Fire TV Stick Users have been getting emails from Netflix warning that the app will stop working on their devices. The email is real as it carries the streaming platform's official address. It confirms that as of June the app will no longer be supported on select Fire TV devices.
There’s no public announcements from Netflix for now. But if you’re still using one of those older models, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer streaming device to keep watching.
Netflix is leaving these Fire TV Sticks for good
Netflix will officially stop working on the following devices starting June 3, 2025:
- Fire TV (2014).
- Fire TV Stick (2014).
- Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (2016).
These devices are all considered first-generation Fire TV models. They are the earliest versions of the product line built with older processors, less memory, and without support for the newer technologies that today’s streaming apps rely on. The original Fire TV launched in 2014 as Amazon’s entry into the streaming box market and it offered a small square device that plugged into your TV via HDMI.
That same year, they released the Fire TV Stick, which is a more compact and affordable version that's shaped like a USB drive. It was designed to bring smart features to older TVs over Wi-Fi. In 2016, Amazon upgraded the Stick by adding Alexa voice control, but it still ran on first-gen hardware architecture.
These devices lack support for the AOMedia Video 1 codec AKA the AV1 codec and more modern standards, which is what Netflix is now prioritizing and it's the reason they're dropping support. Codecs are virtually behind every video you stream online and are the invisible engines that compress and decompress that video in real time. In this case, the AV1 codec is the latest and most efficient engine that's built to deliver high-quality video at lower bitrates.
What's next for Fire TV Stick users?
If you’re using one of the affected Fire TV devices, your device isn’t useless. You can still access dozens of apps, including YouTube, Prime Video, Plex, and Spotify. These devices will continue to function for most streaming needs.
However, if Netflix is your main source of entertainment, then you’ll need to upgrade. Since codecs aren’t tightly linked to the hardware that decodes them, no amount of software updates can make them compatible.
If you choose to switch to another device, ensure that it's a newer model like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which supports the AV1 codec and offers faster performance overall. It launched in October 2023, and has several more years ahead of it.
It has a fast 2.0GHz quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 6E, and 16GB of storage, along with support for 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and the inclusion of an HDMI extender for tight TV ports. It’s easy to set up and currently selling for $40. Switching to another brand entirely is also an option. Chromecast with Google TV will work and Roku has announced new streaming sticks that should too.
