Update your Kindle now, or it will stop working

Owners of Kindle devices who haven’t installed the necessary software updates now run the risk of losing access to their device. Amazon is currently sending emails to customers who purchased one of a number of older Kindle devices with instructions to connect their device to Wi-Fi and update immediately to continue using Kindle ebook reader services.

According to Amazon, the update is required in order to keep specific Kindle devices “up-to-date with continuously evolving industry web standards;” like the various small security updates that Windows 7 customers continue to receive, this Kindle software update is of the no-frills variety, and will be unnoticeable to most.

Here’s a list of the devices Amazon describes as being in critical need of an update, and the software version that you’ll need at bare minimum:

• Kindle Keyboard (3rd gen) – 3.4.2
• Kindle (4th gen) – 4.1.3
• Kindle (5th gen) – 4.1.3
• Kindle Touch (4th gen) – 5.3.7.3 
• Kindle Paperwhite (5th gen) – 5.6.1.1
• Kindle Paperwhite (6th gen) – 5.4.5.1

You can check your version number on most devices by navigating to Home | Menu | Settings; the number should be at the bottom of the page. Provided your Kindle is connected to Wi-Fi, and has enough juice for the task, the update should install automatically.

If the update hasn’t installed automatically, you can prompt your Kindle to search for an update on command by navigating to Home | Menu | Sync and check for items. Make sure that your Kindle is connected to power and Wi-Fi, if that wasn’t abundantly clear.

As of 1 October, you will need to update your Kindle before you can access any Kindle services – that includes purchasing new ebooks. Don’t stifle the bookworm; update today.