The latest answers to your Kindle jailbreak questions: compatible firmware, risks, how-tos, downgrading, KUAL, KOReader, and more. For real-time help, join the Kindle Modding Discord.
There is currently no public jailbreak for Kindle firmware 5.18.0 or newer. If you don’t see an announcement on the official jailbreak guide or the Kindle Modding Discord, then nothing new has been released. Stay tuned—any new jailbreaks will be announced there first.
No, not unless your Kindle is already jailbroken. There’s no official way to downgrade a stock (unjailbroken) Kindle. Jailbroken users can sometimes downgrade using custom scripts; see the downgrade guide for more info.
Check your Kindle’s firmware version, then follow the WinterBreak Jailbreak Guide for safe, up-to-date instructions. If your firmware is too new, you’ll need to wait for a new method.
Yes, for WinterBreak and most modern jailbreaks, your Kindle must be registered to an Amazon account with WiFi set up. Some old jailbreaks for legacy firmware did not require this.
Usually not—unless your device is on specific old firmware and you use legacy exploits like LanguageBreak or WatchThis. See the official jailbreak guide for details.
No, jailbreaking itself will not erase your books or highlights. Still, always back up your Kindle just in case. Note: Amazon may remotely remove some sideloaded books when you reconnect to WiFi, whether your device is jailbroken or not.
Jailbreaking will likely void your warranty. There are no confirmed cases of Amazon banning accounts for jailbreaking, but you should never discuss mods or hacks with Amazon support.
A factory reset will remove most user data and disable jailbreak features, but some traces may remain. For a complete restore, update your Kindle to the latest official firmware after resetting.
The safest way is to keep your Kindle in Airplane Mode. Some advanced users fill up their Kindle’s storage or use scripts to block updates, but Airplane Mode is the easiest and safest for most people.
Yes. Jailbreaking does not remove or break normal Kindle features, including the store, cloud sync, and the built-in Kindle reader.
Copy the correct Update_KUALBooklet*.bin or hotfix install file to your Kindle’s root, safely eject, then go to Settings → Update Your Kindle. If you get errors after updates, install the KUAL hotfix booklet.
Make sure you have the correct version for your firmware. Some updates require a KUAL hotfix, and KOReader has different builds for different firmware. For detailed help, see the KOReader thread.
Yes! Jailbreaking does not affect your ability to sideload books or use the regular Kindle reader. Most Kindle and third-party reading functions will work as before.
You cannot run Android apps unless there is a specific port or extension. Built-in Kindle features (Goodreads, Send To Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, etc.) still work after jailbreaking.
Kindles on firmware 5.16.3 and newer use “hard-float” (hardware floating point support); older devices use “soft-float.” Some mods or extensions only work on one or the other, so always check compatibility.
Type ;log into the Kindle search bar. If you see a popup message, your device is jailbroken.
Try restarting your Kindle and reinstalling the hotfix and KUAL. If that doesn’t work, check the KindleModShelf FAQ, the Kindle Modding Wiki, or ask in the Kindle Modding Discord for help.
Visit the Jailbreaking Guide, the Kindle Modding Wiki, or join the Kindle Modding Discord for real-time help and updates.