One of the advantages of using the Amazon Kindle to read is that you can do it anywhere and at any time thanks to the fact that it has a built-in light on the screen so we do not depend on the sun or that we have a lamp at hand. But if you usually read at night, you can activate a dark mode on Kindle to make it more comfortable and enjoyable.
Not all models can activate the dark mode on Kindle but we explain how to do it and which ones allow it.
What is dark mode?
The dark mode is a function that we usually use on computers, tablets and mobile phones when we use them before sleeping thanks to the fact that it is more comfortable to use in the dark, it does less damage to our eyes or it allows us not to dazzle people who they are close to us. Generally, the dark mode uses gray and black background tones and light or white letters. The usual color of pages and menus is reversed so that it is comfortable to use in low light conditions or at night. As in mobiles and tablets , Amazon is using it on its devices even though the screen is not “normal” but in electronic ink.
What models are compatible?
Not all Kindle models are compatible with dark mode so the first thing you should know is which ones are and which ones are not. And which one do you have.
Those compatible with Kindle’s dark mode are:
- Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation (Kindle Paperwhite 4 of 2018)
- Kindle Oasis 9th Generation (Kindle Oasis 2 of 2017)
- Kindle Oasis 10th Generation (2019 Kindle Oasis 3)
And how do I know which one is mine
Amazon has a website called “Identify the Kindle e-reader” that is intended to help us find out which Kindle we have. It will show us all the generations of Kindle eBooks since the beginning of time, its photography, its characteristics. In each of them you will see what it allows or what year it is, what buttons it has or if it has a touch screen or adjustable light . Thanks to these specifications and the photography and the year of release we will know if it corresponds to ours or not. In that case, we will know if the Kindle has a dark mode or if we have to update the device to a more modern one.
How to activate dark mode
Once you have verified that you have a current model, follow these steps:
- Open any book on your ereader
- Tap on the screen at the top
- The options and settings bar will open
- Four icons will appear: Flight Mode, Dark Mode, Kindle Sync, and all settings
- Of course, we must touch on “Dark Mode”
The screen will appear in black tones and the letters will be in white so that it is easier to read at night. Everything will be changed: both the pages of the books themselves and the main menu to access your library.
Once you want to go back to the previous mode, you just have to follow the same steps. You can change it as many times as you want if at night you want to bet on the dark mode and during the day a light mode, for example. It will depend on what you need or want to have at all times.
Make sure it’s up to date
If you have a compatible model and the options to have it do not appear, make sure that the device is updated to the latest version. Check that your Amazon ereader is version 5.12.4 or higher. If it’s not up to date, you can do it in just a few minutes by connecting it to the internet.
Set up Internet on your Kindle so you can make updates automatic. Normally you don’t have to do anything and just have a WiiFi connection so that your e-book starts updating when a new version is available. To do this, follow these steps:
- Turn on your Kindle e-book
- Go to the menu button on the device’s home screen
- Choose the Settings option
- Go to the section of WiFi and Bluetooth or Wireless connections
- Choose the WiFi Networks option
- Find the WiFi network you want to connect to
- Write the corresponding password
- Your Kindle will confirm that you have connected to the WiFi network
After a few minutes, it will detect the update if there is any pending. When you have updated, try the steps above again to test if you can activate the Kindle’s Dark Mode or it is not available. The updates are periodic so make sure to connect it to that WiFi network (or another that you can configure by following the same steps) from time to time.
Another interesting option is the Kindle e-reader updates website. From it you will be able to see which is the most recent software version of each of the brand’s devices. This way you will know if the one you have is the last one or not.
Other font and display settings
Beyond putting the dark mode on Kindle or not, you can adjust the font, size or intensity of the screen of your ereader device. Note that not all have on-screen light, although most do: all Kindle models released since 2016 already include the adjustable and touch screen light, not just the Kindle Oasis models that include other step buttons.
In any of the models you can change the size of the text:
- Open the book you want on your Kindle
- Press in the center of the screen to open the reading toolbar, no matter what page you are on or the book you want
- Select the “Aa” icon in this menu bar
- Choose the text size that is most comfortable for you to read
You can change it as many times as you want and it is especially useful and interesting if you lend your reading device to an elderly person or a child and you want them to be able to see it in a larger or more comfortable format. You can also change the intensity of the light from the main screen. Simply touch at the top of the page in any book or menu and you will see a bar where you can choose the intensity to the left or right as we can
