Firmware Update Kindle 5.19.6 software is available

[axu2]

Version 5.19.6 – July 2026

Here's what's new:

Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

Less detailed than usual.

main hopes:
1) azw3 full refresh working again for normal books and manga
2) virtual panels in mobi manga
3) percent read tracker goes to final read state after 100% for mobi manga

If anyone is willing to test a mobi manga, I attached it here already: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...5&postcount=15

edit: based on reddit comments azw3 full refresh still broken.

[jhowell]

Some potential new features in this firmware update. No guarantee that they are fully implemented or will ever be enabled.

• Collections are now tags! Add/remove items within any tag. Add/remove tags for an item by tapping the 3-dot or long-pressing the cover for the options menu. Find your collections under "All tags" in your Library.
  
• Microphone - Speech-to-text uses your device’s built-in microphone to enter text by speaking instead of typing. Once on, tap the microphone button on the keyboard to start and tap again to stop. You can change your mic settings anytime in settings > Device Options > Microphone. Voiceview will pause while microphone is active. Read out will resume after 30 seconds of no sound. An internet connection is required to use the microphone feature.
  
• To close your book, swipe up from the bottom.

[180]

I updated to firmware 5.19.6, and Japanese language awz3 are still broken for me. Nothing but a white page
Converting to KFX works for me, but books labelled as document doesn;t sit well with me

[Vroo]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Microphone - Speech-to-text uses your device’s built-in microphone to enter text by speaking instead of typing.

This may indicate some new Kindle models, because AFAIK, no current model has built-in microphones?

EDIT: my fault - Kindle Scribe 3 has a microphone, though it's not used yet.

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by 180

I updated to firmware 5.19.6, and Japanese language awz3 are still broken for me. Nothing but a white page
Converting to KFX works for me, but books labelled as document doesn;t sit well with me

Change the setting to EBOK and books will no longer be documents. Go to Preferences > Output Options > KFX Output

[axu2]

Originally Posted by 180

I updated to firmware 5.19.6, and Japanese language awz3 are still broken for me. Nothing but a white page
Converting to KFX works for me, but books labelled as document doesn;t sit well with me

Is this the problem you had? https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comm...eloaded_books/

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Vroo

This may indicate some new Kindle models, because AFAIK, no current model has built-in microphones?

EDIT: my fault - Kindle Scribe 3 has a microphone, though it's not used yet.

The Colorsoft Scribe also has a microphone.

[180]

Originally Posted by JBaby

Change the setting to EBOK and books will no longer be documents. Go to Preferences > Output Options > KFX Output

Will give that a try Was a little worried about the 'unexpected behaviour'

[180]

Originally Posted by axu2

Is this the problem you had? https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comm...eloaded_books/

Bingo!
Honestly don't want to go down the 'send to kindle' route, and think the KFX option is better.

[Frogm4n]

Originally Posted by JBaby

Change the setting to EBOK and books will no longer be documents. Go to Preferences > Output Options > KFX Output

But do be aware that setting this makes them vulnerable to being deleted by Amazon if the device is offline for more than a couple of weeks.

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by Frogm4n

But do be aware that setting this makes them vulnerable to being deleted by Amazon if the device is offline for more than a couple of weeks.

This is true. You can’t have everything so choices have to be made. My Kindle is rarely in airplane mode because I want to use all of the features of my Kindle and those features require airplane mode to be off.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Some potential new features in this firmware update. No guarantee that they are fully implemented or will ever be enabled.

• Collections are now tags! Add/remove items within any tag. Add/remove tags for an item by tapping the 3-dot or long-pressing the cover for the options menu. Find your collections under "All tags" in your Library.
  
  

There is a post on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comm...e_update_5196/
complaining about the change to Tags (no Uncollected equivalent to filter on), apparently Amazon has since 'reversed' it (and I'm not seeing it).

I'm not a fan of current Collection implementation (does not scale to large libraries) but removing existing functionality without adding any benefit seems dumb.

What I'd like is some sort of auto-tagging of Kindle purchases (e.g. 'genre') that could be overridden and applied to documents. Some reading systems pay attention to metadata tags in the book, but AFAIK you cannot change them apart from editing the metadata somehow.

I was wondering what the microphone was for. Looking forward to trying it when it shows up.

Swipe from bottom seems to have changed: It used to be that the up swipe had to be roughy one inch or you would not get reading options to show. Now it is not so picky: a swipe that long or longer works. But it does not close the book.