LanguageBreak (5.14.3-5.16.2.1.1)

This page will guide you through on how to use LanguageBreak to jailbreak your Kindle on firmware 5.14.3-5.16.2.1.1.

Info taken from the GitHub repo: https://github.com/notmarek/LanguageBreak

The README in the repo notes that this exploit works best on firmware 5.16.2, so if you're on an older version, consider manually upgrading to 5.16.2(.1.1) first.

Warnings/Precautions

  • ⚠️ This method will DELETE all content on your device. Backup important files.

  • ⚠️ This method works up to firmware version 5.16.2.1.1. It is strongly suggested you upgrade to this firmware before starting.

  • ⚠️ Do not update your firmware beyond 5.16.2.1.1 after jailbreaking with LanguageBreak, as future versions of the firmware patch it.

  • ⚠️ Your device must have no password lock. Remove it before starting.

Now before we start, make sure that:

  • Airplane Mode is ON

  • The device (esp. the root folder) should have no .bin or update.bin.tmp.partial files before you start. This may be a pending OTA update. Delete them.

Jailbreaking the Kindle

  1. Type ;enter_demo into the Kindle search bar, press enter, then reboot the device.

  2. Once the device boots, dismiss the WiFi selection dialog, type whatever you'd like into the text fields, then continue.

  3. Select Skip, then Standard, then Done.

  4. The device will take a few minutes to go into demo mode. When it's done, use this gesture to access the main screen. (Tap with 2 fingers on bottom right, then swipe from left to right.)

  5. Type ;demo into the Kindle search bar, then press enter to access the Demo Mode Configuration screen.

  6. Select the Sideload Content option.

  7. Connect your Kindle to a PC, then copy the contents of the LanguageBreak folder to the Kindle's root directory (if prompted, overrwrite the existing files).

  8. Eject, then unplug your Kindle, then return to the Demo Configuration Screen (using the method in step 5, if required).

  9. Select Resell Device, then confirm.

  10. As soon as the "Press the Power Button" screen appears, plug your Kindle back into your computer.

    • You only have a 5-second window, be quick. Generally the best time to plug it in is right before the backlight fades out.

  11. Copy the contents of the LanguageBreak folder to the Kindle's root directory, again. (if prompted, overrwrite the existing files).

    • From my experience, the Kindle ejects itself after around 30 seconds, so be quick in copying everything.

  12. After all files have been written, eject your Kindle, then press and hold the power button until the unit reboots.

  13. At this point, a language selection screen appears. Select 简体中文 (Chinese), which should appear above an entry called Pseudot and below Japanese.

  14. Your Kindle should reboot, and some log messages should appear in the top right-hand corner.

Applying the Hotfix

(Normally I would link to Setting up Hotfix, but since LanguageBreak also has its own post install procedures, it'll be covered in this page.)

  • Using your phone to translate the menus is helpful if you can't read Chinese.

  1. After the device has rebooted, type ;uzb into the Kindle search bar to enable USB access within demo mode, then press enter.

  2. Connect the device to a PC and copy whichever Update_hotfix_languagebreak-{languge/locale}.bin file matches your language to the Kindle's root directory.

  3. Eject your Kindle, then ;dsts into the Kindle search bar to access the settings page. Locate the Update your Kindle option and press it, then confirm.

This will reboot the device out of Demo mode. Your device may go into Managed mode after completing these steps. Managed devices have some settings greyed out, and ask the user to contact their system administrator. See below for steps on how to restore functionality (and the correct language) to your device.

Restoring the Correct Language and Exiting Managed Mode

The instruction differs depending if the Kindle has been registered to an Amazon account or not. Click the tab that applies to you.

  1. Type ;demo into the Kindle search bar.

  2. You will get a prompt with two buttons. Press the right-most button.

  3. The device will reboot. If all is well, your Kindle should have a folder named mkk in the root directory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I verify my installation? A: (before applying hotfix): Install hotfix, if you can do that then it worked. A: (after applying hotfix): Type ;log into the Kindle search bar, some text should appear at the top right side of the screen.

Q: Where are the hotfix files? A: The structure of the tarball is as follows:

LanguageBreak.tar.gz
|-- LanguageBreak
|	|-- documents
|	|	|-- dictionaries
|	|	|	|-- a; export SLASH=$(awk 'BEGIN {print substr(ARGV[1], 0, 1)}' ${PWD}); sh ${SLASH}mnt${SLASH}us${SLASH}jb
|	|	|	|-- amisane
|	|-- DONT_CHECK_BATTERY
|	|-- jb
|	|-- patchedUks
|	|-- .demo
|	|	|-- boot.flag
|-- Update_hotfix_languagebreak-*.bin
Troubleshooting

Having general issues?

This method works best around firmware version 5.16.2. Consider updating to this version to avoid compatability issues by following this guide.

To install the file, place it into the root directory of the Kindle, then select Update your Kindle in settings. It should also apply the update on reboot if the menu is inaccessible for some reason.

Consider buying Marek a coffee if this helped you!

Once you're done, continue with Installing KUAL/MRPI.

PreviousWatchThis (5.12.2.2/5.13.4-5.14.2)NextPopcorn (KT2, KT3, PW2, PW3, KV)

Last updated