For those who’re utilizing an older Kindle, you might need to test what 12 months it was launched. Amazon has despatched out emails to a few of its customers, with a warning that it’s discontinuing assist for Kindle ereaders and Hearth tables launched in 2012 or earlier. You possibly can nonetheless learn books you’ve already downloaded on these units, however you’ll now not be capable of buy, borrow or obtain new ones, beginning on Could 20, 2026. As well as, if the machine has a difficulty that may solely be solved by a manufacturing facility reset, doing so will brick it. Deregestering it’s going to additionally render it unusable. On Kindle Hearth units, customers received’t be capable of buy or obtain content material anymore, however different providers would stay practical.
The affected fashions embrace the very first Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Contact, Kindle 5 and the primary model of Kindle Paperwhite. We’ve requested Amazon why it determined to chop off assist for these fashions, and the corporate advised us: “These fashions have been supported for not less than 14 years — some so long as 18 years — however know-how has come a great distance in that point…”
Amazon additionally advised Engadget that this solely impacts roughly 3 p.c of its present customers, whom it’s now urging to improve. In its e-mail, it provides them a promo code for 20 p.c off choose Kindle units, in addition to e-book credit in the event that they buy a brand new mannequin by June 20. “Our newer Kindle units carry significant enhancements in display screen high quality, efficiency and accessibility — and you will have entry to your full Kindle library and the Kindle Retailer,” the corporate wrote.
Replace 04/08/26 8:23AM ET: Added data we obtained from Amazon.
