Amazon has made an announcement that users of older Kindle devices may need to upgrade to newer models as support for several aging e-readers is set to end soon. This change, effective May 20, 2026, will result in these devices no longer being able to download new titles from the Kindle Store. Models affected include the Kindle 5 and the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite.
While these devices will still function normally, users will not be able to purchase, borrow, or add new content to their devices after the May deadline. Amazon stated that devices released in 2012 and earlier, which have been supported for at least 14 years, will no longer receive support due to significant technological advancements.
Amazon is proactively contacting affected users via email to inform them about the upcoming restriction on new downloads. To aid in the transition, the company is providing a 20% discount on select new Kindle models and a £15 eBook credit.
The impacted models include the Kindle 1st Generation (2007), Kindle DX and DX Graphite (2009, 2010), Kindle Keyboard (2010), Kindle 4 (2011), Kindle Touch (2011), Kindle 5 (2012), and Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012).
If you own one of the affected Kindles, you can still access and read previously downloaded books, but you won’t be able to acquire new content after the specified date. Deregistering or factory resetting these devices will render them unusable.
Considering the situation, upgrading to a newer Kindle device may be beneficial, especially with the recent launch of Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe models in the UK. Introduced on April 8, these new devices are slimmer, faster, and for the first time, offer a color display option.
The new Kindle Scribe is priced from £449.99, while the color-display Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starts at £569.99.