KINDLE LOCK SCREEN ADS
Kindle Lock Screen Ads and How They Affect Book Covers
If an ad shows up where a book cover should be, that's Amazon's Special Offers program, not a problem with your file. Here's what controls it and what to check before using a custom image.
Create My Kindle Lock ScreenWhat Kindle lock screen ads are
Special Offers is Amazon’s discount program for Kindle devices. Choosing a Kindle “with Special Offers” at checkout means a lower price in exchange for Amazon showing ads and promotions on your device, including on the lock screen. That’s what most people mean by “Kindle lock screen ads.”
This is a purchase-time and account-level setting, not something a third-party app controls.
Why ads can block your book cover
Show Covers on Lock Screen and Special Offers both use the same space: your Kindle’s lock screen. When Special Offers is on, Amazon’s ad or promotion takes that space instead of the cover of your most recently opened book. It doesn’t matter what book, or what file, you last opened. The ad takes priority.
That’s why a CoverLock file can be built correctly, opened correctly, and still not appear as your lock screen. The file isn’t the problem. The ad setting is.
What Amazon controls versus what CoverLock does
Amazon controls
Whether Special Offers is on or off
Whether Show Covers on Lock Screen is available for your model and firmware
What ad or promotion displays
CoverLock does
Builds a correctly sized file from your image
Uses your image as that file’s cover
Nothing related to ads, Special Offers, or your Amazon account
What you may need to change first
If your Kindle shows ads or promotions on its lock screen, you may need to remove Special Offers before a CoverLock image, or any book cover, can appear there. That’s done through Amazon, not CoverLock:
- Open Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon’s website, or check your Kindle’s own Settings menu, to see if your device has Special Offers.
- Removing Special Offers is an Amazon account and purchase decision. Some devices can have it removed for a one-time fee; this varies by device and offer.
- Confirm Show Covers on Lock Screen is turned on in your Kindle’s Screen and Brightness settings.
CoverLock does not remove Special Offers or Kindle ads. It only builds the image file. The ad setting has to be off, through Amazon, before that file’s cover can show.
When CoverLock can work
Once Special Offers is off and Show Covers on Lock Screen is turned on, a CoverLock file works like any other book cover: open it once, and your image becomes what shows when your Kindle sleeps, until you open something else.
If you’re on a Kindle Paperwhite, the most common device sold with Special Offers, head to our Kindle Paperwhite lock screen page to build your file once ads are off. For any other model, see our full lock screen walkthrough.
Common questions
Does CoverLock remove Kindle lock screen ads?
No. Removing Special Offers is an Amazon account and purchase-side setting. CoverLock only builds the image file that displays once ads are off and Show Covers on Lock Screen is on.
Why is there an ad on my Kindle lock screen instead of a book cover?
Your device likely has Amazon’s Special Offers turned on. Special Offers ads use the same lock-screen space as book covers, so the ad takes priority over any file you’ve opened, including one made with CoverLock.
How do I turn off Special Offers on my Kindle?
Through Amazon, not CoverLock. Check Manage Your Content and Devices on Amazon’s website, or your Kindle’s own Settings menu. Some devices can have Special Offers removed for a one-time fee; this varies by device.
Will my CoverLock image show up once ads are off?
It should, as long as Show Covers on Lock Screen is also turned on and your CoverLock file is the most recently opened book. See our compatibility guide if you’re not sure your model supports it.