End of the road for legacy Kindles
Posted in daily
Tags :Amazon is phasing out support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier. That includes two I still have around: the Kindle Touch and the first-generation Paperwhite.
After removing the option to download books locally and transfer them over USB last year, this feels like the next, predictable step.
The devices themselves still work perfectly. Mine have long since been relegated to backup duty, but they haven’t aged badly. That said, when I reset a first-generation Paperwhite last month to pass it on, I couldn’t get it to register anymore, even with the 2016 update installed.
Amazon’s model naming doesn’t help. If in doubt, check under Settings → Device options → Device info. Anything running a version older than 5.12.2.2 is effectively cut off (1).
At this point, it’s hard not to see my direction of travel. David Pogue’s “Apple: The First 50 years” may well be my last ebook purchase in Amazon’s ecosystem…
Kindle Notice - Devices no longer supported
Dear Customer,
Thank you for being a longtime Kindle customer. We’re glad our devices have served you well for as long as they have. Starting May 20, 2026 — 14 to 18 years after their initial launches — we are discontinuing support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier. Here’s what this means for you:
- You can continue to read books already downloaded on these devices, but you will not be able to purchase, borrow, or download additional books on them after that date.
- If you deregister or factory reset these devices, you will not be able to re-register or use these devices in any way.
Affected devices include Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation, Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5, and Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation.
To minimize any disruption, we’re offering a promotional code for 20% off select new Kindle devices B4PT5XAJ74 as well as a $20 eBook credit that will be automatically added to your account after purchasing a new device (valid through June 20th, 2026, 11:59pm PST - Terms and Conditions apply). Our newer Kindle devices bring meaningful improvements in screen quality, performance and accessibility — and you’ll have access to your complete Kindle library and the Kindle Store. You can also continue to read all your books on our free Kindle apps (Android, iOS, Mac, and PC) and Kindle for Web.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please visit https://www.amazon.com/help/kindle/devicedeprecation.
Sincerely, The Kindle Team
#kthxbye
