Hey tech enthusiasts! There’s some not-so-great news for those of you still rocking the original Amazon Fire TV devices from way back when. Netflix has announced that they’re pulling the plug on support for several older Fire TV models starting June 2, 2025.
Which Devices Are Affected?
If you’ve received an email from Netflix that says something like “According to our usage data, you’ve used Netflix on a first-generation Fire TV streaming media player in the past 12 months. Netflix will discontinue support for these streaming media players on June 2, 2025,” then unfortunately, your device is on the chopping block.
Specifically, the affected models include:
- First-generation Fire TV
- First-generation Fire TV Stick
- Fire TV model with voice remote
These devices all hit the market back in 2014 and have already been without guaranteed software and security updates for several years now. Typically, Amazon provides software support for Fire TV devices for about four years after the product is last available for purchase on Amazon.
Why Is Netflix Dropping Support?
While Netflix hasn’t explicitly stated their reasoning for ending support, there are some pretty strong clues pointing to technical limitations. Since 2021, Netflix has been increasingly favoring the more modern AV1 codec, which these older devices simply cannot support.
This codec isn’t just a minor upgrade – it compresses video more efficiently, meaning better-looking streams at the same bit rate or the same quality at lower bandwidth. Plus, because AV1 is an open format, there are no licensing fees attached to it. Unfortunately, this codec can’t be added to the older devices through a simple software update – the hardware just isn’t compatible.
What Amazon Has to Say
According to Amazon, these aging devices are only being used by “a small group of customers.” They note that most Fire TV users have moved on to newer models that won’t be affected by Netflix’s decision.
The good news is that you’ll still be able to use other streaming services on your old Fire TV device – it’s just Netflix access that’s going away. And if you’re one of the folks still using Netflix on these devices, Amazon is offering a bit of a silver lining: “Customers who still use Netflix on these devices can receive a discount on a newer Fire TV Stick.” To take advantage of this offer, you’ll need to contact Amazon’s customer service.
Not the First Time Netflix Has Cut Off Older Devices
If this situation sounds familiar, that’s because it’s not unprecedented. Earlier this year, in early 2024, Netflix discontinued support for Sony televisions manufactured between 2011 and 2013. This appears to be part of a broader trend of phasing out support for hardware that can’t keep up with Netflix’s evolving technical requirements.
What Are Your Options?
If you’re affected by this change, you’ve got a few options:
- Take advantage of Amazon’s discount offer and upgrade to a newer Fire TV device
- Consider other streaming device options available on the market
- Continue using your current device for other streaming services that still support it
While it’s always frustrating when perfectly functional tech gets left behind by software support decisions, the silver lining is that newer streaming devices have come down significantly in price since 2014 while offering much better performance and features.
Have you been using Netflix on one of these older Fire TV devices? Time to start thinking about an upgrade before June rolls around!
