Amazon Kindle Jailbreak - Here's how

If you want to use additional functions on your Amazon Kindle, you can install a current jailbreak on the Linux system. We'll show you how it's done.

Amazon Kindle: Jailbreak Notices

• In the past, there were several Amazon jailbreaks for Kindle devices. However, the security gaps that were used were quickly closed again and again.
• In the meantime, however, a little trick has been discovered that can be used to jailbreak any firmware version: A simple downgrade of the corresponding version and subsequent update with the already integrated jailbreak.
• But be aware that jailbreaking can void your warranty. Among other things, the jailbreak enables SSH access. Smaller games like changing the screen saver or the font are also possible. An alternative reading program also finds its way onto Kindle.

Step 1: downgrade Kindle firmware

As described above, the trick is to reset the eReaders to a special firmware. The installed firmware version then only plays a subordinate role. In addition, this process works for almost all (current) kindles from "Touch" to "Paperwhite" and "Voyage" to "Oasis".

1. First of all you need to download a bin file for the downgrade. To do this, open the mobileread website and scroll about halfway through the page. There you will find the corresponding file for different devices and installed firmware versions.
2. You do not necessarily need the md5 file. For security reasons, you can also download this and use it to check whether the bin file is faulty.
3. For this you need an MD5 checker. In principle, this is self-explanatory: The calculated check sum of the bin file must match that in the MD5 file. In this case, you can rest assured that this file to be installed is error-free.
4. Now turn to Kindle. You should fully charge the battery, copy the entire "documents" folder to your PC, and then reset Kindle to factory settings. All personal data will be deleted.
5. To reset, go to Settings and then select "Menu", "Reset device". Confirm the information with "Yes" and wait for the device to restart.
6. Then set up Kindle as usual with WiFi, voice, Amazon account, etc. We will help you with this on this page.
7. Then connect your Kindle to the computer via USB and copy the downloaded bin file to the main directory. This process can take some time due to the file size.
8. Then disconnect the eBook reader from the PC and call up the settings again. Here you select "Menu" and "Update Kindle". The device restarts at the end of the process.

Step 2: install Kindle jailbreak

After downgrading, you can now transfer and install the jailbreak.

1. You can either download the jailbreak starter package or the individual packages (all!). This is at your own risk, we can not take any responsibility for it: Jailbreak starter pack, Kindle Jailbreak, Kindle Jailbreak Hotfix, KUAL, KUAL MRPI, KOReader.
2. Note: If you have a Kindle Paperwhite 2, you will need to download this jailbreak instead and can skip the following steps.
3. After downloading, connect your Kindle to the PC again. Then copy the "main-htmlviewer.tar.gz" file into the main directory of the device without unpacking it beforehand.
4. Do the same with the file "Update_jailbreak_hotfix_1.14.N_install.bin". Once both files have been copied, disconnect your Kindle from the PC and switch to the start screen.
5. Then enter "; installHtml" (without quotation marks!) In the search bar and start the search.
6. The Kindles screen flickers briefly and then the Kindle restarts. After the restart, "You are Jailbroken" is displayed on the start screen.
7. Then go back to Settings and select "Update Kindle". Confirm the message dialog with "OK".

Step 3: update Kindle

After the successful installation of the jailbreak you can now update the eReader again.

• The best way to do this is to use your Kindles' over-the-air function and update the firmware via WLAN.
• To do this, look for a software update in the settings. Normally, this should be installed automatically anyway.
• If this is not the case, download the latest software version for your model from the Amazon homepage and copy the file to the main directory of the device.
• Then select the familiar way again via the settings and "Update device". The jailbreak remains when the software is updated.

Step 4: set up jailbreak on Kindle

After installing the jailbreak, all you have to do is set it up.

1. Reconnect your Kindle to your computer using a USB cable and locate the download from KUAL.
2. This time, do not copy the "KUAL-KDK-2.0.azw2" file to the Kindle's main directory, but to the "documents" folder.
3. Disconnect, wait until the KUAL shortcut appears on Kindle and start it with a tap on the corresponding symbol.
4. If you have a "Kindle Oasis" or Kindle Touch 3, you have to do a little differently.
5. Copy the two folders from the "3.MRPI" directory to your child's main directory.
6. Then also add the "Update_KUALBooklet_v2.7_install.bin" file from the "4.KUAL" folder to the "mrpackages" directory of Kindles.
7. Disconnect your Kindle from the PC and switch to the start screen. Enter "; log mrpi" (without quotation marks!) Via the search mask and start the search. The Kindle restarts, then a KUAL book link is displayed on the home screen.
8. Tap on it, the launcher opens, but it is still empty. Therefore go back to the start screen and connect your eReader to the PC again.
9. Copy the "extensions" and "koreader" entries from the "5.Koreader" directory into your child's main directory. Confirm all notices with "Yes".
10. Then remove the USB cable from the spindle one last time and start the "Kindle Launcher" on the reader. In this you should now find the entries "KUAL" and KOReader ".
11. If this is the case, you have added an alternative reading program to your Kindle and successfully jailbroken it.
12. The "KOReader" is particularly impressive due to its extended customization and setting options.

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In the next practical tip, we will show you how to read EPUB books on Kindle.