Free Screens

Updated: 19 February 2011

It’s fun and relatively easy to replace the default sleep screen images on your Kindle — not only can you better customize it to match your tastes, but if you’re into functionality you can swap in images that display calendars, to-do lists and keyboard shortcuts.

However, Amazon doesn’t enable this capability on factory-fresh Kindles, so if you want to do it, you’ll have to apply a reversible operating system hack.

To Enable Screensaver Images On Your Kindle

Some Advice On Making Screensaver Images

Where To Find Other Free Screensaver Images

Image requests? Contact me and I’ll see what I can do — the Poe, Austen and “Watership Down” screens were all suggested by readers.


 








Miscellaneous – Weird & Creepy

Download the .zip file for these images (618 KB)
 


Movie Posters


Download the .zip file for these images (1.3 MB) Thanks to Pete G.!
 





24 Responses to "Free Screens"

  • By Sunday Salon: Reading on the Kindle May 18, 2008 - 5:42 AM

    [...] Kindle screensavers can be found at [...]

    Reply
  • By nikkib1974 July 11, 2008 - 4:35 PM

    How do you remove one of your custom screensavers once installed? Sorry, but I have some favorites I would like to only see.
    Oh, and please explain for the not so tech-savy :)

    Reply
  • By Chris July 18, 2008 - 6:34 PM

    @nikkib1974: I’ve added some instructions on this page. Hope this helps!

    Reply
  • By Lynnda October 22, 2008 - 2:16 PM

    How come my own screen savers don’t rotate ? I only get one, I cannot get the Kindle to respond when it’s up and have to turn it off to operate.

    Reply
  • By Chris November 10, 2008 - 3:52 PM

    @Lynnda: The Kindle will only display one screensaver per “session”–it doesn’t rotate through the images while in screensaver mode. (In that sense it’s more like closing the cover of a book than triggering a screensaver.) If you have multiple images that you’ve saved as screensavers, you’ll have to exit screensaver mode, then re-enter it to trigger a new one.

    I’m not sure what you mean by your second sentence. To deactivate a screensaver, hold down the bottom left key (ALT) and then simultaneously press the bottom right key (aA). If you *are* doing that and you still can’t exit screensaver mode, make sure the following isn’t happening (although it’s pretty far-fetched).

    When you created an image for a screensaver, did you remember to make the image full screen? If you didn’t, then it’s likely that the battery and wireless indicator bar was saved as part of the screensaver image. This can be misleading because it might look like you’re *not* in screensaver mode when in fact you are.

    If you’re still having problems, I’d suggest deleting your custom screens so that the Kindle will go back to its default screens, then seeing if everything works properly. If not, contact Amazon for technical support.

    Reply
  • By shardsofblue January 13, 2009 - 6:17 AM

    Thank you for this fabulous guide and the links to screensavers. I tried to do this earlier but was unsuccessful – your directions are very complete (even the short version). Thanks!

    Reply
  • By Amanda January 28, 2009 - 12:44 AM

    I’m a little slow on the go and don’t know where to find help – hope you can help.

    I purchased a decal cover for my Kindle (from decalgirl.com) and was given a code and “instructions” on how to get a screensaver to match on my Kindle. The problem is, I don’t understand it. How do I get a different screensaver on there?

    This seems simple probably, but I’m new to the technology.

    Reply
  • By Tout sur le Kindle : Comment changer l’écran de veille du Kindle? | eBouquin June 17, 2009 - 11:06 AM

    [...] 5. Glissez dans ce dossier toutes les images que le Kindle affichera en écran de veille. Utilisez de préférence des images au format PNG et JPG. N’oubliez pas de redimensionner vos images en 600×800 pixels pour qu’elles soient affichées par le Kindle. Si vous ne trouvez pas quelles images utiliser, voici un site qui propose des images optimisées pour l’écran du Kindle. Il y a un peu de tout et c’est par ici ! [...]

    Reply
  • By Donna January 8, 2010 - 8:14 AM

    Do you know how to do this on the Kindle DX? I spent about 3 hrs yesterday following instructions on another website for a “hack” but I still haven’t been successful.
    Thanks

    Reply
  • By Chris Walters January 16, 2010 - 2:33 PM

    @Donna: I can’t tell you exactly because I don’t have a Kindle DX, but I would suggest this route:

    1. Make sure you’ve updated your Kindle to the latest firmware version: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200324680&#manual

    2. Try these instructions from MobileRead: http://bit.ly/mobile-read-kindle-dx

    Reply
  • By Alan Shoemaker February 9, 2010 - 2:05 PM

    is there anywhere i can upload/donate the screen savers I’ve created so others may download them?
    –
    Alan :-D

    Reply
  • By Jack May 21, 2010 - 1:35 PM

    I have tried all day to get a custom screensaver off of my K1. Your detailed removal instructions did the trick. Thank you VERY, very much!

    Reply
  • By ebook readers June 13, 2010 - 4:12 AM

    Yes does anyone know how to to this on a Kindle dx? Ive been trying for ages now and tried hack and all sorts can any body help.

    Reply
  • By Chris Walters June 13, 2010 - 10:13 AM

    @”ebook readers” -

    The existing hack has a version specifically for the DX. Look here for instructions and a download link.

    http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_2_US,_Int%27l_and_Kindle_DX_Screen_Saver_Hack

    However, if you’ve recently been updated to the new 2.5 software update from Amazon, the current hack won’t work as far as I know. You’ll have to wait until someone comes up with a version that works on 2.5 devices.

    Reply
  • By Will July 16, 2010 - 3:58 AM

    Hi. I've made a few “geeky” screensavers for the Kindle DX. I mostly adapted them from images around the web:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/wafuqua/KindleScree…

    Reply
  • By arnie osborn October 25, 2010 - 11:53 PM

    my kindle 2 is 2.5.2 and when I go to settings and press menu to UPDATE YOUR KINDLE mine is grayed out ….

    Any ideas…

    I can’t do the update so I can’t complete the screen saver hack

    Reply
  • By Bob McIntosh October 31, 2010 - 12:03 PM

    Chris – others … is it possible to load .jpeg files to the Kindle 3 for use as a screensaver – i.e., personal phtoto’s.

    Reply
    • By Chris Walters October 31, 2010 - 1:12 PM

      @Bob McIntosh, Yes, it’s possible. You still have to follow the MobileRead instructions first to enable custom screensavers. Then you can use any images you like so long as they’re in .gif, .jpg/.jpeg or .png format.

      For best results, resize your custom images to 600×800 pixels so that they match the aspect ratio of the Kindle screen.

      Reply
  • By Charlie February 13, 2011 - 5:40 AM

    50 H.R. Giger Kindle screensavers.

    http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/269984581/giger+kindle?tab=comments

    Reply
  • By Greg Linscott March 21, 2011 - 7:27 AM

    A few of my random attempts:

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=257773&id=579872410&l=52a38e0609

    Reply
  • By Deborah Morrissey April 15, 2011 - 10:32 PM

    I would love to see more of the word cloud art – those were great! Maybe something a little geekier, like Good Omens or Ender’s Game.

    Reply
  • By A beginner’s guide to making custom screensaver images | Booksprung September 19, 2012 - 7:27 AM

    [...] Free Screens [...]

    Reply

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