Don’t grieve your favorite Kindle just yet. Even if Amazon is ending support for older models on May 20, 2026, that doesn’t mean your ereader is headed for the scrap heap—especially if you’re still loyal to those satisfying page-turn buttons. With a few simple workarounds (and a couple more advanced ones if you’re feeling ambitious), you can keep your Kindle going for years. And if you are ready to move on, there are some solid alternatives worth considering.
Is Your Kindle on the Chopping Block? Check the List
Note that you will still be able to read books that are already on discontinued Kindle and Kindle Fire models. But beginning May 20, you won’t be able to download new content from the Kindle Store.
As of this writing, these are the Kindles currently scheduled for obsolescence:
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Kindle 1st Generation (2007)
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Kindle 2nd Generation (2009)
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Kindle DX & DX Graphite (2009-2010)
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Kindle Keyboard (2010)
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Kindle 4 & 5 (2011-2012)
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Kindle Touch (2011)
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Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation (2012)
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Kindle Fire 1st Generation (2011)
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Kindle Fire 2nd Generation (2012)
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Kindle Fire HD 7 (2012)
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Kindle Fire HD 8.9 (2012)
The Easiest Way to Keep Your Kindle Alive: Sideloading
Technically, you don’t own the books you buy from the Kindle store. What this means is that you’re not allowed to transfer or modify those titles. In essence, you’re purchasing a license to access the content, which can be revoked at any time. Not only does sideloading make it possible to get content on what Amazon deems an “obsolete” device, but it also lets you own the books you put on your device.
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management and restricts the transfer of certain content, such as ebooks, from one device to another. The goal is to ostensibly prevent piracy and unlicensed sharing.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to steal content from your favorite authors to keep using your Kindle. There are plenty of e-stores where you can buy DRM-free novels legally, such as ebook.com and Smashwords. If you want to try this process for free, public-domain repositories such as the one at Standard Ebooks are a great place to start.
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(Credit: Justyn Newman)
Once you have your ebook file, you’ll need to connect your Kindle to a computer and access it via Calibre, an excellent open-source tool for converting, formatting, and transferring ebooks. You can even remove DRM with third-party plug-ins like DeDRM, which can be useful if you have a large library of DRM-protected purchases you’d like to move to another personal device.
(Credit: PCMag/Calibre)
Your books are yours to read freely once you sideload them, and you don’t have to interact with any online Amazon services at all. If you’re content with Amazon’s basic operating system, then you can stop here. However, you can breathe even more life into your Kindle if you’re willing to jailbreak it.
The Advanced Route: Free Your Kindle From Amazon by Jailbreaking It
It’s possible to untether your Kindle from its Amazon overlord by jailbreaking it, but keep in mind that doing so comes with risks. It’s more technical than sideloading and can result in a bricked or otherwise broken Kindle if you run into an issue. Not that it matters for Kindles made before 2013, but it’ll probably void your warranty as well. Jailbreaking is a bit of a process and doesn’t work for every single Kindle, so make sure to double-check your system version and Kindle model for compatibility before you dive down this rabbit hole.
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That said, a jailbroken Kindle can run open-source ebook viewers like KOreader. You’ll still have to sideload books, but you’ll get much greater control over your Kindle. The platform offers better PDF compatibility, wireless syncing with your Calibre library, and support for more ebook file types without the need to convert them as you do on a non-jailbroken Kindle.
Ready to Move On? Here Are Your Best Next Steps
If you want a new ebook reader—Kindle or otherwise—the first thing you should do is check out our list of the best ereaders we’ve tested. If you indeed want another Kindle, Amazon is currently offering a deal where you can trade in any old Kindle for 20% off a new one, plus a gift card equal to the current value of your original ereader. You can also try selling it on a local or online marketplace, though you likely won’t get much for a discontinued model.
Finally, if you’re feeling particularly virtuous, you can donate your old Kindle to a local library or send it back to Amazon free of charge via its electronic recycling program.
About Our Expert
Justyn Newman
Senior Writer, Security
Experience
My writing journey started in 2012 and has taken me through various niches, but my main focus has always been on tech. I contributed to several growing PC hardware and software sites, focusing on gaming, peripherals, and privacy.
As the amount of information we put out on the internet has grown, so have the threats and the tools we use to combat them. With VPNs gaining traction in the late 2010s as a tool for the public instead of just an option for business security, I found myself reviewing countless options in this continuously changing landscape.
This led to my role before PCMag over at WizCase, where I honed my knowledge of VPNs and privacy tools and eventually oversaw all of the content produced. I led a talented team of fellow writers and editors to evaluate VPNs, password managers, antivirus, and parental controls.
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