If you own a Kindle e-reader or a Kindle Fire from the early 2010s, there’s some bad news: Amazon has announced that you will no longer be able to buy, borrow, or download new books from the Kindle Store directly on those devices starting May 20, 2026.
Based on an email sent to The Verge, you will still be able to read any content you previously downloaded to the device. But if you factory reset the device or deregister it after that date, you are out of luck because it will be impossible to register it again.
Here"s a list of the affected devices:
- 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)
To soften the blow, Amazon is promising a 20% discount on a new Kindle device and a $20 ebook credit for anyone upgrading. This offer is valid until June 20th, 2026.
If you"re not interested in Amazon"s offer, or just want to breathe second life into your old Kindle, you can pursue the (risky) option of jailbreaking. On an E-Ink Kindle, a successful jailbreak lets you install KOReader, an open-source application that can read almost any file format, including ePUB, which Kindles currently do not support. For Fire devices, the process involves rooting the tablet to install something called TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project), a custom recovery that lets you wipe Amazon"s software and install a clean version of Android.
Last September, Amazon debuted its completely redesigned Kindle Scribe. The new Scribe is a premium note-taking device with an 11-inch display, a slim 5.4mm profile, and a weight of just 400 grams.
Amazon also launched the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which uses a custom display technology and nitride LEDs to allow you to write, draw, and highlight in various colors. Of course, it is also packed with AI features that let you search your handwritten notes with natural language and get automated summaries. The price for this new hardware reflects its premium status, starting at $629.99 for the Colorsoft and ranging down to $429.99 for a version without a front-light.