Amazon has issued an important warning for owners of older Kindle devices, announcing that it will cease software support for Kindle models released in 2012 or earlier starting May 20, 2026. This change will impact approximately two million devices across the UK, which will no longer be able to connect directly to the Kindle Store.
While users will still be able to read books already downloaded on their Kindles, they will lose the ability to browse, purchase, or download new e-books through the device itself. Instead, owners will need to transfer content manually using a USB cable.
Amazon highlighted that it has supported these older models for over a decade—some for as long as 18 years—and has offered discounts to help users transition to newer devices. Despite this, some users have expressed frustration, calling the discontinuation premature and highlighting the device’s primary function as a text reader that arguably does not require frequent updates.
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Affected models include:
- Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
- Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 & 2010)
- Kindle Keyboard (2010)
- Kindle 4 (2011)
- Kindle Touch (2011)
- Kindle 5 (2012)
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
- Kindle Fire 1st Generation (2011)
- Kindle Fire 2nd Generation (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)
Amazon issued a statement saying, “These devices have served customers well for many years, but as technology advances, continued support is no longer feasible.” Users of these older Kindles should prepare for the transition and consider upgrading their devices to maintain full Kindle Store functionality.