components on your Kindle.
Table of Contents
Diagnosing the Problem
When a tablet won’t charge, there are four potential causes for the problem. There could be a software issue, or a hardware issue with the battery. Third, there may be a problem with the adapter or cable.
It may have a problem with the physical charging port on the tablet. Let’s look at each of these possibilities in turn.
Test the outlet
Make sure you have an outlet that has enough power so your phone or iPad will get charged. It might seem obvious, but often it’s the obvious things that get us.
Test the charging adapter
If the charging cable isn’t working, it’s super easy to figure out the problem. Use the Fire’s USB cable to charge from a computer or other USB power source. If it doesn’t charge from that, try an AC outlet instead.
The charger isn’t the issue. It’s possible that your battery was faulty from the get-go and that’s why it needed replacing in the first place. You can use any USB charger, provided that it outputs 5 volts at up to 1.8 amps.
Some USB ports can output a lot more power than others. Some are capable of delivering 1 amp or more. That’s enough juice to charge most devices quickly. Amazon has sold an official replacement charging adapter. This item costs less than $15.00 and can be easily acquired directly from Amazon.
Test the cable
There’s an adapter in the box for you to connect the charger to your Fire. The charging block came out clean, and the USB cable did, too. We’re good to go. The charging port is on the bottom, and there are no variations in this one; so, it would only make sense to swap out a cable with a different USB charger.
If it didn’t, then you know the problem was your cable. You have a faulty cable, so the whole point of your internet is not working, so just get another cable! These can be found from Amazon.
Test the charging port
There have been numerous reports about the Fire’s charging port being weak, but I don’t believe any of them. When a fire happens it usually lasts between 1 to 6 hours, and it can spread rapidly. This is why it’s so important to make sure that the battery is firmly connected to the Fire.
It’s important to plug in the charging cable securely, to ensure it doesn’t slip out. When the cable seems secure, try to gently pull it while in the socket.
If it moves around, it may be loose. Lay the Fire down flat and insert the charger. When this happens, the charging wire inside the phone will connect, allowing the phone to charge.
There are a few downsides, but it keeps it working for now. If this fails where other charging attempts have failed, then you know the problem is with the port itself.
You don’t have to be the biggest fan of the Fire to use this guide to check the connections within the device. It takes you through every possible way to access the various components. You should try this only if your device is out of warranty and you are confident in what you’re doing. You will have to baby-charge this unit or replace the whole thing, but don’t worry, you’ll save money by charging it only once and not every time you plug in the device.
Reset the Fire
If all your hardware seems to be working fine, you may have a software problem. An entire reset will give your battery a complete clean. A good way to fix this is to make sure that your battery is properly charged.
To turn the screen back on, hold down the power button for 20 seconds. Turn the fire on with the power button. All you’re doing here is forcing the fire to turn off and then turning it on again. To restart the device so you can charge it, this will force close any apps that are getting in the way of charging and reset voltage.
Factory reset the Fire
Factory reset should only be done if all of the previous methods have failed. This will remove all your personal data from your tablet and restore it to its default configuration.
There is no guarantee that it will work, but it has apparently fixed the not-charging problem for some users. Try to save all your data if you can. Your Fire might not work after being in cold weather for a few days.
Tap the Menu icon at the bottom of the screen to get the menu. Select Settings and Device Options. Then select Reset to Factory Defaults. To clear your device, select Clear Data & Settings. This will wipe your device clean, and delete all your data.
Once complete, you should force a reload of the system software to make sure you’re running the latest version. You have the option of storing purchased books on a cloud server, so if you lose any, you don’t have to worry about it.
Press the volume up and power buttons for 40 seconds. While holding down the power button, keep pressing volume up until you see “Installing the latest software. Allow the update to install and reboot your Fire tablet.
He’s still dead, Jim
Your tablet has a hardware problem that will require you to take your device to an authorized service center for repair. It may be the source of the problem, but there are many reasons why your battery might not be working properly.
Your Amazon Fire has a built-in battery that needs to be replaced. While replacement batteries are more expensive than the Amazon Kindle Fire, they’re still cheaper than buying a new Kindle Fire. You may want to invest in a spare Kindle Fire charger instead.
Preventing Charger Port Rot
The micro-USB design relies on a complex connection scheme between a USB cable and a circuit board. This makes the design susceptible to physical damage and failure due to normal wear and tear. When soldering is used for mechanical strength, it’s called welding. However, solder is also a conductor of electricity and doesn’t create as much heat as welding, which means it’s not nearly as destructive to the surrounding material.
Each time you plug in the charging cable, the mechanical stress it puts on the glue or solder holding the port can loosen the connection and the port will start to come loose. Don’t use the Kindle Fire in places where there is a lot of moisture. Make sure that the Kindle Fire is stored in a safe place, and don’t use it for a long time when you have it out.
Keep the port clean
A plugged-in device that doesn’t charge properly could be caused by lint, dust, and debris.
This book shows you how to gently remove dust or debris from the port on your Kindle Paperwhite ereader. You can use a can of compressed air to blow out debris from the port. Be very careful using the needle. Don’t scratch up the contacts in the port.
Don’t charge and play
When using the Fire, don’t charge it. When you’re charging it, don’t use it. It’s not surprising that it’s hard to charge your tablet when you’re using it as if it were a laptop. Turn your Fire tablet on and off. If the battery drops below 20%, switch it off, then turn it on again.
Use quality cables
All MicroUSB charging cables use the same basic design. They’re all made of the same materials and they have the same basic functionality, but there are different styles of cables for different situations.
I’m not sure I agree. You can get the lowest priced cables, but if you care about making an excellent signal, then spend the extra cash for higher quality cables. Make sure you use high-quality, well-engineered cables.
MacGyver Time
If you want to do serious business online, it’s important to know where you can fix the port on the Kindle Fire. There are ways to rig your Fire so it charges, and that’s a good thing since there’s no power plug in the car. Let’s get our MacGyver on!
Rubber Bands
A strong rubber band can preserve the battery life of your Kindle Fire for weeks or even months. You may have noticed that when you put the charging cable in, the Fire starts to charge but the charge is very slow, or it stops charging once you let go of the cable.
This is because the connector has a tiny gap between it and the circuit board. If you are pressing it down, you’re pushing on this gap, and that makes the connection. You should have the fire ready to rock before you even get out of bed in the morning because once you’re dressed, you’ll want to fire it up.
This works just like a normal cable, and the connection will stay strong enough to get a good charge. When you’re making a hole in a board, make sure to leave a little bit of space around the connector to avoid breaking it. Eventually, the port is going to come completely loose and break.
Pliers
If your new charging cable won’t connect to your Fire, the problem may be that either the cable end or the charging port has got stretched out through repeated use. So test it again.
This is a trick to pull off. If you put the pliers to the ends of the cable carefully, and squeeze them gently, you can thin one direction and make it thicker along the other direction. It doesn’t change the length of the cable, just the width. So you can make the cable fit better in the port.
Aluminum Foil
A USB cable with an added strip of aluminum foil can save you a lot of trouble if your phone starts to overheat during a charging session. It’s also recommended that you wrap the aluminum tape around the ends of the cable.
It is important to be sure that you’re using the right charger for the battery, as the wrong charger could damage the device.
It might work. You should be careful not to allow the fire to overcharge, and by using the foil, you are going to confuse the circuit and cause the battery to overheat and burn, so you should be careful.
Keep an eye on it. Rewrite this sentence: A: My friend’s grandmother had died a few weeks ago. He told me that she was really sweet, always kind to people, and had always treated him and his family like her own.
Surgery
A new charging port may be necessary if the existing port is damaged or if it isn’t being recognized by your computer. If you don’t know how to do this, you’ll want to get it done professionally.
No, they aren’t expensive, but this isn’t a job for a first-timer with a soldering iron.
This article will tell you how to make your Fire safe and turn it off. It’ll give you a brief look at how to reset your Amazon account, but it’s not an exhaustive guide to your options.
Battery Replacement
This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to know how to save a battery that’s “dead,” even if they’ve tried everything! The rest of your Kindle Fire is fine, although. You have two choices: the path of prudence and reason, which is to send it back to Amazon and exchange it in for a new one.
Getting a new battery
A new battery will take care of itself over time. The only thing that needs replacing are the rubber gaskets in your Kindle Fire HDX 7″ when they begin to wear out.
However, there are Kindle Fire replacement batteries on sale online, and in other places, as well; here’s one example. These aren’t from Amazon, they’re from third party battery manufacturers.
To open up your battery, you’ll need to know the part number of the battery you are using. You can find that information online, on the battery, or printed on the back of the battery. It turns out that opening a Kindle Fire and replacing the battery is easy.
It’s not neurosurgery
Be careful! If it isn’t entirely clear, opening your Kindle Fire up this way voids its warranty. With that in mind, this isn’t a particularly difficult thing to do. Start out by using the minimum amount of pressure, and increase the force slowly only if needed.
You will need one tool: commonly called an “opener tool,” or a “prying tool. This device is basically a strong but flexible plastic or metal curved bit that can be used to gently pry open the glued-together electronics of a smartphone or a tablet.
There are a ton of different ones out there. If you don’t mind your panels getting scratched up and bent, you can even use a screwdriver to open them. An excellent all-purpose opener is available, of course. But, you can use whatever tools you like. I love this multi-tool kit. It’s packed with the best-selling, most useful openers in the business and it will make your job much easier.
Step One: Remove the Back Case
Using the lower-right corner of your Fire, get a good grip on the small nub on the tool’s end, and push it through the crack. Gently push open the lid; use a penny or some other small object to hold it open during the next steps. Remove the small tabs at the back of the case and carefully run the opening tool around the edges of the case, releasing each of the clips as you go.
You’ll need to pry the case apart to be able to reach all the clips; use additional coins or guitar pics to hold open each section of the case to avoid over-separation while there are still clips in place. These items have a strong and durable steel internal frame, which will not bend or break over time. If your case does bend or break, it is possible that it may be repaired. Please send us your inquiry regarding repair. With the battery fully installed, you’ll have to remove the back of the Fire to get to the battery.
Step Two: Free the Battery
Use your opening tool to work along the right side of the battery, breaking the glue that holds it in the frame. Work your way down the side of your box, then make a second pass through the opposite end of the box. To avoid any possible damage, you should not use metal to try to pry the battery out of your device as that can cause the device.
Insert the right battery cell into the frame. When the adhesive is completely removed from the battery, the battery can be removed without difficulty. Gently lift it up, and use the opening tool to pop the battery connector out of the socket. The battery is no longer connected to the Fire. You can set it aside.
Step Three: Replace the Battery
Take the battery out of the Kindle Fire and insert it into your computer. You should have your charger reglued or use tape to make sure the back. Just gently apply pressure around the perimeter and each clip should snap back into place.