New Kindle function: double tap to turn pages

Amazon is distributing a software update for its Kindle range of e-readers that adds a new function to selected devices: Double-tap to turn pages. You can double-tap either the back or the side of the device to go to the next e-book page.

This can be seen in the update notes in the Amazon support area. The reference to the new page-turning function is in the update notes for version 5.18.1. Although this version is being distributed to Kindle devices from the tenth generation onwards, the double-tap function is not available on all of these devices.

Only for two Kindles

According to the software notes, only the Kindle Colorsoft and the 12th generation Paperwhite released in 2024 will receive the new feature. For other current devices, including the Kindle Scribe 2024, only the note "Performance improvements, bug fixes and other general improvements" can be found in the update notes.

Double-tapping to turn pages could be aimed at users who miss physical buttons on their Kindles – Since the discontinuation of the Kindle Oasis, Amazon no longer sells devices with buttons for turning pages. The standard way to turn pages on Kindle devices is by tapping the edge of the display or swiping across the display. This works in both directions – Double-tapping on the side or back of the device only allows you to turn pages forwards. If you have a compatible Kindle reader, you may still need to activate the double-tap function after the update. According to Amazon, this is possible via the settings in the device settings.

A few weeks ago, Amazon turned off the option to download e-books from the Kindle library management directly to the PC. This download function was intended for transferring downloaded e-books to a connected Kindle device via USB.

(dahe)