Amazon discontinues support for older Kindles and Fires

Amazon has recently shared that from May 20th, 2026 onwards, Kindle readers and Kindle Fire models made in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to buy, borrow, or download new content through the Kindle Store,” as stated by Jackie Burke, a representative from Amazon.

As reported by The Verge, users can still enjoy books already downloaded and access their accounts and Kindle purchases with the Kindle mobile app, Kindle for Web, and newer models.

Should the older devices be deregistered or reset to factory settings, they will not be eligible for re-registration post the May deadline.

The entire list of impacted devices includes the original Kindle released in 2007, featuring a full keyboard and scroll wheel.

• 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)

Amazon intends to contact users affected through email before May 20th, detailing what functions their older devices will or will not support.

Earlier Kindle Fire models from pre-2012 will face the same restrictions regarding book access as Kindle e-readers, but other apps and Amazon services on these devices will remain unchanged.

For those who have been using these models for a long time and wish to transition to newer Kindle devices, Amazon will offer a 20% discount on new Kindle units and a $20 ebook credit for their accounts at upgrade, valid until June 20th, 2026, at 11:59PM PT.

Their previous purchases can be accessed on new devices provided they log in with their existing account established more than 14 years ago.

Back in 2016, Amazon demanded that users of various Kindle e-reader versions from 2012 and before update the firmware on their units to maintain connection with the Kindle Store.

But now, as a decade has passed, it appears these older units' time is finally reaching an end.