Amazon has announced that it will discontinue support for its older Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire devices, drawing ire from book lovers who declared, “This is a NIGHTMARE.”
Kindle users were in for a rude awakening on Wednesday after Amazon announced that starting next month, readers using its devices “released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle store.”
The change goes into effect on May 20, an Amazon spokesperson told The Independent.
Users will still be able to read the ebooks they have already downloaded on their devices, but will no longer be able to purchase, borrow or download new titles.
If these older devices are deregistered or factory reset, users won’t be able to re-register them after May 20, Amazon said.
On Kindle Fire devices, users will no longer be able to purchase or download content, though other services will remain functional.
“These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some as long as 18 years — but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward,” the spokesperson said.
Many Kindle users were outraged by the change, taking to X and Reddit to air their grievances with the shopping giant.
“This is a NIGHTMARE. Amazon is bricking old Kindles, including my beloved Kindle 5 (with the side buttons),” one heartbroken X user wrote. “I hate the touch screen versions, I’ve tried them and I’m always accidentally flipping pages.”
Another X user complained, “This is so annoying, Amazon. I have a new Kindle but I much prefer my old one with a keyboard. Not happy about you pulling the plug on a perfectly functional device.”
“I’m seriously so sad,” one Kindle user wrote on Reddit. “They’ll take my gen 3 from my cold dead hands!!”
The full list of impacted devices dates all the way back to the original Kindle, which launched in 2007. The affected models include:
- Kindle: 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)
Amazon plans to email all affected users in the U.S. about the upcoming change.
A company spokesperson told tech site Engadget the change only affects about 3 percent of its current users, whom it is now urging to upgrade their devices. To soften the blow, these longtime users will be given a promo code for 20 percent off select Kindle devices, as well as book credits if they purchase a new device before June 20.
“Our newer Kindle devices bring meaningful improvements in screen quality, performance and accessibility — and you’ll have access to your complete Kindle library and the Kindle Store,” Amazon said.
