Troubleshooting Kindle 5th gen (paperwhite 1) touch screen stopped working suddenly

haadi71 · 07-07-2025, 04:13 AM

I was just reading a book on koreader and suddenly it just stopped responding to touch. I did following:

I restarted it many time by holding the power button
I factory resetted it.
I even reflashed the firmware
Allowed the battery to drain completely

Once or twice did the touch responded between my restarts but launching koreader and it no longer responded to touch again. It also worked after firmware flash but again stopped working after a few minutes. Is my device dead.

JSWolf · 07-07-2025, 10:46 AM

Does it work when you are using the Kindle firmware and not KOReader?

haadi71 · 07-07-2025, 12:07 PM

Um, I just factory restored it and now I am stuck at language screen

Quoth · 07-07-2025, 01:37 PM

Likely the cell (battery).

haadi71 · 07-07-2025, 11:40 PM

I also tried charging it to 70% but still doesn't work

Quoth · 07-08-2025, 05:53 AM

My old Kindles would not work at all on USB power, even overnight, even if charge turned to green, when the batteries died.

The original Paperwhite 1 is over 16 years old. The LiPoly battery (really a cell) lasts about 4 to 10 years.

So while anything is possible, including failing Flash memory, the most likely thing is the battery. You'll need a compatible part that's not too old stock. I and others have got replacement batteries that have been poor because they are too old!

issybird · 07-08-2025, 08:37 AM

My WAG is that this isn’t a battery failure, but that the device is kaput. I use a lot of ancient tech myself and while it may break your heart, a device this old doesn’t owe you anything.

If you’re in the US and you can manage it, this would be a good time to do a trade-in with the defunct device, which would get you another 20% off the Prime Day* price. But I realize an unplanned outlay can be impossible.

*You need to be a Prime member, but non-members generally get a free trial offer.

JSWolf · 07-08-2025, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haadi71

Um, I just factory restored it and now I am stuck at language screen

When you have a jailbroken Kindle, you never ever factory reset. You install the firmware from Amazon to replace the one you've jailbroken.

What you may have now is a bricked Kindle because of the reset.

JSWolf · 07-08-2025, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Likely the cell (battery).

But it's jailbroken and you never reset a jailbroken Kindle. You have to install a full firmware in order to back off the jailbreak.

shamanNS · 07-08-2025, 09:24 AM

As always another bullshit claim by @JSWolf, MobileRead's resident "expert" on all things Kindle related.

JSWolf · 07-08-2025, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shamanNS

As always another bullshit claim by @JSWolf, MobileRead's resident "expert" on all things Kindle related.

I've aksed the person who created the WinterBreak jailbreak about this so the info is correct.

haadi71 · 07-08-2025, 11:24 AM

Firstly, my kindle since an ancient one doesn't use winterbreak. Secondly, the jailbreak had a bridge so first installed on an older forced downgraded firmware and thus it survived when i flashed the latest firmware for my device. I know this because, just after i installed the latest firmware it displayed "bridge" at the bottom of the screen as kindle was restarting. Also, kual and koreader were able to launch after the firmware flash. However, the touch no longer worked after launching koreader. Also, even if firmware flash broke my kindle it no longer detected touch before I even flashed the firmware.

HackerDude · 07-08-2025, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you have a jailbroken Kindle, you never ever factory reset. You install the firmware from Amazon to replace the one you've jailbroken.

What you may have now is a bricked Kindle because of the reset.

This is somewhat inaccurate, it is unlikely that the Kindle is bricked

Quoth · 07-08-2025, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

My WAG is that this isn’t a battery failure, but that the device is kaput. I use a lot of ancient tech myself and while it may break your heart, a device this old doesn’t owe you anything.

Could be dead and certainly a good innings.

Quoth · 07-08-2025, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've aksed the person who created the WinterBreak jailbreak about this so the info is correct.

A PW1 doesn't use / need WinterBreak.

07-07-2025, 04:13 AM	#1
haadi71 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2023 Device: none	Kindle 5th gen (paperwhite 1) touch screen stopped working suddenly I was just reading a book on koreader and suddenly it just stopped responding to touch. I did following: I restarted it many time by holding the power button I factory resetted it. I even reflashed the firmware Allowed the battery to drain completely Once or twice did the touch responded between my restarts but launching koreader and it no longer responded to touch again. It also worked after firmware flash but again stopped working after a few minutes. Is my device dead.

07-08-2025, 08:37 AM	#7
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,292 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	My WAG is that this isn’t a battery failure, but that the device is kaput. I use a lot of ancient tech myself and while it may break your heart, a device this old doesn’t owe you anything. If you’re in the US and you can manage it, this would be a good time to do a trade-in with the defunct device, which would get you another 20% off the Prime Day* price. But I realize an unplanned outlay can be impossible. You need to be a Prime member, but non-members generally get a free trial offer. Last edited by issybird; 07-08-2025 at 08:39 AM.*

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07-07-2025, 10:46 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,749 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Does it work when you are using the Kindle firmware and not KOReader?

07-07-2025, 12:07 PM	#3
haadi71 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2023 Device: none	Um, I just factory restored it and now I am stuck at language screen

07-07-2025, 01:37 PM	#4
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,025 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Likely the cell (battery).

07-07-2025, 11:40 PM	#5
haadi71 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2023 Device: none	I also tried charging it to 70% but still doesn't work

07-08-2025, 05:53 AM	#6
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,025 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	My old Kindles would not work at all on USB power, even overnight, even if charge turned to green, when the batteries died. The original Paperwhite 1 is over 16 years old. The LiPoly battery (really a cell) lasts about 4 to 10 years. So while anything is possible, including failing Flash memory, the most likely thing is the battery. You'll need a compatible part that's not too old stock. I and others have got replacement batteries that have been poor because they are too old!

07-08-2025, 09:24 AM	#10
shamanNS Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Serbia Device: Kindle PW5, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle PW1	As always another bullshit claim by @JSWolf, MobileRead's resident "expert" on all things Kindle related.

07-08-2025, 11:24 AM	#12
haadi71 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2023 Device: none	Firstly, my kindle since an ancient one doesn't use winterbreak. Secondly, the jailbreak had a bridge so first installed on an older forced downgraded firmware and thus it survived when i flashed the latest firmware for my device. I know this because, just after i installed the latest firmware it displayed "bridge" at the bottom of the screen as kindle was restarting. Also, kual and koreader were able to launch after the firmware flash. However, the touch no longer worked after launching koreader. Also, even if firmware flash broke my kindle it no longer detected touch before I even flashed the firmware.

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