Amazon Ends Support for Older Kindles, Sparking User Backlash

Fri Apr 10 2026 02:07:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The decision to stop support for older Kindle models has left long-time users discontent, with concerns about e-waste and device obsolescence.

Amazon has announced it will cease support for all Kindle models released in 2012 or earlier on May 20, 2026. This decision has sparked outrage among customers, particularly those who feel their devices, such as the Kindle Touch and earlier Fire tablets, are still functioning and capable. Critics argue that this move could render up to 2 million devices obsolete, contributing to e-waste and raising questions about the sustainability of tech practices.

Amazon has told owners it will soon stop supporting older Kindle models - a move which has left some users outraged.

In emails from the tech giant, affected users were thanked for being a longtime Kindle customer but told devices released during or before 2012 would no longer receive updates from 20 May.

The move will mean owners of older Kindles, including its earliest models such as the Kindle Touch and some Kindle Fire tablets, will be unable to download new e-books.

Amazon said it has supported affected models for years and their active users have been offered discounts to help transition to newer devices, but some have criticised it for making up to two million devices obsolete.

I have a Kindle Touch that I've had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it's obsolete, one user wrote in a post tagging Amazon.

Another frustrated user described the Kindle as probably one of the most low-tech devices ever made and queried why Amazon was discontinuing its support for it.

A Kindle is a text device! There is no need for updates, another added.

Devices affected

In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said: 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.

These models have been supported for at least 14 years—some as long as 18 years—but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward.

The affected Kindle models include:

Kindle: Kindle 1st Generation (2007), Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009 and 2010), Kindle Keyboard (2010), Kindle 4 (2011), Kindle Touch (2011), Kindle 5 (2012), and Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012).
Kindle Fire Tablets: Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011), Kindle Fire 2nd Gen (2012), Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012), Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012).

Users will still be able to read e-books they have already downloaded, and their accounts and their Kindle Library will remain accessible on its mobile and desktop app.

However, Amazon also warned that performing a factory reset on affected Kindles will make them unusable.

Kay Aaronricks, a Kindle owner, expressed her dismay at the news and wrote about the role her Kindle plays in her life, saying it allows her to keep all her books with her while working and travelling.

Tech industry analyst Paolo Pescatore acknowledged the frustration of keeping up with technological advancements. He noted that older devices may not support newer features and services. Ugo Vallauri from the Restart Project criticized the move, stating that millions of functioning devices should not be rendered obsolete without better alternatives. Vallauri estimated that approximately 624 tons of e-waste could result from this decision.

This ongoing issue highlights the intersection of technology, sustainability, and consumer rights, urging a reevaluation of the tech industry's approach to device life cycles and electronic waste.