Amazon just ended software support for eight Kindle and Fire tablet models from before 2013. As a result, Kindle owners with these older devices will no longer have access to the Kindle Store to buy new books or download software updates. Still, they will retain access to their existing Kindle Library, including purchased books. Because nothing says 'we care' like locking the store but leaving the reading light on.
Truly, Amazon offers Kindle devices a generous support period, especially when compared to other tablets. A Kindle gets anywhere between 10 and 15 years of software support before Amazon makes major cutoffs, while most tablets and smartphones from other manufacturers on the market get between 3 and 7 years. This, and the fact that Kindles are single-purpose devices, has earned Amazon a loyal user base. Also, you can't install TikTok on them, which is either a blessing or a curse depending on your attention span.
These are the Kindle and Fire tablet models that Amazon no longer supports: Kindle (1st Gen), Kindle 2, Kindle DX (1st and 2nd Gen), Kindle Keyboard (3rd Gen), Kindle (4th Gen), Kindle (5th Gen), Kindle Touch (4th Gen), and various Fire tablets from 2012 and earlier. Basically, if your Kindle looks like it could have been used to signal the Bat-Signal, it's on the list.
Whether you have an older Kindle that is no longer receiving software support or a newer model, there are plenty of tips, hacks, and workarounds for these e-readers that you can take advantage of. While your pre-2013 Kindle ereader will no longer let you buy new books or get software updates, you'll still have access to the books already in your Kindle Library. If you'd like to add new books, however, you don't have to rely on the Kindle Store; you can simply transfer books to your Kindle via USB. It's like digital smuggling, but legal.
As for how to get new ebooks, you can do so without the Kindle Store. There are several reputable e-book sellers, including Bookshop.org and eBooks.com, and you can find ebooks in PDF format or books through your local library. Your local library most likely partners with a service like Libby or Hoopla that gives users access to an online inventory of millions of e-books and audiobooks -- all you need is a free library card. Remember those? They're like a Kindle Store membership, but your tax dollars already paid for it.
ZDNET reached out to Amazon for comment on other ways to add ebooks to older Kindle devices. Amazon is citing technology changes to justify ending support for older Kindle devices from before 2013. Here's the statement the company shared with ZDNET about it: "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. We are notifying those still actively using them and offering promotions to help with the transition to newer devices." In other words, they're offering a coupon and a pat on the back.
Ending software support for older devices is par for the course for all tech companies. As new devices come to market, maintaining older devices becomes expensive, and many older models often lack the necessary hardware capacity to run newer features. Amazon has confirmed that these users' "accounts and Kindle Library also remain fully accessible through the free Kindle app and Kindle for Web." So your books are safe, but your 2011 Kindle is now a glorified paperweight with a backlight.