You can change your Kindle lock screen in three ways depending on your device type

The lock screen is the image you see when your Kindle is asleep or powered off. Amazon lets you replace it with your own photo, a design from their gallery, or a screensaver. The steps differ slightly between Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire tablets, and older devices have fewer options than newer ones.

On current Kindle e-readers (Paperwhite, Oasis, and basic models), you upload a personal image through your Amazon account online, and it syncs to your device. On Kindle Fire tablets, you change the lock screen directly in the device settings. Older Kindles have limited customization — some let you choose from Amazon's built-in designs only.

Key Takeaways

  • Kindle e-readers sync lock screen images from your Amazon account, so you upload the photo on Amazon.com first, then enable it on your device.
  • Kindle Fire tablets let you set a lock screen image directly in Settings without uploading to Amazon first.
  • Personal images work best at 1072 x 1448 pixels for e-readers and 1920 x 1080 pixels for Fire tablets, though the devices will resize images that don't match.
  • Older Kindle models may only offer Amazon's pre-loaded screensaver designs and cannot display personal photos on the lock screen.

Changing the lock screen on Kindle e-readers through your Amazon account

For Paperwhite, Oasis, and standard Kindle e-readers, the lock screen image lives in your Amazon account, not on the device itself. Go to amazon.com, sign in, and navigate to Manage Your Content and Devices. This link appears under your account menu in the top right corner.

Click the Devices tab, then select your Kindle from the list. Scroll down to find Lock Screen and click Change Lock Screen Image. You can choose Amazon's Curated Collection (their gallery of designs) or Upload Your Own Image. If you upload your own, select a JPG or PNG file from your computer. Amazon recommends 1072 x 1448 pixels, but the device will resize anything larger or smaller.

After you save your choice, the image syncs to your Kindle automatically if it is connected to Wi-Fi. If it does not appear right away, restart your Kindle by holding the power button for 10 seconds, releasing it, then pressing it again to turn it back on.

Changing the lock screen on Kindle Fire tablets

Kindle Fire tablets (Fire 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, and Fire Max 11) let you set the lock screen directly on the device. Open Settings from the home screen, then tap Display. Look for Lock Screen or Screensaver depending on your Fire model and software version.

You will see options to choose from Amazon's gallery or upload a personal image. If you select Personal Photos, the tablet will let you browse pictures stored on the device or in your Amazon Photos cloud storage. Select the image you want and confirm. The lock screen updates immediately.

Fire tablets work best with images at 1920 x 1080 pixels, though they will display images at other sizes. If your photo looks stretched or cropped, try a different image or resize it on your computer before uploading.

What to do if your Kindle is older or does not support personal images

Kindles released before 2015 typically do not support personal lock screen images. If you own an older device, you may only see Amazon's built-in screensaver designs in your lock screen settings. These designs cannot be replaced with your own photos.

If you want to use a personal lock screen image, upgrading to a current Kindle model is the only option. Current Kindle e-readers start at the basic model, and Fire tablets begin with the Fire 7. Both support personal images out of the box.

Troubleshooting when your image does not appear

If you uploaded an image to your Amazon account but it is not showing on your Kindle, first check that your device is connected to Wi-Fi. The sync happens automatically but can take a few minutes. Restart your Kindle by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then power it back on.

If the image still does not appear, go back to Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon.com and verify that your lock screen choice was saved. Sometimes the page does not update properly on the first try. Select your image again and save it, then restart your Kindle.

For Fire tablets, make sure the image file is actually stored on the device or in your Amazon Photos account. If you deleted the file after setting it as the lock screen, the tablet may revert to a default design. Re-upload the image to Amazon Photos or copy it back to the device storage.

Image size and format recommendations

Amazon accepts JPG and PNG files for lock screen images. The ideal size is 1072 x 1448 pixels for e-readers and 1920 x 1080 pixels for Fire tablets. If your image is smaller, the device will enlarge it, which can make it look blurry. If it is larger, the device will shrink it, which is usually fine.

If your image looks stretched or has parts cut off, the device is cropping it to fit the screen ratio. Try uploading a different image or using a photo editing tool to resize your image to the recommended dimensions before uploading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different lock screen image on each of my Kindles?

Yes. On e-readers, go to Manage Your Content and Devices, select each device individually, and set a different image for each one. On Fire tablets, each device has its own Settings, so you can set a unique lock screen on each tablet.

Will my lock screen image change if I factory reset my Kindle?

On e-readers, the image is stored in your Amazon account, so it will reappear after you sign back in and sync. On Fire tablets, a factory reset erases everything, including the lock screen image, so you will need to set it again after the reset is complete.

What happens if I delete the image file from my computer after uploading it?

On e-readers, the image is now stored on Amazon's servers, so deleting the file from your computer does not affect it. On Fire tablets, if the image is stored only on the device and you delete it, the lock screen will revert to a default design. Keep a backup copy if you want to use it again later.

Can I set a video or animated image as my lock screen?

No. Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets only support static images in JPG or PNG format. Videos and animated files are not compatible with lock screen settings.

Why does my lock screen image look different on my Kindle than on my computer?

The Kindle screen is smaller and has a different shape than most computer monitors, so the image may appear cropped or resized. The device automatically adjusts the image to fit its screen dimensions. If you want to control how it looks, resize your image to match the recommended pixel dimensions before uploading.