Amazon is ending support for older Kindle devices

Amazon is preparing to end support for Kindle devices released before 2012, cutting them off from the Kindle Store and making them virtually unable to upload any new content. 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 devices, according to screenshots of the message posted on social media and Reddit from customers, and confirmed by Amazon. According to the letter, Kindle e-readers and tablets released in 2012 or earlier will lose access to Kindle Store functionality after the deadline. This means that affected devices will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new books directly.

After May 20, users will only be able to use their devices to read content that has already been downloaded. Once an old device is unenrolled or factory reset, it cannot be re-enrolled after May 20.

Amazon’s list of affected models includes the original Kindle (1st and 2nd generation), Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4 and 5, Kindle Touch, and the 1st 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,” Jesse Carr, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement to TechCrunch. “We are actively notifying those who are still using them and offering promotions to help with the transition to newer devices.”

An Amazon spokesperson said users can continue to access their libraries through newer devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for web.

Many long-time users have expressed frustration over the move to end support for older Kindle devices, many of which are in excellent condition and have seen no operational degradation. On Reddit, many users said they were still relying on these old devices and saw no reason to replace them. To some, it seemed like another example of tech companies stopping support for perfectly working products, pushing customers toward upgrades while contributing to a rise in e-waste. One example is Google, which ended support for older Nest thermostats in 2025. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global e-waste is expected to reach 82 million tons by 2030, a 32% jump from 2022.

“I’ve had my Kindle for years, but it still works perfectly and continues to serve me well. How wasteful to make a product practically unusable in order to force people to buy a newer model,” one Reddit user wrote.

For some, the change means it’s time to get an alternative e-ink reader, like the Boox Palma or Vivlio e-reader.

The decision to essentially discontinue older Kindle devices isn’t entirely unexpected, as Amazon has been gradually reducing support for its older devices. In 2016, the company required Kindle e-reader models from 2012 and earlier to only install updates to maintain access to the Kindle Store, an early sign that long-term support for these devices would eventually end.