Firmware Update Kindle 5.20.1 software is available

Knightreader · 10-08-2026, 03:41 AM

New firmware for
- Scribe
- Colorsoft 1
- Paperwhite 12
- Kindle 11 (2024)

https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/custom...MQC26VQQMM8XSW

Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

Josieb1 · 10-08-2026, 07:16 AM

Just a warning but on three of my kindles when I manually installed the software it showed an empty library afterwards. I had to restart them to get my library back.

rantanplan · 10-08-2026, 08:31 AM

Didn't they use to provide updates for older devices longer or am I just misremembering?

JSWolf · 10-08-2026, 11:20 AM

What surprises me is that Amazon would leave the 11th gen PW5 (6.8" screen) with such a poor firmware. It should have had an update.

dandaman · 10-08-2026, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What surprises me is that Amazon would leave the 11th gen PW6 (6.8" screen) with such a poor firmware. It should have had an update.

I'm pretty sure that's a PW5

Archibald Yates · 10-08-2026, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What surprises me is that Amazon would leave the 11th gen PW6 (6.8" screen) with such a poor firmware. It should have had an update.

Indeed. And at the same time they don't include it among the Kindles eligible for the special upgrade.

dandaman · 10-08-2026, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Didn't they use to provide updates for older devices longer or am I just misremembering?

Yes, I believe so. My PW3 from 2015 got 5.16.2.1.1 from 2023, which is quite good compared to this

Frogm4n · 10-08-2026, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Didn't they use to provide updates for older devices longer or am I just misremembering?

They have, but they only guarantee security updates for a 4 year period. They don't make any guarantees on feature and version updates.

DNSB · 10-08-2026, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandaman

Yes, I believe so. My PW3 from 2015 got 5.16.2.1.1 from 2023, which is quite good compared to this

As far as I've been able to tell, the last .1.1 firmware updates for older Kindles were to harden KFX DRM with no other benefit visible.

tomsem · 10-08-2026, 10:04 PM

For the new Scribes:

microphone is enabled for dictation to text (when it rolls out, I'm not seeing it yet)
you can make Sticky Notes for print replica and maybe fixed layout-with-text (have not tried that yet).

Bug fixes (that I've verified:

Automatic time/date is working (sets proper time zone

There are still a couple of Theme issues, I thought one was fixed but nope.

I was hoping it would pair with generic BT page turner (foot pedal), but no luck with that yet.
I'm curious if the Kindle Click will work with non Kindle devices (for page turns, brightness control unlikely to work).

Josieb1 · Yesterday, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

For the new Scribes:

microphone is enabled for dictation to text (when it rolls out, I'm not seeing it yet)

I have the microphone on my scribe keypad but I did have to reset my kindle after I added the update.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandaman

I'm pretty sure that's a PW5

Yes it is a PW5. Thanks for catching my mistake.

tomsem · Yesterday, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I have the microphone on my scribe keypad but I did have to reset my kindle after I added the update.

I had to enable Microphone in Device settings, it is there now.

10-08-2026, 03:41 AM	#1
Knightreader Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 2345678 Join Date: Nov 2018 Device: 1. Kindle PW 6, 2. Kobo Forma	Kindle 5.20.1 software is available New firmware for - Scribe - Colorsoft 1 - Paperwhite 12 - Kindle 11 (2024) https://www.amazon.de/gp/help/custom...MQC26VQQMM8XSW Performance improvements, bug fixes, and other general enhancements.

10-08-2026, 11:20 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 85,273 Karma: 154365101 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What surprises me is that Amazon would leave the 11th gen PW5 (6.8" screen) with such a poor firmware. It should have had an update. Last edited by JSWolf; Yesterday at 11:45 AM.

10-08-2026, 10:04 PM	#10
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,255 Karma: 28183005 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPad Mini, Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle Scribe Colorsoft	For the new Scribes: microphone is enabled for dictation to text (when it rolls out, I'm not seeing it yet) you can make Sticky Notes for print replica and maybe fixed layout-with-text (have not tried that yet). Bug fixes (that I've verified: Automatic time/date is working (sets proper time zone There are still a couple of Theme issues, I thought one was fixed but nope. I was hoping it would pair with generic BT page turner (foot pedal), but no luck with that yet. I'm curious if the Kindle Click will work with non Kindle devices (for page turns, brightness control unlikely to work). Last edited by tomsem; Yesterday at 02:17 PM.

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10-08-2026, 07:16 AM	#2
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,311 Karma: 20000412 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Scribe CS, CS, PW, K6 26, Kobo Elipsa 2e, Libra Colour/2, ClaraBW	Just a warning but on three of my kindles when I manually installed the software it showed an empty library afterwards. I had to restart them to get my library back.

10-08-2026, 08:31 AM	#3
rantanplan Weirdo Posts: 1,347 Karma: 13516840 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Kobo Libra 2, Tolino Vision Color, reMarkable PaperPro	Didn't they use to provide updates for older devices longer or am I just misremembering?