Kindle lock screen not working? 7 fixes
You sent a custom lock screen (some people call it a screensaver) to your Kindle and it isn't showing, or it shows with black bars, or it keeps switching back to a book cover. These are the fixes I give my customers, in the order that solves it most often.
1. Ads are still on
This is the most common cause. While your Kindle has Special Offers (Amazon's ads), the lock screen shows the ad and the cover setting is hidden. Remove ads first. My remove ads guide covers the paid and the free method.
2. “Show covers on lock screen” is off
Once ads are gone, switch the setting on: swipe down from the top → All settings → Screen and brightness → Show covers on lock screen.
Can't find it? Amazon moved it in software version 5.16.6. On older software it's under Settings → Device Options → Display Cover.
3. The setting isn't there at all
Amazon added cover lock screens in April 2021 and rolled the setting out slowly. It's reported to need a Kindle Voyage or newer. If you have a recent Kindle with ads removed and still don't see it:
- Update your Kindle: All settings → Device Options → Advanced Options → Update Your Kindle (greyed out means you're already up to date).
- Restart it: hold the power button and tap Restart.
4. You haven't opened the file yet
The lock screen shows the cover of the last book you opened. Sending the file isn't enough. Open it once from your Library, then press the power button so the Kindle sleeps.
5. It keeps changing back to a book cover
That's normal: opening any other book makes its cover the lock screen. Open your lock screen file again to bring it back. Many people keep a few designs in a collection and switch between them.
6. Black bars down the sides
Black bars mean the file wasn't built to fill the screen. A Kindle lock screen has to be an EPUB with the cover set to full screen. Most free converters skip that, so the image sits smaller than the screen. Every file from my shop and the lock screen maker is built full-screen, so it goes edge to edge.
7. The file never arrived
- Check you sent it to the right device on Send to Kindle, using the Amazon account the Kindle is registered to.
- Make sure the Kindle is on Wi-Fi, then swipe down and tap Sync.
- Look in Library → All (not just Downloaded) and tap it to download.
Still stuck? The full step-by-step lock screen tutorial walks through the whole setup from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Kindle still showing ads instead of my lock screen?
Custom lock screens only work once Special Offers (ads) are removed. While ads are on, the Kindle shows the ad and hides the "Show covers on lock screen" option. Remove ads first, then switch the setting on.
Where is the "Show covers on lock screen" setting?
On current Kindle software it is under Settings → Screen and brightness → Show covers on lock screen. On older software (before version 5.16.6) it was under Settings → Device Options → Display Cover.
Why did my lock screen change back to a book cover?
The Kindle shows the cover of the last book you opened. If you open another book, that cover takes over. Open your lock screen file from your Library again and let the Kindle sleep to bring it back.
Why does my custom lock screen have black bars?
The file was not built to fill the screen. A lock screen needs an EPUB whose cover image is set to full screen; most free converters leave the image smaller than the screen, so the Kindle fills the gaps with black.
What size should a Kindle lock screen image be?
Amazon does not publish pixel sizes for its screens. The files I make are 1264 × 1680 pixels (3:4) and built as a full-screen EPUB, so they fill the screen on Paperwhite, Basic, Colorsoft, Oasis and Scribe.
Do custom lock screens work on the 2026 Kindles?
Yes, they work on the 2026 models too. If yours is not showing, work through the fixes above, starting with ads and the Show covers setting.
Is a Kindle screensaver the same as a lock screen?
Yes. "Screensaver" and "lock screen" both mean the image a Kindle shows while it is asleep. The fixes on this page apply to both names.
