The estimated reading time for this post is 4 minutes
Q. My husband read a great Kindle book that he really wants me to read too. I’m excited to read the book but we share an Amazon account and I want to be able to use Whispersync. I read your articles about Whispersync and I’ve been using it to switch between my Kindle and iPad when I read ebooks. Sometimes I even use it to switch to listening to Audible audiobooks.
But now when I open the Kindle book my husband already read, it wants to sync to the furthest page read, which is the end of the book. I’m really afraid I’ll see a spoiler and the whole book will be ruined for me.
Is it possible to reset Whispersync on a Kindle book so it forgets that my husband already read it?
A. Excellent question! Whispersync, the ability to sync Kindle ebooks and Audible audiobooks across devices, is one of the most useful features of Amazon digital books. With Whispersync you can stop reading your ebook on one device and pick up reading on another device exactly where you left off on the other device.
With the advent of Whispersync for Voice you can now even switch back and forth between reading Kindle books and listening to Audible books without losing your place. If you get to a great part in your book but have to leave for work, you can continue by listening to your book as you drive (or jog) to your job.
[tip] Don’t miss Whispersync for Voice: The Marriage of Kindle and Audible [/tip]
But what if you’re reading a Kindle/Audible book that another member of your family has already read? Many families share an Amazon account so they can enjoy their digital books without having to buy separate copies for everyone. If your significant other gushes about his favorite book and wants you to read it, you can download the Kindle or Audiobook within seconds and begin savoring the book.
Whispersync then can become an issue. Whispersync enables you to read that Kindle book on your computer, Kindle ereader or Fire, iPad, iPhone, Android, or nearly any other electronic device without losing your place. If you want to switch between devices and/or between Kindle and Audible, Whispersync will ensure you start reading where you left off.
Whispersync means that when you open a Kindle or Audible book on another device, you will be asked:
Most Recent Page Read?
But if the book has already been read, the most recent page read might be the very end of the book.
Yikes! Spoiler Alert!
Who wants to accidentally go to the last page, potentially spoiling the poignant ending of the book that was so highly recommended to you?
The good news is that in just a few steps you can reset Whispersync so that Amazon acts as if the book has never been read before. By resetting Whispersync you can make sure that you don’t arrive at the wrong place at the book and have the entire plot spoiled for you.
Resetting Whispersync
To reset Whispersync, go to:
amazon.com ➙ Your Account ➙ Manage Your Content and Devices (formerly Manage Your Kindle)
Click on the Content tab to see a list of your digital books. You can sort the list by Title, Author or Purchase Date and you can search for keywords to find the book you want to reset.
When you find the book you’re looking for, click on the Actions button next to the title of the book, then a list of options will appear. Click on “Clear furthest page read…”
You’ll receive a prompt confirming that you want to Reset your furthest page read for your Kindle book. Click the button that says “Clear Furthest Page Read.”
The next time you open the book on your Kindle or Kindle app, that page will become the new furthest page read and you can then use Whispersync going forward from that page.
How to Turn Whispersync Off
If you and your husband (or another family member) are reading a Kindle or Audible book at the same time, you may want to turn off Whispersync completely. You don’t want to see a prompt every time you open the book to go to the furthest place read if you’re a bit behind your loved one.
You can turn off Whispersync by going to:
amazon.com ➙ Your Account ➙ Manage Your Content and Devices (formerly Manage Your Kindle)
Click on the Settings tab and scroll down to Device Synchronization (Whispersync Settings).
You can turn the feature On or Off by clicking on the button next to your name.
This turns off Whispersync for all of your Kindle books on all of your devices so don’t forget to turn it back on when you and your beloved finish reading your book!
Your Thoughts
Have you ever had a book spoiled by the ending being revealed to you too soon? Have you ever needed to reset Whispersync on a Kindle or Audible book? Do you share an Amazon account with others so you can share Kindle books?
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Carolyn is away from the Internet, enjoying her Kindle and Audible books. Articles will continue to be published according to schedule at The Wonder of Tech in her absence. She will return on March 16 to reply to comments.
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* Kindle/iPad image (edited) courtesy of Zhao! via Flickr and Creative Commons
Hi Carolyn,
Informative indeed 🙂
Yes, I remember your earlier post about Whispersync, and each time I read about Kindle, I do remind myself to get one, someday!
I wish I had the time to read books….ah….been ages since I read one and each time I think of taking a little time off to sit and read the several I have lined up (eBooks), something or the other just pops up! So, presently there is no question of resetting Whispersync on a Kindle or Audible book, as I still have to get one, but this post is surely going to be bookmarked to be used in the future 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with us, and hope you are having a lovely time off reading your books on vacation. See you later 🙂
Hi Harleena, Yes, I imagine you’re so busy that finding time to read is a challenge. That’s the biggest reason I read audiobooks, because I can listen when I’m folding laundry, cooking dinner, going for a run and driving. Whispersync makes it so easy to switch between book formats (ebooks and audiobooks) and devices.
The good news about Kindle books is that you don’t need a Kindle to read them. Nearly any device you can use to read this blog you can use to read a Kindle book. You can even read a Kindle book on your computer: https://wonderoftech.com/how-to-read-a-kindle-book-on-a-computer/
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thought with us, Harleena!
Hi Carolyn,
As Harleena said, It is an informative post! 🙂
Lately I rarely read a book, the real a book I mean, not the online one. Instead I often read articles online. I feel that I have not had time to sit and read a book in peace. I’ll do it later, since I also have a desire to buy some books.
And about Whispersync, no doubt, it’s an awesome feature!
I hope to have one. lol
Thanks for sharing this with us, Carolyn.
Have a nice day!
~Nanda
Hi Nanda, Yes, Whispersync is a truly amazing feature, you never lose your place, no matter what device you’re reading on. You can even switch formats between ebooks and audiobooks.
Yes, I read a lot of articles too, but reading for leisure is a great escape. The more convenient reading becomes, the more accessible books are. Whispersync makes reading extremely convenient.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Nanda!
Alot to learn from this post. I’ll definitely try this out. the question asked is something that has been on the minds of most kindle readers, but I’m sure we never gave much thought on how to reset the furthest page. thanks for sharing this, it helped alot.