Roku has been making streaming devices for nearly two decades, and in that time, it’s become one of the largest streaming platforms on the planet. And it’s not hard to see why. Roku’s devices are affordable and, most importantly, reliable. All you have to do is plug one into your TV’s HDMI port, and it instantly transforms any TV, new or old, into a streaming powerhouse that’s easy for anyone to use.
I bought my first Roku over a decade ago, the Roku Premiere, and to this day, it still works like a charm. It’s no longer my main streaming device, since I’ve upgraded to a Roku Ultra, but my Premiere is still going strong on the TV in my spare bedroom, doing exactly what I need it to: basic 4K streaming. And to my amazement, even 8 years later, Roku is still updating it. When I bought it back in 2018, I never imagined I’d still be using it for so long. Looking back, though, it’s been a great investment.
However, because Roku has been in the streaming market since 2008, not every device it’s made is still receiving support. Plenty of Roku devices have effectively reached their expiration date. Not because they’ve stopped working entirely, but because Roku no longer supports them, meaning their app availability, performance, and overall reliability may not be what they once were.
If you have an older Roku, it might have already reached that point. Here’s how Roku’s software support works and how to tell if your Roku’s time is up.
Roku doesn’t support its devices forever
Older Rokus that aren’t supported anymore are considered “Legacy” devices
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