Amazon will end support for Kindle devices released before 2012, cutting these devices off from Kindle Store functions after May 20, 2026. Customers received notification via email this week about the decision, which will prevent affected devices from buying, borrowing, or downloading new content.
Users of older Kindle e-readers and tablets will only be able to access previously downloaded content post-deadline. Devices that are reset or deregistered will not allow re-registration once the deadline passes.
The affected models include the original Kindle (1st and 2nd generation), Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4 and 5, Kindle Touch, and first-generation Kindle Paperwhite. “These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some as long as 18 years — but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward,” said Amazon spokesperson Jesse Carr.
Amazon is notifying users and providing promotions to facilitate upgrades to newer devices. Users can still access their libraries through contemporary devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for Web.
Many longtime users expressed frustration over the lack of support for their functioning devices. On social media, some users indicated they still rely on older Kindles and find no compelling reason to upgrade. Concerns were raised about contributing to electronic waste, with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) projecting global e-waste to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, a 32% increase from 2022.
One Reddit user remarked, “I’ve had my Kindle for years, but it still works perfectly and continues to serve me well. How wasteful is it to make a product practically unusable in order to force people to buy a newer model?”
The decision follows Amazon’s gradual reduction of support for legacy devices, which began at least in 2016 when the company required 2012 and earlier models to install updates to maintain access to the Kindle Store. This trend signals a continuing move towards phasing out older technology in favor of newer models.
