The latest Kindle Paperwhite is the first Kindle to come with a USB-C port, and according to Amazon it’s able to detect moisture and temporarily disable charging to help avoid problems.
There’s this help page at Amazon that talks about how to Resolve Liquid Detection Issues on Kindle ereaders.
Apparently if your Kindle detects liquid on the USB-C port, a notification will appear on the screen, and you will be unable to charge your Kindle via USB temporarily (they say you can still use wireless charging on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition).
Amazon says you can still use your Kindle after getting a liquid detection notice, but you just won’t be able to charge it until the USB port is dry.
I tried to trigger the warning on my Kindle Paperwhite 5 by putting the USB-C port under running water while the device was turned on, and then I let the water sit in the USB port for about 30 seconds, but nothing happened.
The Kindle Paperwhite is IPX8-rated, meaning it’s waterproof for up to 60 minutes in 2 meters of water, so getting water on the USB-C port isn’t a problem, but you might encounter the liquid detection alert if it does get wet.
Amazon notes that the notification will appear intermittently as liquid evaporates from the USB-C port. They say to keep the cable unplugged and wait for the port to fully dry for up to 48 hours. See the help page at Amazon for more details.
I’ve been able to trigger it by plugging my SE into my iPad Pro. The port isn’t wet. The cable isn’t either. I’ve never had either exposed to moisture. When it happens I just unplug and try again. On the second try the USB Drive Mode message appears and my Kindle is available in the Files app. It doesn’t happen very often.
The current generation Fire Tablets have this too, and they always go off when there is no moisture in the port. They’re not waterproof, so why would they be exposed.
I can see how that could turn into an annoying problem if it erroneously won’t let you charge your device.
new kindle paperwhite, the power switch tends to get triggered during belly button reading
Yes. This.
Also if you stand it on a table or window ledge while reading.. it holds power and reboots it. Annoying oversight by Amazon.
Not on my Kindle but a Samsung tablet, it suddenly has moisture! I’ve air cleaned & warm air even left it by the storage heater.
To charge it I have to restart it & plug in power while it’s off once I remove the cable it’s alerts me to moisture, but now it’s fully charged.
Maybe that will work on the Kindle
Problem with my kindle 2…..it locks up, and this is with a charged battery. I hadn’t used this device for a year or so, then found it, charged it, and eventually it started working. Then suddenly mid chapter, it locked up, and won’t move. It’s fully charged, and just won’t budge….Can’t get it to turn off….and it should be fully charged??