6 Disabled Kindle Settings to Enable First for Clock and Reading Progress

Reporting by Mark Jansen of Android Police recommends reviewing several display features that are disabled by default on Kindle. Published on September 19, 2026, the article lists six settings that owners of a new device should change first. The author has spent about 10 years covering mobile phones and e-readers. Drawing on his focus on accessories and differences between devices, he presents practical ways to operate them.

Behind the report is a changing environment surrounding Kindle. The article notes that Kindle has been through a difficult period. Even so, it argues that the reasons to keep using Amazon’s e-reader remain clear. The author uses Kindle for separate purposes, sampling new releases on Kindle Unlimited and reading classics he did not migrate to Kobo. From the standpoint of using multiple devices together, he explains the importance of easily overlooked settings.

Show clock while reading

The above is the name of the option to display the clock while reading. In the original article, it is treated as a leading example of a feature that should be switched from disabled to enabled.

Current State and Challenges Surrounding Kindle

In the e-reader market, roles are increasingly divided between smartphones, tablets, and dedicated devices. A reading environment separated from notifications and video has been seen as the value of E Ink devices. At the same time, with the growth of flat-rate unlimited reading and the digitization of classics, uses are no longer limited to entertainment. More cases are emerging of use for study and research. With default settings alone, such diverse uses may not be fully supported.

The Android Police article positions changing settings as a way to close that gap. Its distinctive feature is its focus on enabling existing functions rather than adding flashy new ones. The operations can be completed on the device alone, with no additional cost. It uncovers options that remain disabled without users noticing. For Japanese engineers and product planners, it is also a useful example of default-value design.

How to Display the Clock on the Reading Screen

The less information on the reading screen, the easier it is to concentrate. Unnecessary display elements can interfere with immersion in a story. In real life, however, there are many situations where you must act without waiting for a chapter break. Few users have never read on until late at night. A small clock in the corner of the screen helps prevent such excess.

Enabling it starts from the reading screen. With a book open, tap the top of the screen. From the row of controls that appears, select the format button marked Aa. Move to the More tab and enable Show clock while reading. After setting it, the time appears at the top of the screen. The same menu contains other items worth reviewing.

This clock display is not constantly prominent. It is a restrained display suited to the characteristics of E Ink. Stimulation from light emission, as with LCDs, is suppressed. It aims for a balance that keeps users aware of the time in daily life while maintaining focus. The reason it is disabled by default can be seen as a design philosophy that prioritizes immersion.

Settings to Make Progress Display Useful

for Reading

The progress display at the bottom left of the screen shows page numbers by default. Page numbers feel close to paper books, but are not always practical for e-books. Because the number of lines changes with font size and line spacing, it is hard to grasp how much remains. The article therefore introduces ways to change the display to suit your purpose.

The change uses the same More menu as the clock setting. Open the Reading progress option and select a display format. Time left in chapter shows the remaining time in the chapter. Time left in book shows the remaining time in the whole book. The author says he frequently switches between these two formats.

Location in book is a format that shows the position within the book as a number. It can be used as a precise marker for returning to a specific passage. The article evaluates it as having little need for ordinary reading. None is the option to remove the progress display itself. It is suitable when you want to eliminate displays and focus only on the text.

Reading progress

The above is the name of the option for switching the progress display. The article says choosing a display format helps with reading plans.

Operational cautions are also noted. You can also switch formats by tapping the progress display area directly. However, this method can be unstable in some cases. To change it reliably, it is preferable to set it from Reading progress in the More menu. It is practical advice that verifies even detailed behavior.

Support Feature for Tracking Mentions Across Books

The article also touches on a feature for tracking passages where a book mentions other books. In the summary, it is introduced as an essential element for students and research use. Tracing references between books is labor-intensive on paper. In e-books, search and cross-reference mechanisms reduce the burden. It is an area directly linked to improved learning efficiency.

Within the scope of the published summary, details of the specific operating steps are cut off. The name and the conditions for supported books cannot be confirmed. Even so, the direction is clear. It reflects the idea of treating reading not as an isolated act but as a web of knowledge. Combined with dictionary integration and quote extraction, it could increase value for research use.

Differentiation among e-readers has advanced through support for such intellectual work. The author’s background, including his reference to using Kobo separately, overlaps with that context. For classics and specialized books, grasping reference relationships determines understanding. There is great significance in reviewing support features that are disabled by default. This is an area awaiting further detailed verification.

Countermeasures From a Device Management and

Security Perspective

E-readers are also information devices with wireless connectivity. Alongside optimizing display settings, awareness of management is required. As long as you use account linking and cloud sync, protecting credentials is essential. Procedures for remote management and deregistration in case of device loss should also be confirmed in advance. It is important to treat it like a regular device rather than over-trusting it as a reading-only machine.

In the PC and server space, cases of problems caused by inadequate privilege management have been reported. Microsoft Defender Privilege Escalation Vulnerability “RoguePlanet” Disclosed addresses a flaw in the defense mechanism itself. Windows GDID Contributes to Identifying Scattered Spider Suspects shows how device identification information was used in an investigation. For e-readers as well, inventorying registered devices is an effective countermeasure. Operation that does not leave unnecessary device registrations is desirable.

As the boundary between entertainment and learning blurs, the role of devices is also expanding. As Double Fine Independence and Aggro Crab Entry into Publishing shows, the relationship between creation and distribution continues to change. In e-books as well, independent publishing and individual distribution are increasing. The more sources you obtain books from, the more important display optimization on the device becomes. Reviewing initial settings is positioned as the first step.

Editorial Opinion

On short-term impact. This topic goes beyond reviewing initial settings and will draw attention to experience design for e-readers. Clock and time-remaining displays are small changes, but they are factors directly tied to continued use. Manufacturers will likely be pressed to improve their onboarding guidance.

On the long-term view. From a one- to three-year perspective, the use of reading data and personal optimization of displays will advance. Visualization of progress and reference relationships could promote integration with learning support features. The evaluation criterion will become coordination across the entire ecosystem rather than the refinement of a standalone device.

A question from the editorial team. The remaining issue is where to draw the line between focus and convenience. Adding display elements disperses attention, while reducing them makes it harder to balance with daily life. Will operation in which users themselves switch settings by purpose become established.

References

• “6 disabled Kindle features that every owner should enable first”, by Mark Jansen — Android Police, 2026-09-19T12:15:10.000Z (ARR)
• Source URL: https://www.androidpolice.com/disabled-kindle-features-that-every-owner-should-enable-first/