Veteran owners of Amazon’s Kindle devices have reacted in disbelief after being told they’ll no longer be able to buy, borrow or download more books from next month.
Amazon is now contacting owners of Kindle devices released in 2012 and earlier to state that their e-reader’s functionality will be downgraded from May 20. After this point, it will no longer be possible to add new books to existing accounts.
Owners will still be able to access their existing book libraries as long as their account is registered to the device. But, after May 20, these older Kindles will not be able to be used at all by any future user — as registering a fresh account will not be possible. After this, a factory reset will make them completely unusable — turning this eBook reader into nothing more than a paperweight.
A Kindle is probably one of the most low-tech devices ever made, so why is @AmazonUK discontinuing support for Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation? Why are they forcing new stuff without reason? A KINDLE IS A TEXT DEVICE! There is no need for updates. Text is text! #amazon #kindle pic.twitter.com/jK2XO3IE8X
— Hugo Guerra @FMX_Conference (@HugoCGuerra) April 8, 2026
Impacted devices include the Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation models, Kindle DX, Kindle DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, Kindle 4, Kindle 5 and Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation.
Owners of these devices are also now being pushed to buying a new model as a replacement, with Amazon offering 20% off select models and a small eBook credit (which, of course, you’ll need a new Kindle in order to spend).
“Thank you for being a long-time Kindle customer,” an email sent by Amazon reads. “We’re glad our devices have served you well for as long as they have.”
No specific reason was given for why Amazon is making these models obsolete now, though the retail giant said that its newer models had since brought “meaningful improvements in screen quality, performance and accessibility.”
The news has not gone down well with owners who are still happily using their older Kindle models now without complaint, and who seem mystified as to why their deliberately low-tech device is being made redundant, in place of flashier models.
“Why are they forcing new stuff without reason?” wrote Kindle user HugoCGuerra on social media. “A KINDLE IS A TEXT DEVICE! There is no need for updates. Text is text!”
Some users have expressed concern that the move is intended to push readers towards newer Kindle models that support more advanced (and for Amazon, more lucrative) adverts — something deliberately choose physical books or book-like eReaders to try and avoid.
According to a BBC News report, Amazon has said this change will only impact 3% of Kindle users — but this is believed to still mean 2 million devices. That’s a lot of paperweights.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
