If you own one of Amazon’s pre-2012 Kindles, listen up: there’s a critical update that you need to install if you want to keep using it, and you must do so before March 22nd.
According to an update on the company’s help community, a new update is required for anyone using a pre-2012 device that has not connected it to the internet since October 5th, 2015.
Customers using an outdated software version on Kindle e-readers, or that have not connected wirelessly since October 5, 2015, require an important software update by March 22, 2016, in order to continue to download Kindle books and use Kindle services.
Failure to do so, the company warns, and you won’t be able to connect to Amazon’s Cloud, access the Kindle Store, or use any other services through the device. After March 22nd, you will also have to update the device manually, by downloading the patch and updating it through your computer.
Fortunately, Amazon has provided a chart that outlines which Kindles need which updates, and how to go about doing it:
| Device and Year | Software Version Your Device Needs | Update via Wireless (2G/3G) or Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle 1st Generation (2007) | 1.2.1 | Use Wireless |
| Kindle 2nd Generation (2009) * | 2.5.8 | Use Wireless |
| Kindle DX 2nd Generation (2009) * | 2.5.8 | Use Wireless |
| Kindle Keyboard 3rd Generation (2010) ** | 3.4.2 or higher | Use Wi-Fi |
| Kindle 4th Generation (2011) | 4.1.3 or higher | Use Wi-Fi |
| Kindle 5th Generation (2012) | 4.1.3 or higher | Use Wi-Fi |
| Kindle Touch 4th Generation (2011) ** | 5.3.7.3 or higher | Use Wi-Fi |
| Kindle Paperwhite 5th Generation (2012) ** | 5.6.1.1 or higher | Use Wi-Fi |
| Kindle Paperwhite 6th Generation (2013) | No Update Needed | No Update Needed |
| Kindle 7th Generation (2014) | No Update Needed | No Update Needed |
| Kindle Voyage 7th Generation (2014) | No Update Needed | No Update Needed |
| Kindle Paperwhite 7th Generation (2015) | No Update Needed | No Update Needed |
The update provides a really good reminder to keep your device up to date, but also the fact that even if your books and purchases are on the cloud, you won’t always be able to reach them.