Pre-2013 Kindles Lose Access to Purchase and Download New Books in May
Amazon has announced significant changes affecting older Kindle e-readers. Starting May 20, users with devices from 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase or download new books from the Kindle Store.
Impacted Devices
This change is aimed at Kindle models introduced and sold before 2013. Specifically, it affects:
- Kindle 1st Generation
- Kindle 2nd Generation
- Kindle DX and DX Graphite
- Kindle Keyboard
- Kindle 4
- Kindle Touch
- Kindle 5
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (also referred to as Kindle Paperwhite 5th Generation)
Additionally, older Kindle Fire tablets from 2011 and 2012 are also affected by this change.
Functionality Limitations
While users can still read books already downloaded onto their devices, they will lose the ability to add new titles. If a device is reset to factory defaults, it will not be able to reconnect to an Amazon account.
Identifying Affected Devices
To determine if your Kindle is impacted, check the software version. Any version earlier than 5.12.2.2 means that the device will lose access to Amazon’s store and your e-book library.
These updates highlight Amazon’s ongoing effort to streamline its services and support for newer devices. Users of older Kindles will need to transition to newer models to continue accessing the Kindle Store.
