Starting from May 20, a significant group of Kindle devices, the Amazon-branded e-book readers, will permanently lose access to the official store.
The decision, recently confirmed by a company spokesperson to the U.S. publication The Verge, marks the end of support for direct purchases, lending and new downloads on a range of older-generation e-readers and tablets.
This is a long-awaited move for products that have now surpassed a decade in age, but it will require an inevitable adjustment by the most loyal readers to their hardware.
Amazon blocks these Kindle devices from accessing the bookstore
The restriction will take effect in just over a month and will specifically affect devices released on the market between 2007 and 2012. These devices, while having helped shape modern electronic reading, no longer meet the necessary requirements to interface with the current digital store infrastructure.
To make it absolutely clear which products are precisely nearing retirement, below is the list of affected devices:
- Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
- Kindle DX (2009)
- Kindle DX Graphite (2010)
- Kindle Keyboard (2010)
- Kindle 4 (2011)
- Kindle Touch (2011)
- Kindle 5 (2012)
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
- Kindle Fire 1st Generation (2011)
- Kindle Fire 2nd Generation (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)
Library management and important warnings
Users who own one of the aforementioned products should not fear for their personal library. All digital volumes already downloaded within the device’s memory will remain perfectly accessible and readable without any restriction.
Additionally, the entire catalog purchased over the years will remain always available via the official mobile app, the web platform and any newer e-reader, simply by logging in with your credentials.
However, there is a crucial detail to pay the utmost attention to: if the old models are disconnected from the main account or subjected to a factory reset, it will not be possible to re-register them once the May 20 date has passed.
Regarding the Fire tablet range prior to 2012, the limitations will affect only the books section, while the other applications and the multiple services provided by the company will continue to operate normally.
Transition to new devices and generous discounts
To accompany customers in this transition phase and to avoid unpleasant surprises, the company will send email communications to all affected users, detailing the imminent restrictions.
To encourage the transition to a next-generation product, a promotional offer is active until June 20, which guarantees a 20% discount on a new reader, accompanied by an extra $20 credit usable for purchasing new titles.
At the moment it is not clear whether this promotion will also be offered to European users.
