All versions of the Kindle Paperwhite include Wi-Fi; 3G is an additional option. If you have a Wi-Fi –only Kindle Paperwhite, you need to set up Wi-Fi to receive e-books and content wirelessly.
If no Wi-Fi network is in range, you can add a network later by tapping the x in the upper-right corner of the Wi-Fi Networks dialog box and then tapping Complete Kindle Setup Later.
If you do not connect to a Wi-Fi network and you do not have a 3G Kindle Paperwhite, you will not be able to complete the registration process, the step after setting up Wi-Fi. You can register your device manually.
If you have a Kindle Paperwhite 3G, you don't have to set up Wi-Fi to receive content — 3G works automatically without any additional setup. Still, if you have a Wi-Fi hotspot in your home or office, you probably want to go ahead and get it working, just for convenience.
Do you want to send documents to your Kindle Paperwhite 3G through e-mail? If you do so using 3G, Amazon will charge you a small fee. Documents transferred by e-mail using Wi-Fi are free. Another good reason to set up Wi-Fi!
To set up Wi-Fi, you need to know whether the network is password-protected. Home and office networks are usually password-protected. Wi-Fi hotspots in public locations, such as Starbucks and McDonald's, are generally not secured with a password.
To add a Wi-Fi network to your Kindle Paperwhite, follow these steps:
If necessary, turn on your Kindle Paperwhite.
Tap Menu→Settings
From the same screen, tap Wi-Fi Networks.
If Wi-Fi is not turned on, you will get a message asking if it should be turned on. Tap OK.
Or, if the Kindle Paperwhite is in Airplane mode (that is, Wi-Fi is not turned on), you'll see a message asking if you want to turn off Airplane mode.
Select the network to which you want to connect.
If the network you want to connect to has a lock icon next to its name, you need to enter a password.
If the network requires a password, enter it in the Wi-Fi Networks dialog box using the onscreen keyboard.
If you are connecting to a network at work and don't know the password, see the system administrator.
You can enter numbers and symbols by tapping the keyboard's 123!? key. Tap ABC to go back to the regular keyboard.
When your Kindle Paperwhite is connected to Wi-Fi, a wireless indicator appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, next to the battery charge meter. You see this indicator on the Home screen and when you display the toolbar while reading an e-book.
The wireless indicator can be one of the following:
Wi-Fi: The Kindle Paperwhite is connected to a Wi-Fi network. The arcs on the fan next to Wi-Fi indicate the strength of the Wi-Fi connection.
3G: The Kindle Paperwhite 3G is connected to a 3G network. This icon pertains only to the Kindle Paperwhite that includes 3G and Wi-Fi. The bars next to 3G indicate the strength of the 3G connection.
1X: The Kindle Paperwhite 3G is connected to a network through EDGE/GPRS (the predecessor to 3G in cellular network delivery). The 1X icon applies only to the Kindle Paperwhite 3G. As cellular networks become more widespread, you will rarely — if ever — see this icon.