Kindle Users Jailbreak 13 Older Models as Amazon Ends Support on May 20

8 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · May 16

May 20 is the cutoff for technical support on 13 older Kindle and Kindle Fire models, pushing some owners to jailbreak devices that would otherwise be limited to already downloaded books.
Jailbreaking bypasses Amazon’s software restrictions and lets users add custom fonts, screensavers, launchers and apps such as KOReader, which supports EPUB files and improved PDF handling.
The process typically involves blocking Wi-Fi updates, copying jailbreak .bin files by USB and installing tools such as KUAL, but compatibility varies by model and firmware version.
Those workarounds carry risks: failed installs can brick a device, unofficial apps may crash or drain battery, and modifying the software can violate Amazon’s terms even if personal jailbreaking is often not criminal.
Users who want to keep older devices usable without modifying them can still sideload books over USB, though many see jailbreaking as a way to retain control of hardware they already own.

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