Fire TV devices sold through 2020 are losing the HBO Max app, mainly as a result of Amazon's decision to end software support.
Specifically, this affects older Fire TV devices still running Fire OS 5. HBO Max has raised its minimum requirement from Fire OS 5 to Fire OS 6, according to a report by AFTVNews.
- "Since Amazon never updates its Fire TV devices from one Fire OS version to another, this likely leaves millions of Fire TV devices still in use with no way to access one of the most popular streaming services," wrote AFTVNews.
Millions of devices
It is estimated to affect millions of Fire TV devices still in use, including the popular 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick.
These are the same Fire TV devices that Amazon ended support for a couple of years ago, which has led to a lawsuit claiming that Amazon has 'bricked' them.
The Netflix app stopped working on these same devices in June 2025, and we expect the number of supported streaming apps to dwindle quickly. If you own one, you should start looking for an alternative such as Apple TV 4K or Google TV Streamer.
Also read: Amazon's first Fire TV device with Vega OS is a downgrade
Amazon is also looking to move beyond its Android-based Fire OS, switching to its own Linux-based Vega OS, which powers all new Fire TV sticks and players (but not TVs). All streaming apps must be rewritten to run on Vega OS.
- Source: AFTVNews
