Kindle Paperwhite 3 manual firmware update

[nick_white]

Hi,

I currently have version 5.8.1 installed.
I saw that the latest version is 5.8.8, so I manually downloaded it (update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_5.8.8.bin) and copied it through USB (in no particular folder).
After that, I checked the settings menu, but the update option was greyed out. Then I thought I need to restart, so I did it. But afterwards, the option remained grey.

Is there another thing I need to do?
Does it require to incrementally install updates (5.8.1 to 5.8.2, then 5.8.3 etc.)?
I haven't registered the Kindle as I don't buy from Amazon store and I don't need useless accounts. Is this required for manual updates?
I also don't use Wi-Fi on it, so it's in airplane mode.

[AnemicOak]

Provided you're downloading it from the right page I'm not sure what else you should do.

As long as you have the proper firmware for the device and copied it to the root of the device (don't put it in any folder) you should see the update option. Registering/not registering it shouldn't make a difference.

You're sure it's a Paperwhite 3 and not a late model PW2 which uses a different file? (sorry, just throwing out ideas)

[nick_white]

I'm not 100% sure because it doesn't say "Paperwhite 3" anyway on it, but it's the 300 ppi model, bought in 2016.

[patrickt]

The process you described works. Perhaps the device does have to be registered. Perhaps that's why you never got the update OTA. I'd suggest you call Amazon.

[knc1]

If you can reach the UYK button unregistered, then you don't need to register it (with that firmware version).

No, you don't have to step through all intermediate versions.
Your PW3 uses complete system images as the update.

That "in no particular folder" may be your problem.
Put the update file in the top (highest) visible level of USB storage.

Your choice:

5.8.7:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredow...hite_5.8.7.bin

These two can not (currently) be jail broken, if that is a consideration for you.

5.8.8:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredow...hite_5.8.8.bin

5.8.9:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredow...hite_5.8.9.bin

[nick_white]

Originally Posted by knc1

That "in no particular folder" may be your problem.
Put the update file in the top (highest) visible level of USB storage.

By that I wanted to say the "root" folder.

There was definitely something wrong, as I:
- Registered my kindle.
- Connected it to the charger.
- Connected it to Wifi.
- Left it for half a day to charge and, hopefully, automatically download the update.
However, it didn't find an update by itself...

I restarted it a couple of times. Then I decided to manually transfer the update again. After I connected it, I saw that the file was not there anymore. So I copied it again. Afterwards, the option was made available, so the update worked.

Maybe it needed something like 100% charge (on my first try, it had roughly half).

[knc1]

Originally Posted by nick_white

By that I wanted to say the "root" folder.

There was definitely something wrong, as I:
- Registered my kindle.
- Connected it to the charger.
- Connected it to Wifi.
- Left it for half a day to charge and, hopefully, automatically download the update.
However, it didn't find an update by itself...

I restarted it a couple of times. Then I decided to manually transfer the update again. After I connected it, I saw that the file was not there anymore. So I copied it again. Afterwards, the option was made available, so the update worked.

Maybe it needed something like 100% charge (on my first try, it had roughly half).

It has varied over the years with the firmware version, but yes, it does check the amount of charge held by the battery.
And there is a minimum amount below which it will not update.

To determine what was going on, in the search function, enter:
;dm
The semi-colon is part of the command.

That will produce four new documents on your kindle.
Look through the 'system' one towards the end, to see if the process entered any information why it did not update.

Originally Posted by nick_white

By that I wanted to say the "root" folder.

I see that Amazon is using the same term.
Although it is wrong, it is not the "root" folder, it is: /mnt/us/<Visible Top of USB storage>.
The vary first "/" is the root folder.

So "Highest level of visible USB storage" is always correct, regardless of PC system or viewpoint.