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The announced Fire TV app cutoff has already taken effect: since April 30, 2026, HBO Max and Discovery+ no longer provide content access on devices running Fire OS 5 or Android 5.1 and lower. It does not mean Fire TV Sticks are losing access to all streaming apps. Amazon names the Fire TV Stick 2nd Generation and Fire TV Stick Basic Edition among the affected devices; check your Stick’s model and software rather than judging by age alone.
Which streaming apps stopped working, and when?
Amazon’s staff announcement, attributing the change to Warner Bros. Discovery, names two services: HBO Max and Discovery+. The cutoff date was April 30, 2026. Amazon says the apps may remain installed, but content access ceases; new customers can no longer download them on affected devices. An app icon still appearing on your home screen does not mean the service can stream there.
The announcement describes the affected software threshold as Fire OS 5 or Android 5.1 and lower. It does not announce the removal of all streaming apps from Fire TV. Read the Amazon announcement for the service-specific notice.
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Which Fire TV Stick models are affected?
Amazon’s device information identifies these Fire TV Stick models as Fire OS 5 / Android 5.1 devices:
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- Fire TV Stick (2nd Generation): released in 2016, with sales listed through 2019.
- Fire TV Stick Basic Edition: released in 2017.
The cutoff rule is based on the operating system, not simply how old a device is. Amazon’s notice refers to Fire OS 5 devices and Android 5.1 or lower, and reports 23 affected device models in total—six Fire TV and 17 Fire Tablet models from 2014–2017. It does not identify all six Fire TV models in the notice, so do not infer that every Fire device from those years is affected. Use Amazon’s Fire TV device identification guide to check your model and generation.
How to check your Stick’s model and software
- Find the model: On your Fire TV, open Settings > My Fire TV > About and review the device information. If the labels differ on your interface, use Amazon’s device identification guide to match the model.
- Check the software version: In the same About area, look for the Fire OS version. If it reports Fire OS 5, the device falls within the threshold in Amazon’s notice.
- Compare both details with the cutoff: The specifically identified Stick models are the 2nd Generation and Basic Edition. For other devices, use the OS threshold rather than guessing from the purchase year.
Why did HBO Max and Discovery+ end support?
Amazon’s announcement says outdated security protocols and content-protection standards no longer meet the providers’ requirements, and that the affected devices cannot support modern digital rights management (DRM) or newer app features. That is the explanation given in the notice, not an independent technical assessment. The notice also characterizes continued distribution as legally impossible for Warner Bros. Discovery; that is the announcement’s wording, not a separate legal finding.
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Amazon estimates the change affects approximately 155,000 monthly users, or less than 2% of the two apps’ total users. Those are figures reported in its announcement, not independently verified counts.
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Amazon lists several ways to continue watching HBO Max and Discovery+: use HBOMax.com in a web browser, switch to a newer Fire device, or watch on a smartphone, tablet, computer, smart TV, game console, or another streaming device. Availability varies by device and region, so check that the specific screen or device supports the service where you live.
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Amazon specifically mentions a browser as an option and says Fire OS 5 tablets can use web browsers. The notice does not confirm that a browser route works on every affected Fire TV Stick, so do not assume that opening a browser on your Stick will restore access. If you already own a supported smart TV, console, phone, tablet, or computer, that may avoid buying another streaming device.
Is this the same as a Fire TV security-update cutoff?
No. App compatibility is set by the service provider, while security-update timelines describe Amazon’s software support. Amazon’s security page lists at least-through security update dates of December 31, 2029 for Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Generation) and December 31, 2030 for several newer Fire TV Stick models. Those dates do not guarantee compatibility with HBO Max, Discovery+, or any other app. See Amazon’s Fire TV software security updates page for the listed support dates.
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Was there an upgrade offer?
Amazon said affected US Fire TV customers received an email with a promo code offering a Fire TV Stick 4K Select for $9.99. This was a targeted offer reported in the announcement, not a general public price or a verified deal available now. Check any offer directly with Amazon before relying on it.
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