Amazon to stop support for older Kindle devices

Amazon plans to end support for Kindle devices released before 2012 – cutting them off from the Kindle Store and making them unable to download new ones. The company has set a deadline of May 20, 2026.

Amazon sent an email to customers this week announcing it would end support for the device, according to images posted. to social media and Reddit from customers, and verified by Amazon. According to the message, Kindle e-readers and tablets released in 2012 or earlier will not be able to access Kindle Store services after the deadline. This means that affected devices will not be able to buy, rent, or download new books directly.

After May 20, users will be able to use their devices to read previously downloaded content. Once an old device is deregistered or factory reset, it cannot be reregistered after May 20th.

The list of models affected by Amazon includes the Kindle (first and second generation), Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4 and 5, Kindle Touch, and the first generation Kindle Paperwhite.

“These models have been supported for at least 14 years – some up to 18 years – but the technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward,” said Jesse Carr, an Amazon spokesperson to TechCrunch. “We’re informing existing users and offering promotions to help them transition to new devices.”

Users can continue to access their libraries through the new devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for Web, an Amazon spokeswoman said.

Long-time users have expressed frustration at the move to end support for older Kindles, many of which are in excellent condition and have not seen any damage. On Reddit, several users said they still rely on these old devices and see no reason to switch. To some, it served as yet another example of tech companies dropping support for efficient products, pushing customers for upgrades while helping to increase electronic waste. One example of this is Googlewhich ended support for its old Nest thermostats in 2025. According to United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)worldwide e-waste is expected to reach 82 million tons by 2030, a 32% jump from 2022.

One Reddit user he wrote“I’ve had my Kindle for years, but it still works great and continues to serve me well. It’s a waste of money to make something that doesn’t work in order to force people to buy a new model.”

For some, this change means it may be time to find another e-ink reader, such as Box Palma or Vivlio e-reader.

The decision to kill off older Kindle devices is not unexpected, as Amazon has gradually reduced support for its older devices. In 2016, the company wanted Kindle e-reader models from 2012 to earlier set the settings only keeping access to the Kindle Store, an early sign that long-term support for these devices is finally ending.