Back in March, Amazon added a new way to turn pages and scroll on the Signature Edition Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft that works by double-tapping the sides or back of the device (sometimes it works when tapping the front too).
As an owner of the standard Kindle Paperwhite, I was annoyed to find out that the new page turn feature was only available on the Signature Edition model. So I ended up trading in an old Kindle to get the jade Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition during Prime Day when it was on sale.
I’ve been testing the double-tap page advance feature a lot since then, and I really wanted to like it, but the truth is it just doesn’t work all that well. It’s very inconsistent. Just when you think you’ve found the magic spot where double-tapping seems to work reliably, it still won’t turn the page every time.
There’s also the fact that it makes it easier to accidentally turn pages when you don’t intend to, like when setting your Kindle down or adjusting your reading position. But I didn’t have that problem very often.
Turn on Double Tap Page Turns
The new double-tap setting can be turned on and off from the main settings menu under Device options > Double tap.
In addition to paging forward, the double-tap feature also works for scrolling down your library list and the homescreen. It can also scroll down the page when using the web browser and viewing long settings menus.
To be clear, the double-tap feature can only turn pages forward; you still have to swipe the screen to go back pages. The same goes with scrolling; double-tapping only scrolls down, not up. When it actually works, that is.
Kindle Not Registering Taps
As I said, it’s very hit and miss when it comes to the Kindle recognizing the double-taps.
The back seems to be the most inconsistent area. There are spots were you can tap hard enough to hear your finger thumping loudly off the back panel, and yet the Kindle will not recognize it at all.
Tapping along the sides seems to work the best and doesn’t require nearly as much force as tapping the back, but it still only works like 80% of the time at most.
That said, I still like the feature and I continue to use it regularly, especially when I’m reading outside. I try to avoid touching the Paperwhite’s screen as much as possible because it literally has the most smudge-prone screen I’ve ever seen on an ereader. The fingerprints are even more noticeable when you’re outside in bright light, and your hands perspire more when it’s warm, so I do like how the double-tap feature helps keep the screen clean and clear. I just wish it worked more reliably. But it’s better than not having it at all.
The Double Tap feature is very inconsistent!!! I turned it off. I am having a new issue with book covers. If a previously purchased eBook is no longer available in Kindle format in the Amazon store, my Kindle Colorsoft will not show the book cover. My iPhone and iPad show the book cover, but not the Kindle Colorsoft. I have never had this issue until my Kindle updated to 5.18.4.
Tried it once, didn’t work properly, turned it off.
Inconsistency is expected when you make something have a secondary use thats different from the original intended use.
I never had a problem with the physical buttons on kindles. The Voyage buttons were a little odd to use at first but after a day or two it was second nature.
The back tap on the iPhone is similarly inconsistent. Too bad, because it is so useful—mine is set to scroll.
I have it disabled now I tried it and totally don’t like it. I was always accidentally getting page turns I didn’t want or one of my pets would cause it to turn pages. It maybe useful for some but I prefer to use the touch screen.