Amazon has recently announced that support for several older Kindle models will be discontinued, affecting the ability to download new content from the Kindle Store. The changes will take effect on May 20, 2026, impacting devices such as the Kindle 5 and Kindle Paperwhite (1st Generation).
While existing books on these devices will remain accessible, users will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or add new content after the specified deadline. Amazon has confirmed that devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer receive support due to advancements in technology.
To assist affected users with the transition, Amazon is offering a 20% discount on select new Kindle models and a £15 eBook credit. The company is in the process of notifying users via email about the upcoming restrictions on new downloads.
The affected Kindle models include the 1st Generation Kindle (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 impacted Kindles, you will still be able to read previously downloaded books but will lose the ability to acquire new content. Deregistering or factory resetting these devices will render them unusable.
Considering the discontinuation of support, upgrading to a newer device may be advisable, especially with the recent launch of Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe models in the UK. Introduced on April 8, the new Scribe devices are sleeker, faster, and offer a color display option for the first time.
The new Kindle Scribe starts at £449.99, while the color-display Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is priced from £569.99. Amazon encourages users to transition to newer devices for continued access to their accounts and Kindle Libraries through the Kindle app and Kindle for Web.