Netflix is leaving your older Apple TV
Netflix will soon end support for second and third generation Apple TV devices. This news comes from a recent email sent to users notifying them of the change.
There seems to be some confusion online as to whether this means the app will no longer work or whether the company will simply stop updating the software. However, the platform’s email seems to imply the latter. And according to a Netflix Help Center pageit is a complete discontinuation as the service will no longer be available after July 31, 2024.
The company says that support is being discontinued to ensure the “best possible Netflix viewing experience”, and we think this is probably because the hardware is quite old. The second-generation Apple TV was released 13 years ago as of this writing, and Apple even considers it and the third-generation model “vintage products.”
Both the second and third generation Apple TVs predate the release of tvOS and do not have access to the App Store. Instead, if 9To5Mac points out that the hardware was released with an accompanying set of ‘pre-installed apps’.
Over the years, other services have ended support for early Apple TV hardware. Google pulled the plug on the YouTube app in 2021, and Crunchyroll did the same thing from a few years ago. When you think about it, it’s surprising that Netflix has stuck around as long as so many of its contemporaries have already left.
Time for an upgrade
All models launched after the third generation, such as the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K, are not affected by this decision. This way you can continue watching Netflix without any problems. The older displays continue to work, albeit with limited capacity, without Netflix and other apps.
So if you’re considering an upgrade, now’s a good time to do it. Newer models of the Apple TV 4K have access to a full App Store and a Siri remote. Alternatively, Roku Streaming devices give you access to Netflix and other services, and right now there are great deals on the necessary hardware.
Of course, you’ll need a television to match a Roku box or other steamer. For recommendations, check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best TVs for 2024.