Summary

  • Amazon is ending store access for Kindle e-readers released on or before 2012 on May 20th, 2026.
  • Existing downloads stay, but store purchases and borrows stop; the device still works as an e-reader.
  • You can sideload ebooks with Calibre to keep using old Kindles, or consider upgrading.

The Kindle revolutionized how we purchase and consume books, and Amazon did an excellent job of maintaining even its earlier e-reader models. Right now, you can still download and purchase new books on the first-ever Kindle, which came out close to 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, it seems that all good things must come to an end. Amazon has just confirmed that Kindles released on or before 2012 are getting the plug pulled, and while you can still read books on them, you'll be cut off from the Amazon Store completely.

Amazon pulls the support plus on pre-2013 Kindles

Now's the time for an upgrade

Credit: Amazon

In an email to The Verge, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed that, on May 20th, 2026, devices released before 2013 will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new titles from the Amazon Store. Any books you have already downloaded will remain, and the device will still function as an e-reader, but adding new titles to it will be trickier.

Here's the full list of affected Kindle models:

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

If you still love your older Kindle and you don't want to give up on it just yet, it's worth noting that there are other ways to get new ebooks onto it without using the Amazon Store.

For example, our sister site How-To Geek wrote a guide on how to send ebooks to your Kindle using Calibre, and the e-reader should work even on the 2007 model. It's not as convenient as purchasing a book and downloading it directly to the Kindle, but it's better than nothing.