HBO Max has updated its device requirements to require Fire OS 6 or later on Amazon Fire TV devices, a change that could cut off users running Fire OS 5 — a version found on many Fire TV models sold between 2015 and 2020. The change was spotted by AFTVnews, which noted the streaming service’s support page now lists “Amazon Fire TV devices with Fire OS 6 or later [or] Vega OS 1 or later” as the minimum for compatibility.
That shift affects widely sold hardware such as the second-generation Fire TV Stick, and AFTVnews warns that “this likely leaves millions of Fire TV devices still in use with no way to access one of the most popular streaming services.” Users on Fire OS 5 who rely on HBO Max for new shows or upcoming spin-offs may find the app inaccessible unless they upgrade their device.
HBO’s support wording explicitly references Vega OS — Amazon’s newer TV operating system — alongside Fire OS 6, signalling that devices running Vega OS 1 or later remain supported. Amazon does provide security and performance updates for older hardware but, as the company has typically done, it rarely issues major OS version upgrades for legacy devices, making a software fix unlikely for many owners.
The move follows a broader trend: Netflix ended support for some first‑generation Fire TV devices in 2025 because newer video formats and platform requirements left older hardware unable to run the app. For consumers, that pattern means ageing streaming sticks and boxes are increasingly at risk of losing app support as services raise minimum OS requirements.
Practically, affected users can replace their device with a newer Fire TV running Vega OS or consider alternatives such as Roku. Newer models often appear in sales, though offers vary; buyers should compare features and prices before upgrading. Amazon’s shift to Vega OS also reduces the ability to sideload apps, a change that both limits unofficial streaming and nudges users toward newer, more controlled hardware.
Original Source: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/streaming-devices/millions-of-amazon-fire-tv-devices-will-lose-support-for-hbo-max
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Publish Date: 2026-05-06 17:30:00
