Kindle 16g what version out of the box?

tmaxkc · 01-05-2026, 11:42 AM

My well loved, 10 year old, jailbroken Kindle Voyage developed a crack in the glass and no longer can be used.

I am looking at buying a basic Kindle model but realize it may come with 5.18.6. Can anyone confirm that is true?

I don't intend to ever register it with Amazon or connect it via wifi. I will only sideload my own content via usb.

The more I read, it sounds like it may not be possible to jailbreak an unregistered new device.

Thanks for any insight.

Frogm4n · 01-05-2026, 12:13 PM

Sideloading your own content has always been possible on a Kindle. Jailbreaking doesn't help with that. All it does is allow you to block automatic updates, and run 3rd party software. That software is usually KOReader which allows you to read EPUB directly, which has nothing to do with you already being able to copy files to the Kindle.

tmaxkc · 01-05-2026, 12:18 PM

Thank you for your reply. Yes I should have specified that my MAIN need to jailbreak is for bigger/better fonts and library layout management. I had been using Koreader for a while now.

Frogm4n · 01-05-2026, 01:53 PM

You've been able to use custom fonts on Kindles for years: https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...-custom-fonts/

tmaxkc · 01-06-2026, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the replies.

If anyone else is wondering, the Kindle 11th gen 2024 that I purchased yesterday came with v5.17.1.0.4. First step I did was to copy junk files to the device to nearly fill it. Then I was able to attach it to wifi and register it w/o the device downloading/installing the current version. I have Koreader installed now.

01-05-2026, 11:42 AM	#1
tmaxkc Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Device: Kindle Voyage, many prior ereader	Kindle 16g what version out of the box? My well loved, 10 year old, jailbroken Kindle Voyage developed a crack in the glass and no longer can be used. I am looking at buying a basic Kindle model but realize it may come with 5.18.6. Can anyone confirm that is true? I don't intend to ever register it with Amazon or connect it via wifi. I will only sideload my own content via usb. The more I read, it sounds like it may not be possible to jailbreak an unregistered new device. Thanks for any insight. Last edited by tmaxkc; 01-05-2026 at 11:44 AM. Reason: hit enter too soon

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01-05-2026, 12:13 PM	#2
Frogm4n Fanatic Posts: 562 Karma: 4015251 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Scribe 2022, OA2, PRS-350	Sideloading your own content has always been possible on a Kindle. Jailbreaking doesn't help with that. All it does is allow you to block automatic updates, and run 3rd party software. That software is usually KOReader which allows you to read EPUB directly, which has nothing to do with you already being able to copy files to the Kindle.

01-05-2026, 12:18 PM	#3
tmaxkc Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Device: Kindle Voyage, many prior ereader	Thank you for your reply. Yes I should have specified that my MAIN need to jailbreak is for bigger/better fonts and library layout management. I had been using Koreader for a while now.

01-05-2026, 01:53 PM	#4
Frogm4n Fanatic Posts: 562 Karma: 4015251 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Scribe 2022, OA2, PRS-350	You've been able to use custom fonts on Kindles for years: https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...-custom-fonts/

01-06-2026, 10:40 AM	#5
tmaxkc Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: TX Device: Kindle Voyage, many prior ereader	Thanks for the replies. If anyone else is wondering, the Kindle 11th gen 2024 that I purchased yesterday came with v5.17.1.0.4. First step I did was to copy junk files to the device to nearly fill it. Then I was able to attach it to wifi and register it w/o the device downloading/installing the current version. I have Koreader installed now.