It happens—your kid changes the passcode, you forget your PIN, or your Fire™ tablet just won’t wake up. Whatever the reason, getting locked out of your device can throw off your whole day. At Asurion, we’ve helped thousands of people troubleshoot their tech, from tablet lockouts to account recovery. If you’re stuck on the lock screen or running into parental control issues, this guide will walk you through the most common fixes—and show you how to prevent it from happening again.
Common reasons your Fire tablet won’t unlock
There’s more than one reason your tablet may be stuck. Here are some of the most common:
- You forgot the lock screen PIN or password.
- A child lock or parental control setting is enabled.
- The screen is frozen or won’t wake.
- You’ve been locked out after too many failed attempts.
How to unlock your Fire tablet
There are a few different paths to get back in, depending on what’s causing the issue.
1. Try a restart first
Sometimes the simplest fix is the best one.
- Press and hold the Power button until the screen goes dark.
- Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the button again to turn it back on.
2. Forgot your lock screen PIN or password?
If you can’t remember your PIN:
- On the lock screen, enter the wrong PIN five times.
- Tap Forgot PIN when the option appears.
- Sign in with the Amazon account linked to the device to reset the PIN.
If you don’t remember your Amazon credentials, go to Amazon's password recovery page from another device.
3. Turn off parental controls
If parental controls are locking certain features:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings.
- Tap Parental Controls.
- Enter the parental control password.
- Tap Disable Parental Controls if you no longer want them turned on.
Note: If you forget the parental control password, you’ll need to reset your Fire tablet to factory settings using your Amazon account.
4. Reset your tablet (as a last resort)
If nothing else works and you’ve backed up your data (or don’t mind losing it):
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time.
- When the Amazon logo appears, release both buttons.
- Use the volume buttons to scroll to Wipe data/factory reset and confirm with the Power button.
- After the reset, sign in with your Amazon account to set up your tablet again.
How to prevent future lockouts
- Use a password manager to store your PINs securely.
- If kids use the device, consider setting up a child profile with restricted access.
- Keep your Amazon account recovery information up to date.
- Enable cloud backups so you don’t lose data if you need to reset.
If you want extra peace of mind, Asurion offers tablet protection plans that cover accidental damage, battery issues, and more. It’s one more way to keep your tech—and your day—running smoothly.
FAQ
Can I unlock my Fire tablet without an Amazon account?
Not if you’ve forgotten the PIN. You’ll need access to the Amazon account registered to the device to reset it or complete a factory reset.
What if I forgot the parental control password?
You’ll have to reset your Fire tablet to factory settings and then sign in with the Amazon account that set it up originally.
Is there a way to unlock the screen without losing my data?
Yes—if you remember your Amazon login, you can reset the PIN without wiping the device. A full reset is only needed if you’ve forgotten both the PIN and the account credentials.
Can I unlock a Fire tablet that someone else gave me?
Only if they deregistered it from their Amazon account. If not, you won’t be able to set it up after a factory reset.
