Troubleshooting Get back to language selection from the setup screen?

bizzybody · 07-02-2026, 02:03 PM

I want to know the firmware version of a used 2025 Kindle Colorsoft before I let it get online.

I'm at the screen with set up on this Kindle or Set up with your phone options.

The three dots by the battery icon at the top does nothing. I should've searched before turning the thing on. Supposedly the menu is available at the language selection screen and the firmware and other info can be found there.

I've tried holding the power button until it restarted, holding the power button to get the Cancel Restart Screen Off options and hitting Restart while keeping the power button held, and continuing to hold the power button while it rebooted a couple more times.

But it goes right back to the setup options screen, skipping the language selection.

bizzybody · 07-02-2026, 02:11 PM

I found the way. Make a new text file on my PC called DO_FACTORY_RESTORE and delete the .txt
Copy to the root of the Kindle's file storage and restart.

Unfortunately in neither the language nor country selection screens is there any way to do anything but select the language or country.

Any other way to determine the firmware version before letting the internet touch it?

I bought it used from Unclaimed Baggage. No box or anything, just the Kindle and a USB C to C cable. Only markings on the outside is LOT:R7537

Frogm4n · 07-02-2026, 03:49 PM

Fill up the storage so it doesn't have room to download an update, 50-100MB free. While you are doing that, the firmware version is in system/version.txt

mergen3107 · 07-02-2026, 04:51 PM

After selecting the language and region, connect to PC. There, navigate to system folder. If you don’t see it, just add it in the address bar. Then open version.txt

mergen3107 · 07-02-2026, 04:53 PM

Another way to do this is to find a Wi-Fi network with captive portal. The one that would ask you to agree to terms or enter login/password. Do NOT connect fully, just try to connect to such network - and wait until Kindle opens the browser. There search for ;411 or ;711 command in the search bar (I forgot which one of these commands gives device info)

bizzybody · 07-02-2026, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mergen3107

After selecting the language and region, connect to PC. There, navigate to system folder. If you don’t see it, just add it in the address bar. Then open version.txt

This PC\Kindle Colorsoft\Internal Storage\system

Doesn't work. Can't find it. Only shows audible documents fonts screenshots

Show hidden files, folders, and drives is enabled, and showing protected operating system files didn't reveal anything.

Any chance of getting into it with Linux with WSL2?

Kindle Colorsoft (2025) 12th 16gb

DNSB · 07-03-2026, 01:03 AM

The ColorSoft connects using MTP instead of USBMS. Amazon is using that to restrict the directories that are visible over a USB connection. You will not be able to see anything more using a Mac or a Linux computer than you can see using a Windows machine.

You can take a look at this thread from 2024: Problem with Kindle Paperwhite 12th gen - a dealbreaker for some discussion back then.

mergen3107 · 07-03-2026, 04:00 AM

Ok, your only option is captive portal wi-fi then

mergen3107 · 07-03-2026, 04:01 AM

Ah, also you can enter ;demo in the browser. It will ask you if you want to enter demo - say “No”, and then it will bypass the startup screen. You should see the main menu

bizzybody · 07-03-2026, 04:23 AM

I have a USB WiFi dongle I can plug into a PC. Is there a way to fake a captive portal with it?

bizzybody · 07-03-2026, 06:03 AM

I found the MyPublicWifi internet sharing/control/captive portal software. I got it to work ONCE.

I plugged the WiFi dongle in, launched MyPublicWiFi, clicked Start and I was able to connect with my phone and got full internet access. OK then! Stopped the hotspot, enabled user access control, clicked Start...

Tells me the network connection for the WiFi adapter is disconnected. Tried disabling user access control, same thing. Deleted/reinstalled WiFi drivers and other stuff, many reboots, still stubbornly refuses to work.

One more thing, exiting it does not stop it. I have to got to task manager to kill it. Doubleclicking the shortcut won't restart the user interface.

IF this free captive portal software can be made to work correctly, then there should be the solution for blocking Kindles from the web during setup.

Edit: Decided to try it on my laptop. Installed MyPublicWiFi and set the user access control first. Started it, it worked to block my phone from internet access without a login. Disconnect the phone, try to connect the Kindle and it causes Windows to pop a bullsh@t security problem and restart.

I do not hate Amazon nearly enough.

bizzybody · Yesterday, 02:45 AM

Finally got MyPublicWiFi to work on my desktop.

Firmware installed is 5.19.2

Was a bit of a struggle getting it to go to the portal sign in with the web browser.

07-02-2026, 02:03 PM	#1
bizzybody Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 8317682 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Device: Various PalmOS PDAs, Android Phones, Sharper Image Literati	Get back to language selection from the setup screen? I want to know the firmware version of a used 2025 Kindle Colorsoft before I let it get online. I'm at the screen with set up on this Kindle or Set up with your phone options. The three dots by the battery icon at the top does nothing. I should've searched before turning the thing on. Supposedly the menu is available at the language selection screen and the firmware and other info can be found there. I've tried holding the power button until it restarted, holding the power button to get the Cancel Restart Screen Off options and hitting Restart while keeping the power button held, and continuing to hold the power button while it rebooted a couple more times. But it goes right back to the setup options screen, skipping the language selection.

07-02-2026, 02:11 PM	#2
bizzybody Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 8317682 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Device: Various PalmOS PDAs, Android Phones, Sharper Image Literati	I found the way. Make a new text file on my PC called DO_FACTORY_RESTORE and delete the .txt Copy to the root of the Kindle's file storage and restart. Unfortunately in neither the language nor country selection screens is there any way to do anything but select the language or country. Any other way to determine the firmware version before letting the internet touch it? I bought it used from Unclaimed Baggage. No box or anything, just the Kindle and a USB C to C cable. Only markings on the outside is LOT:R7537 Last edited by bizzybody; 07-02-2026 at 02:16 PM.

07-03-2026, 06:03 AM	#11
bizzybody Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 8317682 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Device: Various PalmOS PDAs, Android Phones, Sharper Image Literati	I found the MyPublicWifi internet sharing/control/captive portal software. I got it to work ONCE. I plugged the WiFi dongle in, launched MyPublicWiFi, clicked Start and I was able to connect with my phone and got full internet access. OK then! Stopped the hotspot, enabled user access control, clicked Start... Tells me the network connection for the WiFi adapter is disconnected. Tried disabling user access control, same thing. Deleted/reinstalled WiFi drivers and other stuff, many reboots, still stubbornly refuses to work. One more thing, exiting it does not stop it. I have to got to task manager to kill it. Doubleclicking the shortcut won't restart the user interface. IF this free captive portal software can be made to work correctly, then there should be the solution for blocking Kindles from the web during setup. Edit: Decided to try it on my laptop. Installed MyPublicWiFi and set the user access control first. Started it, it worked to block my phone from internet access without a login. Disconnect the phone, try to connect the Kindle and it causes Windows to pop a bullsh@t security problem and restart. I do not hate Amazon nearly enough. Last edited by bizzybody; 07-03-2026 at 07:06 AM.

Yesterday, 02:45 AM	#12
bizzybody Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 8317682 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Device: Various PalmOS PDAs, Android Phones, Sharper Image Literati	Finally got MyPublicWiFi to work on my desktop. Firmware installed is 5.19.2 Was a bit of a struggle getting it to go to the portal sign in with the web browser. Last edited by bizzybody; Yesterday at 02:49 AM.

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07-02-2026, 03:49 PM	#3
Frogm4n Guru Posts: 646 Karma: 4500001 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Scribe 2022, OA2, PRS-350	Fill up the storage so it doesn't have room to download an update, 50-100MB free. While you are doing that, the firmware version is in system/version.txt

07-02-2026, 04:51 PM	#4
mergen3107 Wizard Posts: 1,629 Karma: 5000564 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cape Canaveral Device: Kindle Scribe	After selecting the language and region, connect to PC. There, navigate to system folder. If you don’t see it, just add it in the address bar. Then open version.txt

07-02-2026, 04:53 PM	#5
mergen3107 Wizard Posts: 1,629 Karma: 5000564 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cape Canaveral Device: Kindle Scribe	Another way to do this is to find a Wi-Fi network with captive portal. The one that would ask you to agree to terms or enter login/password. Do NOT connect fully, just try to connect to such network - and wait until Kindle opens the browser. There search for ;411 or ;711 command in the search bar (I forgot which one of these commands gives device info)

07-03-2026, 01:03 AM	#7
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 52,867 Karma: 180988374 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	The ColorSoft connects using MTP instead of USBMS. Amazon is using that to restrict the directories that are visible over a USB connection. You will not be able to see anything more using a Mac or a Linux computer than you can see using a Windows machine. You can take a look at this thread from 2024: Problem with Kindle Paperwhite 12th gen - a dealbreaker for some discussion back then.

07-03-2026, 04:00 AM	#8
mergen3107 Wizard Posts: 1,629 Karma: 5000564 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cape Canaveral Device: Kindle Scribe	Ok, your only option is captive portal wi-fi then

07-03-2026, 04:01 AM	#9
mergen3107 Wizard Posts: 1,629 Karma: 5000564 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cape Canaveral Device: Kindle Scribe	Ah, also you can enter ;demo in the browser. It will ask you if you want to enter demo - say “No”, and then it will bypass the startup screen. You should see the main menu

07-03-2026, 04:23 AM	#10
bizzybody Addict Posts: 308 Karma: 8317682 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Device: Various PalmOS PDAs, Android Phones, Sharper Image Literati	I have a USB WiFi dongle I can plug into a PC. Is there a way to fake a captive portal with it?

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