Amazon to End Support for Kindle Devices Released Before 2012
Amazon is preparing to end support for Kindle devices released before 2012, cutting them off from the Kindle Store and making them virtually incapable of loading new content. The company has set the deadline for May 20, 2026.
The Announcement and Its Implications
Amazon sent an email to customers this week announcing it would end support for the devices, according to screenshots of the message posted to social media and Reddit by customers, and confirmed by Amazon. According to the message, Kindle e-readers and tablets released in 2012 or earlier will lose access to Kindle Store features after the deadline. This means that affected devices will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or directly download new books.
After May 20, users will only be able to use their devices to play already downloaded content. Once an old device is unregistered or factory reset, it cannot be re-registered after May 20.
Models Affected by the Change
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 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 since then, and these devices will no longer be supported in the future,” said Jesse Carr, an Amazon spokesperson, in a statement to TechCrunch. “We inform those who are still actively using them and offer promotions to ease the transition to newer devices.”
Options for Affected Users
Users can continue to access their libraries through newer devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for the web, the Amazon spokesperson said.
Community Reaction and Concerns
Several longtime users have expressed frustration with the decision to end support for older Kindles, many of which are in excellent condition and have suffered no operational degradation. On Reddit, several users said they were still using these old devices and saw no reason to replace them. To some, it looked like another example of tech companies abandoning support for perfectly working products, pushing customers toward upgrades while contributing to the increase in e-waste. One example is Google, which ended support for its 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 tonnes by 2030, a 32% increase from 2022.
Exploring Alternatives
One Reddit user wrote: “I’ve had my Kindle for years, but it still works great and continues to serve me well. What a waste to make a product virtually unusable in order to force people to buy a newer model.”
For some, this change meant it might be time to get an alternative e-ink e-reader, like the Boox Palma or Vivlio e-reader.
A Gradual Shift in Support
The decision to remove 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 install updates just to maintain access to the Kindle Store, an early sign that long-term support for these devices would eventually end.
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