Amazon announced that it will end support for older Kindle models released during or before 2012, with the change taking effect on May 20, 2026. Affected devices include the Kindle Touch and some Kindle Fire tablets. Starting May 20, 2026, customers using Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store.
However, users will still be able to read e-books they have already downloaded, and their accounts and Kindle Library will remain accessible on mobile and desktop apps. Amazon has supported the affected models for at least 14 years, with some receiving support for up to 18 years. The company noted that active users of these older models have been offered discounts to transition to newer devices.
The challenge is that these devices were built for a different era and are not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services and features.
User reactions have included criticism over device obsolescence, with some estimating that up to two million devices could be rendered obsolete. Kay Aaronicks expressed surprise at the announcement and sadness over the potential loss of full use of her 14-year-old Kindle. She also raised concerns about advertisements on newer, discounted Kindle devices and how they might alter the reading experience.
Tech industry analyst Paolo Pescatore said Amazon's decision is understandable from a security and support perspective. He described the affected devices as built for a different era and not equipped to run newer, more data-hungry services and features. He also noted that ageing hardware can pose problems.
Ageing hardware can also pose problems.