Amazon responds as users slam decision to drop support for older Kindles

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Amazon will stop supporting several older Kindle models, meaning some features will no longer work starting May 20, 2026.

Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets released in 2012 or before will soon lose access to the Kindle Store and won’t be able to download new books or content. Amazon has confirmed this change will take effect after a certain date.

Honestly, this decision has really upset a lot of people in the gaming community. We’re all worried about losing access to our perfectly good consoles and PCs – stuff that still works great! There’s been a huge amount of criticism online, and it’s easy to see why everyone’s frustrated.

Older Kindle devices lose store access in May 2026

Customers with affected devices will continue to be able to read books they’ve already downloaded. But once support ends, they won’t be able to buy, borrow, or download any new books.

Amazon has cautioned that some actions will make certain Kindle devices permanently unusable. Specifically, if you reset a Kindle to its factory settings or remove it from your account, you won’t be able to set it up again.

Okay, so I just found out that if you have an older Kindle Fire, you won’t be able to buy or download new books or apps anymore. It’s a bummer, but thankfully, things like streaming video and other features should still work. Basically, it’s still a tablet, just not one I can load up with new games or reads.

The devices affected by this change include several older Kindle models, such as the original Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5, and the very first Kindle Paperwhite.

Amazon has decided to discontinue support for certain older hardware models after providing support for over a decade. The company explained to Engadget that these models, some of which have been supported for up to 18 years, are now quite outdated given how much technology has advanced.

So, I just heard from Kindle, and apparently a small chunk of us – about 3% of current users – are going to be affected by a change they’re making. They’re trying to make it right though! They’re offering a 20% discount on some of the newer Kindles if we want to upgrade, and they’ll even give us ebook credits if we do it before June 20th. Not a bad deal, honestly.

Amazon announced that its latest Kindle devices offer better screens, faster performance, and improved accessibility features, while still giving users full access to their books and the Kindle Store.

The announcement has upset many people online, who are worried they won’t be able to continue using their older devices.

Someone on Threads expressed frustration about a recent announcement, saying their Kindle is working great and has sentimental value – it used to belong to their grandmother and they use it daily for work. They’re upset that it may become unusable in just over a month.

Man, I was so bummed to get an email from Amazon today. My Kindle’s working just fine, but apparently, to keep reading my books, I basically have to buy a new one – and knowing how these things go, it probably won’t even last as long!

Following the recent announcement, many readers are exploring new e-readers to replace their older Kindles, with options like the Boox Palma and Kobo Libra Colour gaining popularity.

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2026-04-08 18:20