One of the primary factors that make a Kindle the go-to device for any book reader is the quality-of-life improvements that make reading a book a lot more comfortable and enjoyable, with features such as adjustable fonts and reading progress coming to mind immediately.
That being said, as a Kindle comes with so many different features and options, getting it to display your book the way you want can sometimes be a challenge, requiring you to go through a configuration process before everything works as intended.
In today’s article, our topic will be the appearance of the word “LOC,” followed by some numbers, where the page number should be on a Kindle, which is a scenario that eventually happens to every Kindle user, leaving them to wonder where the page number went.
So, what does LOC mean on Kindle?
Loc, which stands for Location, is a number that Kindle uses to identify the parts of a book, and, unlike page numbers, it utilizes a system based on the number of characters instead of what fits on a page, making it consistent across different font sizes and line spacing.
In the following sections, we will explain the meaning and the purpose of the LOC label you’re seeing on your Kindle in more detail, find out why LOC shows up instead of the page number, go through the process of changing from LOC to page number, and finally, quickly learn about a way of finding out whether a Kindle book has support for page numbers.
What Does LOC Mean on Kindle?
Seeing the LOC indicator pop up out of nowhere and replace the page number on your Kindle can definitely be a confusing sight, especially considering that the number next to the indicator doesn’t make a lot of sense at first glance.
LOC (Location) is Kindle’s primary system for splitting a book into identifiable parts, and even though it’s not precisely known what a single LOC consists of, it’s assumed that the system is based on character count and how much space (in terms of data) the characters take.
Unlike page numbers, which are based on what’s visible on the screen, and hence, can be subject to change depending on factors such as the font size and the line spacing used, LOC is based on fixed data, which allows consistent identification of the book’s parts regardless of external factors.
While tracking progress by using LOC can be highly unintuitive from a user perspective, it technically offers the only reliable way of calculating the length of a book and finding specific sections within the book across different Kindle devices and configurations.
What Causes LOC to Show Up Instead of Page Numbers on Kindle?
While it doesn’t make sense for the LOC indicator to start replacing page numbers on Kindle randomly, there is actually a reasonable explanation that explains this change.
The main factor that can cause the LOC indicator to show up instead of page numbers on your Kindle is the absence of page number support for the book you’re reading, which leaves location-based identification the next viable alternative for tracking your progress.
On the other hand, if you see the LOC indicator on a book that previously had page numbers, the most likely explanation is that you have mistakenly switched from page numbers to LOC by tapping on the area that shows the page number, which switches between the none, LOC, page number, time left in the chapter, and time left in book modes.
How to Change from LOC to Page Numbers on Kindle?
Fortunately, changing the LOC indicator back to the page number indicator on a Kindle is a pretty straightforward process you can go through in no time, which will allow you to get back to tracking your reading progress with page numbers once again.
Below, you can find a step-by-step guide that will take you through the process of changing from LOC to page numbers on your Kindle:
- Open the book on your Kindle.
- Tap the top of the screen to bring up the menu bar.
- Tap the Fonts (Aa icon) button to open the fonts menu.
- Navigate to the More tab.
- Tap on the “Reading Progress” button.
- Tap on the “Page in book” radio button.
- Back out of the menus and return to the book.
Provided the book has support for page numbers, which would be indicated by the “Page in book” button not being greyed out, you should now see the page numbers where the LOC indicator used to be.
As an alternative method, you can also tap on the LOC indicator to cycle through the modes of no indicator (blank), page number, time left in the chapter, time left in the book, and LOC, which will practically have the same effect as using the menu method we have outlined above.
How to Tell if a Kindle Book Has Support for Page Numbers?
As the book itself needs to have support for page numbers for your Kindle to be able to show you this data, finding out whether a book has it or not prior to purchasing it is the best way to ensure that you won’t come across any surprises.
To find out whether the book you’re about to purchase has support for page numbers, look for the “Print Length” label (located next to info such as language, publication date, publisher, etc.) after clicking on the book of your choice in the Kindle Store, and hover over the text that tells you how many pages there are.
If the pop-up text reads “Contains real page numbers based on the print edition”, it means that the book has support for page numbers, meaning that you will be able to use the page number feature on your Kindle without any issues.
On the other hand, if you don’t see the text mentioned above when you hover over the page count, your only options for identification will be LOC, time left in the chapter, and time left in the book.
Conclusion
While the appearance of the LOC indicator can be a slight annoyance if you’re utilizing the page numbers of a book to track your progress, it’s usually possible to revert to page numbers by following a simple process.
To quickly summarize, the LOC indicator is Kindle’s standard way of dividing a book into identifiable parts, and while it feels unintuitive compared to page numbers, it actually offers a consistent way of identifying portions of the book regardless of what’s visible on the screen.
While the LOC indicator automatically replaces page numbers for books where page numbers aren’t supported, it’s also possible to switch between LOC and page numbers manually, provided that the book has page number support.
Mark’s first real encounter with tech was when he had to format his computer with Windows 98 around the age of 6 to quickly get back to playing Heroes of Might and Magic III without having to send the computer in for a repair, which he strangely found to be rather enjoyable since it was a new challenge for him at the time.
While he has always been particularly interested in the software side of things, which eventually led to him becoming a software developer, he enjoys keeping up with the advancements in consumer electronics and smart home technology when he’s not busy coding.