7 Amazon Fire tablet problems and how to fix them

How do I fix my Kindle Fire?

Many folks consider their Amazon Fire tablet to be a stand-up device, so many of these problems might not be issues for you. However, with everything going on in the latest Fire, it’s entirely possible that you’re experiencing some issue or another.

Here are a few common Amazon Fire problems and how to fix them.

• My Amazon Fire won’t connect to Wi-Fi
• My Amazon Fire won’t connect to my PC
• “An internal error occurred”
• My Amazon Fire tablet won’t charge
• The keyboard on my Amazon Fire tablet is misbehaving
• No audio through my Amazon Fire’s speakers or headphones
• The screen is frozen or my Amazon Fire tablet is unresponsive

My Amazon Fire won’t connect to Wi-Fi

What good is a tablet with no internet?

Is your Wi-Fi up to snuff?

Before completely blaming your Amazon Fire, double-check that other devices in your home can connect to Wi-Fi. If your phone and your laptop aren’t connecting either, then you may want to contact your internet service provider. It’s likely not your tablet.

Is Airplane mode on?

Next, make sure that airplane mode is turned off. It might seem like a no-brainer, but just have a look. You may have accidentally tapped and activated it without realizing. To check:

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap Wireless.
Tap Off next to Airplane mode to disable it if it’s on.

Is your software up-to-date?

Next, you’ll want to double-check that your Amazon Fire has the latest software installed. Visit Amazon’s Device Software Updates to make sure.

Restart your Wi-Fi connection

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap Wireless.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Tap Off.
Wait a few seconds for your tablet to fully disconnect.
Tap On to turn Wi-Fi back on.

Restart your Amazon Fire tablet

Press and hold the power button until your tablet restarts automatically. If it restarts before the 40 seconds are up, release the power button. If it doesn’t restart automatically after 40 seconds, release the button and press it again to turn on your Fire.

Can your Amazon Fire find your network?

You’ll want to make sure that the Wi-Fi network you’re trying to connect to is accessible by your Amazon Fire.

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap Wireless.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Tap Scan.

If your network doesn’t show up, you can always add it manually.

Change the channel?

Make sure you router uses a Wi-Fi channel from 1 to 11. Double-check with your internet service provider if they provided your router, or double-check with the manufacturer of your router.

Restart your router and modem

Unplug your modem and router.
Wait at least 30 seconds.
Plug in your modem and wait for it to turn on.
Plug in your router.

Still having trouble?

If you’ve tried all of these fixes, then contact your internet service provider to troubleshoot your network. If it’s not your network, then you’ll want to contact Amazon directly.

My Amazon Fire won’t connect to my PC

It can be a real pain in the butt when you’re just trying to transfer files from your PC onto your Amazon Fire, but neither device wants to cooperate.

First, try resetting both devices. Turn your computer and Amazon Fire tablet off for a few seconds. This will halt any faulty connections that the two are trying to make with one another. Then turn them both back on and try to reconnect.

Try a cloud storage app, like Dropbox to transfer your files. This will essentially let you upload them to a secure folder on the internet and wirelessly retrieve them on either device. You could even try to email files to yourself, so long as they’re not too large.

Try using a different USB cable. It may seem like a “DUH” fix, but it might just be the solution. If you have another open USB port, try that as well. It might sound like an “IT Crowd”-style solution, but just humor us and try it!

“An internal error occurred”

Internal errors can be caused by myriad issues, but some Amazon Fire tablet owners might see messages like, “This can be caused by a lack of network connectivity. Please make sure you have a good network connection.”

Check your connection

Turn your modem and router off and then turn them on again after 30 seconds. This might give your connection the kick in the pants that it needs.

Reset your tablet

Hold down the power button down for 40 seconds until your Amazon Fire tablet automatically restarts. If it restarts before the 40 seconds is up, release the power button. If it hasn’t restarted after 40 seconds, release the power button and press it again to turn on your tablet.

Clear app data

Sometimes these internal errors can happen when trying to open certain apps.

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap More.
Tap Applications.
Tap Installed Applications.
Tap the app that won’t load.
Tap Force Stop.
Tap OK.
Tap Clear Data.
Tap OK.

Make sure the data and time are correct on your Amazon Fire

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap More.
Tap Date and Time.

Try unregistering and registering your Amazon Fire again

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap More.
Tap My Account.
Tap Deregister.

Once “deregistered,” just register again.

My Amazon Fire tablet won’t charge

Your device not charging is kind of a HUGE problem. After all, you didn’t buy a disposable tablet, did you? Give these fixes a try.

Shut it down

Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds to turn off your tablet and then plug it in. If you hold it for any longer, your tablet will restart.

Is it your cable?

First, make sure you’re using the charging cable that came with your Amazon Fire. Then try using another device with your charging cable to make sure your cable is still in good working condition. If it isn’t, you’ll need a new one!

Are you fully connected?

If the orange charging light doesn’t come on when your tablet is plugged in, it could be your physical connection. Some Amazon Fire tablets have been known to have loose charging ports.

Start by trying to gently push the cable in a bit further. If that doesn’t work, try gently moving it from side to side. If you have a loose port and nothing works, you’ll want to contact Amazon for a replacement tablet.

The keyboard on my Amazon Fire tablet is misbehaving

Trying to type “I love you,” but it ends up saying “fqekrhgreiohg?” Sometimes touch keyboards can have little conniptions and decide to revolt. Here’s how to fix that.

Clean your screen!

If you’re wolfing down KFC and using your Fire at the same time, the screen’s gonna get filthy. Even without fried chicken fingers, your screen will still collect dirt and fingerprints, which can mess with touch sensitivity and accuracy. Use a clean microfiber cloth and clean that screen.

Is there a screen protector on your screen?

Most screen protectors are made so as not to interfere with the touch sensitivity of your tablet, but now and again things just don’t jive. You may even have air bubbles under the protector, which can make typing a bit of a crapshoot.

Either take off the screen protector or smooth out the bubbles with the application card that came with the protector (you can also use a credit card). Start in the center of your Amazon Fire and gently push out towards the edges with the edge of the card.

Reset your Amazon Fire

Hold the power button down for 20 seconds. Wait a few seconds and then turn on your tablet again.

Factory reset (last-ditch effort)

You’ll lose all of your content, so make sure you back up your Amazon Fire before trying a factory reset.
If even a factory reset doesn’t work, then you’ll want to contact Amazon directly for a replacement.

No audio through my Amazon Fire’s speakers or headphones

Some folks aren’t getting any sound through their Amazon Fire tablet’s speakers. Some folks aren’t getting any sound through their headphones. Some folks aren’t getting any sound at all.

There are probably a few issues in play, so try these potential fixes:

Double-check the volume

It may seem obvious, but press the volume rocker on the side of your Amazon Fire tablet to make sure that you haven’t mistakenly turned it down or it hasn’t randomly lowered its volume.

After that, try this:

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap Settings.
Tap Display and Sounds.

Make sure the volume slider is all the way up or at least where you’d like it to be.

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

If your speakers aren’t working, try plugging in a pair of headphones and then unplugging them while audio is playing. This might jog the speakers into action, since you may have unplugged your headphones while your tablet was sleeping, so when it woke up, it thought that headphones were still plugged in.

If that doesn’t work, hold the power button for 20 seconds until your Amazon Fire powers down completely. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on.

Is a case the case?

If you’re not getting any sound out of your headphones and you have a case on your Amazon Fire tablet, try taking it off. The case may be too bulky, preventing your headphone pin from being fully inserted.

The thing’s jacked up

You might have a faulty headphone jack. If you hear any audio distortion or static, then switch headphones. If you’re still getting distortion or audio doesn’t play in one position but does when you wiggle the headphone pin, then you’ll want to contact Amazon directly for a replacement.

The screen is frozen or my Amazon Fire tablet is unresponsive

If you’re in the middle of downloading apps or other content, your Fire might be slow to respond. Before restarting or trying anything else, wait for your downloads to complete and even a minute or two after that. Your Fire might speed right back up.

The Amazon Fire tablet doesn’t quite have the CPU that other, more powerful tablets have, so if you have a ton of apps open at once and you notice slow performance, close the apps you’re not using.

If that fails, try a good ol’ restart. Hold the power button down for 40 seconds or until your tablet restarts. If it does not automatically restart after 40 seconds, release the power button and press it again to turn on your tablet.

If it’s still slow after you restart, then try a reset:

Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
Tap Settings.
Tap Reset Device.

Your fiery experience

Have you run into any of these problems? Were you able to fix them? Let us know in the comments section below!

The single reason I trust Google with my data

Transparency isn’t everything, but it goes a long way toward earning my trust. And Google lets me see exactly what data I’m giving it.

I’m a trusting person. Maybe it’s my age — having grown up as part of a generation that was still allowed to play outside unsupervised. Or maybe it’s a Southern thing. Or maybe I just see the glass half full of cold, refreshing beer.

In any case, I tend not to worry too much. And I tend to not worry too much about all the digital data I hand over every minute of every day. That’s not to say I don’t care. I certainly do. And there are some companies I trust more than others. Cable company? Screw ’em. I’d unplug if I could. But I don’t think I’m quite ready to subject my wife and kids to that. Cell carrier? They’re only after one thing. (Except for when I’m on Project Fi. Those guys rock.)

But Google? Google probably knows more about me than anyone. Probably more than I know myself. That’s never been more apparent than when I scrolled through the first 100 pixels or so of the My Activity section on my Google account. Everything I’ve searched for. Apps I’ve used. Websites I opened. Destinations I’ve navigated to. All there, and pretty much in real time.

“It’s a little creepy” is the line you usually read associated with so much data in one place.

Why? What makes what I did creepy? Do I absolve myself of any creepiness by simply not thinking about it? (That’s not to say some of my searches aren’t creepy, but that’s another matter.)

Or look here. I’m showing 99 Android devices, which is insane. (Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s wrong, and it just pegged at 99.) I see every process that backs up to Google’s servers.

I keep thinking back to Apple’s WWDC keynote. I get the rationale behind keeping your data on your phone, and crunching it there, rather than server-side. But all I have is Apple’s word that it’s doing what it says it’s doing. (And the moment you connect your phone to an operator or internet access point or install an app or service — do anything other than turn it on, basically — that all goes out the window anyway.)

If you don’t like seeing what’s in your digital trail, maybe you should think twice about where you tread in the first place.

I’m more inclined to trust the company that shows me what it’s doing. That shows me which parts of my data it’s using, and tell me how it’s using it, how I can control whether I want to share it in the first place. (Of course that extends to trusting that I’m actually being shown everything. But, dammit, either you’re willing to go outside and risk crossing the street, or you cower at home under the covers.)

Don’t just say “trust me” over and over. Give me reason to trust you.

Google uses a lot of my data. Hell, Google uses all of my data. To serve me. To serve itself. And, collectively, to serve us all. But what’s more is that it shows me (OK, I trust that it’s showing me) every little thing I’m doing. It’s all right here. It’s easy to read, easy to follow. It’s transparent as hell. And a little creepy, yes. But that last part’s my fault.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The BLU Energy XL offers 3 days of battery life for $299

BLU has launched its latest Android smartphone, the Energy XL. The 6-inch device includes a 5000mAh battery that BLU claims will last up to 3 days with standard usage. It is available unlocked from Amazon for $299.

Blu says the Energy XL has a MediaTek 6753 octa-core processor running at 1.3 GHz. It currently comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box but will get an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow before the end of 2016. The display has a resolution of 1080×1920. Inside, there’s 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, along with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera.

The BLU Energy XL is unlocked but can only be used on AT&T and T-Mobile’s LTE networks in the U.S. The phone comes in Full Gold or White-Silver colors.

See at Amazon

Verizon’s new ‘SafetyMode’ would offer 128Kbps throttle instead of overages

Verizon on Wednesday is preparing to “transform the wireless experience,” according to the heads up it gave the media on Tuesday. CNET apparently has been slipped the news a bit early, however, and does a good job of rounding up the changes. The short version? A higher monthly allotment of data, but it’ll cost more money.

Here’s the breakdown, from CNET:

The low-end “S” plan will go up by $5 to $35 a month, but will include 2 gigabytes of data, twice as much as before. The “M” plan will go up by $5 to $50 a month, while its data will rise from 3GB to 4GB. The “L” plan will go up by $10 to $70 a month, while data increases from 6GB to 8GB. The “XL” plan will go up by $10 to $90 a month, but you’ll get 16GB, up from 12GB before. Lastly, the “XXL” plan will cost $10 more at $110 a month, but you will get 24GB instead of 18GB.

Also mentioned is a new “SafetyMode” that would throttle your data for the rest of your billing cycle — instead of charging a per-gigabyte overage — should you reach your data allotment. Android Central has learned that the throttling wold take you down to a mere 128 Kbps — the same throttle rate you’ll find for “free” on T-Mobile.

We’ve confirmed the rest of CNET’s details on that front, with XL (and higher) plans receiving the optional throttling for free, and S, M and L plans getting it for $5 per month. And you’ll have to opt-in to SafetyMode using the new MyVerizon app. We’ll have to see what the overages would cost, but Verizon says you’ll be able to “step up to a large data size,” or you can buy a “data boost.”

Stay tuned for more on Wednesday.

What’s your favorite calendar app?

When life gets busy, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything. Between getting the kids to school, making sure you’re on time for that lunch meeting, and remembering to call your Grandmother on her birthday, it can be easy to let things slip through the cracks. That’s probably why so many people have moved away from paper planners, and instead prefer to use an app on their phone to keep track of their schedules.

So, with tons of options and ways to customize how you keep track of your life, we want to know which calendar app is your favorite. There are dozens of calendar apps on the Google Play Store but we’ve narrowed the list down to some of the best calendar apps available. This week we’ve throwing six suggestions out there: “aCalendar,” “Google Calendar,” “Cal,” “Jorte,” “Today Calendar,” and “DigiCal.” Use something else? Pick that option, and be sure to let us know what you do use.

What is your favorite calendar app?

Is using a calendar app second nature to you, or do you still prefer a paper planner? Was your favorite calendar app not on our list? Be sure to let us know about it in the comments!

BlackBerry Classic finally ditched, will no longer be manufactured

BlackBerry has basically admitted defeat when it comes to QWERTY keyboards.

The company has just confirmed it will stop making the BlackBerry Classic, one of its most iconic smartphone models with a QWERTY keyboard for inputting text. The Classic, which launched in 2014, looks very similar to the Bold 9900 and harks back to the days when most smartphones came with a physical keyboard and a smaller screen. It has a 3.5-inch screen set atop a hardware QWERTY keyboard and navigation keys.

Keep in mind BlackBerry has continued to push handsets with physical keyboards, despite consumers being all about smooth panes of glass and touchscreen experiences. BlackBerry was once king in the smartphone arena, but ever since the iPhone launched in 2007, it’s lost its stranglehold and has in fact transitioned from being a smartphone-maker to a vendor of security and management software for all types of mobile devices.

BlackBerry’s COO and GM for devices, Ralph Pini, confirmed the Classic will be axed via a blog post after news leaked over the weekend about the US Senate finally ditching BlackBerry handsets, which Politico described as “dinosaur” devices. “Sometimes it can be very tough to let go,” Pini wrote. “For many years, Classic has been in our portfolio. It has been an incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations.”

• BlackBerry Classic review: Timeless, or stuck in the past?
• BlackBerry Classic hands-on: A Bold move
• BlackBerry Classic vs BlackBerry Passport: Which should you choose?
• BlackBerry Classic officially launches to ‘upgrade’ the Bold experience

Pini added: “After many successful years in the market, we will no longer manufacture BlackBerry Classic… [It] has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today’s market. We are ready for this change so we can give our customers something better – entrenched in our legacy in security and pedigree in making the most productive smartphones.”

In other words: BlackBerry’s not entirely done with smartphone manufacturing. It’s ramping up a new series of phone designs based on Android and BlackBerry 10 platforms. John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry, even has a grand plan when it comes to BlackBerry’s upcoming Android smartphones.

“We’re going to build the most secure Android phone that the market can see,” he said in June, during BlackBerry’s annual meeting with investors.

So, goodbye to Classic – and hello to secure BlackBerry Android phones.

Is this what Google’s Marlin and Sailfish Nexus phones will look like?

If you’re wondering what Google’s next Nexus phones might look like, you’ll want to check out a render that just surfaced.

Android Police, which has been publishing several leaks and rumours pertaining to the 2016 Nexus devices, has posted what it describes as a “recreation” of the upcoming phones based on evidence from an unnamed source. So, while the image (below) looks like an official press render, it’s not. It’s simply a concept, though one that’s inspired by details coming from a supposedly-reliable source.

Android Police

Keep in mind the final design of these Nexus phones, which are thought to be called Marlin and Sailfish, might differ in the end. For instance, the software home button could be solid white or the previously-leaked, colourful design. Also, the “G” logo on the back might go away, and it’s unclear if HTC, the maker of these handsets, will include a logo, but the consensus is it won’t.

Android Police didn’t have exact dimensions and measurements for these phones, so edges and curves could be different. Still, it believes Marlin and Sailfish will basically look like what’s pictured. There’s no camera bump visible, and there’s a glossy plastic (could be glass) pane on the back. The rear of the phones also has a fingerprint scanner and curves around the edges.

• Google Pixel phone could be released by end of this year
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• Next Google Nexus (2016) HTC Marlin should feature Snapdragon 821
• Nexus Marlin vs Nexus Sailfish: What’s the rumoured difference?

The rear also shows antenna bands on the bottom and top, with three holes next to the camera. Those could be mics, auto-focus, a secondary sensor… who knows. As for the front, you can see a single earpiece speaker, front-facing camera, and small sensor cluster. If you’re curious about which Nexus has been recreated, it’s both. They’ll look alike but with different proportions.

Both phones will sport aluminium bodies, for instance, and they’ll come in the colours white or dark grey/black. Google is reportedly also considering an “electric blue” version that has a white face with a glossy-blue back.

Check out Pocket-lint’s round-up for more details about the Next Nexus phones.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to get new-style S Pen stylus

Samsung might release the successor to its Galaxy Note 5 later this summer, but a recent leaks pertaining to the S Pen has just given us a few hints about what the upcoming phablet could feature come launch day.

First thing’s first: the phablet might be called Galaxy Note 7, rather than Galaxy Note 6, to bring it in line with Samsung’s other flagships launched in March, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. But that information isn’t new. Instead, a new leak published by iGyaan, which supposedly obtained an internal memo, has claimed the Galaxy Note 7 will feature a new S Pen with improved Bluetooth LE connectivity.

This feature will benefit the redesigned stylus, allowing for longer usage and more accurate proximity warnings. Also, the Air Command, which activates when S Pen is out, will include a dictionary and a new speaking option. PhoneArena speculated these will allow users to quickly translate words from different languages, and then the speaking functionality will enable text-to-speech translation.

iGyaan also claimed the Iris scanner will be able to lock apps, files, folders, and documents. Oh, and the Galaxy Note 7 will get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 823 chipset. To top it all off, the Galaxy Note 7 was just certified in Russia, carrying the model number SM-N930FD, according to Mobiltelefon (via PhoneArena). The model mentioned has dual SIM, but not much more was revealed.

We don’t know a lot about that new-style S Pen either. However, the Russian certification seems to suggest Samsung will put the Galaxy Note 7 and its new S Pen up for sale almost immediately after their unveiling on 2 August. 

Check out Pocket-lint’s round-up for more information on Galaxy Note 7 leaks and rumours.