Amazon is set to discontinue support for Kindle devices launched before 2012 — severing their connection to the Kindle Store and rendering them nearly unable to download any new content. The cutoff date has been established for May 20, 2026.

This week, Amazon informed customers via email that it will cease support for these devices, a message corroborated by Amazon and shared on social media and Reddit through customer screenshots. As stated in the email, Kindle e-readers and tablets introduced in 2012 or earlier will lose Kindle Store functionalities past the deadline, meaning affected devices will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new books directly.

Post May 20, users will be limited to reading content that has already been downloaded on their devices. An older device that is deregistered or restored to its original factory settings cannot be re-registered after May 20.

Amazon’s list of models affected includes the original Kindle (1st and 2nd generation), Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4 and 5, Kindle Touch, and the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite.

“These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some for as long as 18 years — but technology has advanced significantly during this period, and these devices will not receive further support,” said Jesse Carr, an Amazon representative, in a statement to TechCrunch. “We are reaching out to those who are still actively using them and providing promotions to assist with the transition to newer devices.”

Users may continue to access their libraries via newer devices, the Kindle mobile app, or Kindle for Web, according to the Amazon spokesperson.

Many long-term users expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision to terminate support for older Kindles, particularly those still in excellent condition that have not experienced any performance decline. On Reddit, several users noted their ongoing reliance on these older devices and saw no justification for upgrading. For some, it felt like another instance of tech companies discontinuing support for functional products, prompting customers to upgrade and contributing to the escalation of electronic waste. A parallel is drawn with Google, which ceased support for its older Nest thermostats in 2025. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global e-waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, marking a 32% increase from 2022.

One Reddit user commented, “I’ve owned my Kindle for years, but it continues to function flawlessly and serves my needs well. How wasteful is it to render a product nearly unusable just to compel people to purchase a newer model?”

For some, this change suggests it may be time to consider alternative e-ink readers, such as the Boox Palma or Vivlio e-reader.

The choice to essentially phase out older Kindle devices doesn’t come as a surprise, as Amazon has been progressively phasing out support for its legacy devices. In 2016, the company mandated that Kindle e-reader models from 2012 and earlier install updates merely to retain access to the Kindle Store, an initial indication that long-term support for these devices would eventually be phased out.