Amazon plans to discontinue support for numerous older Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire tablets starting May 20, 2026, rendering millions of functional devices unable to access new content. This change affects devices released in 2012 or earlier, as they depend on online services for downloading books from the Kindle Store.
Affected Devices
Experts estimate this impacts around two million units. The full list of devices losing support includes:
- Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
- Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 and 2010)
- Kindle Keyboard (2010)
- Kindle 4 (2011)
- Kindle Touch (2011)
- Kindle 5 (2012)
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
- Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011)
- Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)
User Backlash
Social media erupts with criticism. One user shared, “I have a Kindle Touch that I’ve had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it’s obsolete.”
Author Susana Imaginário posted on X: “I’m so upset… My Kindle is fifteen years old. It still works fine, and I want no other. I read a lot, and this is the only e-reader that doesn’t hurt my eyes. None of the new models have a screen that so perfectly mimics paper. And now Amazon is forcing me to buy a new one.” She added, “I don’t need a touchscreen or sound, and I definitely don’t want adverts! The timing couldn’t be worse either… I can’t afford it right now.”
Katie Notopoulos of Business Insider called it “a nightmare,” noting, “Amazon is bricking old Kindles, including my beloved Kindle 5 (with the side buttons). I hate the touch screen versions, I’ve tried them and I’m always accidentally flipping pages.”
What Changes for Users
Owners can still read previously downloaded ebooks and access their Kindle Library through the smartphone app or Kindle website. However, deregistering or factory resetting these devices will make them fully unusable. On Kindle Fire models, purchasing or downloading new content ends entirely.
Customers should check their model via Amazon’s device identification page. Emails have already notified affected owners.
Incentives for Upgrading
To ease the transition, Amazon offers longtime users a 20% discount on select new Kindle devices and book credits for purchases made before June 20, 2026.
E-Waste and Obsolescence Concerns
Users avoiding Amazon products express relief. One social media user explained choosing a Kobo device: “I made the intentional choice not to trust Amazon.” He added concerns about future replacements but prefers refurbishing.
Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the Restart Project, which promotes tech refurbishing, highlights this as software obsolescence affecting 3% of users and generating 624 tons of e-waste. “We’ve seen it all before with manufacturers of all kinds,” Vallauri stated. “Amazon claims new models provide better performance, but that’s hardly a good reason for soft-bricking millions of still functioning devices. By offering a discount to buy a new device, Amazon implicitly invites people to upgrade and recycle their existing ones.”
Amazon’s Official Position
An Amazon spokesperson explained: “Starting May 20, 2026, customers using Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle store. 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.”
The company also promotes its recycling program for old devices.
