Amazon has started sending emails to customers to announce the end of support for all Kindle models released in 2012 and earlier, effective May 20, 2026.

TLDR: Starting May 20, 2026, Amazon is dropping support for all Kindle models released in 2012 and earlier. Affected devices will no longer be able to download new ebooks or access the Kindle Store. Books already on the device can still be read, and you can still add ebooks via USB using Calibre. If you own one of these old Kindles, it’s time to consider upgrading.

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Amazon Is Ending Support for All Kindles Released Before 2013

Amazon has started sending emails to customers to announce the end of support for all Kindle models released in 2012 and earlier, effective May 20, 2026.

This decision may frustrate quite a few people, since e-readers are remarkably durable devices, and it’s not uncommon to keep using one for more than 10 years after purchase.

Here is the full list of Kindle models affected by the announcement:

• Kindle 1st generation
• Kindle 2nd generation
• Kindle DX
• Kindle DX Graphite
• Kindle Keyboard (3rd generation)
• Kindle 4
• Kindle Touch
• Kindle 5
• Kindle Paperwhite 1st generation

If you want to keep shopping from the Kindle Store, you’ll unfortunately need to buy a new e-reader.

What Does This Actually Change?

In short, you’ll still be able to use these older Kindles to read books already downloaded on them. But starting May 20, 2026, it will no longer be possible to download new ebooks, and the built-in store will no longer be accessible.

You can still transfer ebooks to these older devices via USB, but that will be the only way to add new books going forward. The Send to Kindle feature will no longer be supported either.

To do this, you’ll need to use Calibre, a free ebook management app.

These older Kindles will also lose the ability to be linked to an Amazon account after the cutoff date.

This could cause some headaches in the used device market, where buyers may not realize these models can no longer be registered. So if you’re looking to buy a secondhand e-reader, keep that in mind and double-check the model before purchasing!

That said, this kind of longevity is pretty remarkable for a digital device: it means you could use your Kindle e-reader for up to 14 years!