What you’re dealing with
If yours is one of the silent ones, this becomes a places problem rather than a signal problem, and Kindles are lost in a very predictable set of places.
| Broadcasts as | Only when Bluetooth audio is switched on, many Kindles are silent |
|---|---|
| Typical battery | Weeks |
| Findable by scan | Not on its own |
| Search window | Days to weeks |
Once the battery is gone: Kindle battery lasts weeks, but a Kindle with Bluetooth switched off broadcasts nothing regardless of charge.
Where it usually is
In the bed
Read until you fell asleep. Under the pillow or between mattress and wall.
On a bookshelf
In a case, indistinguishable from a book, which is the whole point of the case.
Beach and holiday bags
Packed and never unpacked.
How to search for it
- Check the last-seen map firstBefore you search a room, find out which building. A pin saves you from searching the right way in the wrong place.
- Scan from the middle of the roomNote everything that appears, then select the device you want so the rest of the list drops away.
- Walk and watch the signalSweep in a straight line, give each position a few seconds, and turn 90 degrees when the reading stops rising.
- Search inside things, not across themA strong signal with nothing visible means it is underneath or inside something. Fabric and metal block Bluetooth badly.
Tips specific to kindle
- Check Settings on your Kindle for whether Bluetooth is enabled before you rely on scanning for it.
- Search the bookshelf. A cased Kindle among books is the most common permanent loss.
Other things people lose
The same method applies to these, with different battery windows and different hiding places.
- How to find a lost Nintendo Switch or Joy-Con, About 20 hours on a Joy-Con
- How to find a lost Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, Weeks to months
- How to find an electric scooter or e-bike, Days to weeks on standby
- How to find a lost smart ring, Four to seven days
- How to find a pet tracker or collar tag, Months on a coin cell tag
- Clap to find your phone, Clap tab
- Reading Bluetooth signal strength (RSSI), Reference
- All device guides, the complete list
Common questions
Does a Kindle show up in a Bluetooth scan?
Only if it supports Bluetooth audio and has the radio switched on. Many Kindles do not broadcast at all, in which case no scanner will detect them.