Tough times for Netflix nights on old devices. You'll have to consider an alternative if you're one of those still clinging to your trusty old Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. The world's most popular streaming platform has just confirmed that its app will no longer work on several of these Amazon models.
The devices affected by this decision are models released from 2014 onwards. This includes the original Fire TV from 2014 and the Fire TV Stick released the same year, as well as the Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote from 2016.
Starting June 3, 2025, these Fire TVs will no longer support the subscription streaming service. The announcement, discreetly sent by email to affected customers, is likely to frustrate quite a few people.
Why this major cleanup?
These devices, faithful companions for streaming evenings for over ten years, are unfortunately reaching the end of their useful life. Netflix doesn't go into details, but the most likely reason is evolving technologies. Older Fire TVs are no longer powerful enough to keep up with the platform's technical requirements. They haven't received updates from Amazon for years and simply can't handle new standards, like the AV1 codec, which ensures better image quality (especially for Premium subscribers).
In short, an "old" Fire TV no longer has the necessary hardware capabilities. And no, it is not possible to update them to make them compatible since it is a hardware issue, not a software issue.
What solutions are there to continue watching Netflix?
There are alternatives to avoid finding yourself in the lurch, starting with upgrading to a more recent Fire TV model. Amazon offers new versions like Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max released in 2023 on Fire TV Stick HD from 2024. These are the perfect replacements, compatible with the latest streaming standards.
The HD model is even establishing itself as the affordable solution of the moment to stay in the same ecosystem. It allows access to streaming in Full HD and features a quad-core chip. It supports recent video and audio formats, a configuration that can help give a second life to an aging TV.
The market is full of streaming devices, notably from Xiaomi, Apple, or Google. Finally, don't forget that you can always watch Netflix on your smartphone, tablet, Smart TV (if it's recent), or even your game console.
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