A factory reset is also a way to wipe your Kindle Paperwhite clean if you ever decide to give it as a gift or sell it. Or, if all else fails, and you've exhausted troubleshooting the issue, you can reset your Kindle Paperwhite back to factory specifications.
Resetting your Kindle Paperwhite should be a last-resort step. Consider calling Amazon Kindle customer service before undertaking a factory reset on your own. The direct toll-free number for Kindle customer service is 1-866-321-8851. Customers outside the United States should call 1-206-266-0927.
To reset your Kindle Paperwhite to its original out-of-the-box state, follow these steps:
Tap Menu→Settings.
Tap Menu→Reset Device.
When you see the warning, tap Yes. (To back out without resetting, you'd tap No.)
Your Kindle Paperwhite resets. You have to re-register the device with Amazon and download your Kindle e-books and other content from the Cloud at your Amazon account. You also need to retransfer any personal documents that you've loaded on your Kindle Paperwhite from your computer.
Personal documents that you have sent to your Kindle Paperwhite via e-mail are stored in the Cloud at your Amazon account. You can transfer these documents to your Kindle Paperwhite just like any other content stored in the Cloud.
If you have a Wi-Fi–only Kindle Paperwhite, be sure to have the Wi-Fi password for your router. You'll need that password to connect the device to the wireless service. Without a Wi-Fi or 3G connection, you won't be able to transfer content.