Amazon is rolling out a major update to block apps that allow users to illegally stream content on the Fire TV Stick, according to new reports from The Athletic. The clampdown affects both new and existing Fire TV devices and has already started in France and Germany, with a global rollout planned over the next few weeks.
For years, the Fire TV Stick and similar plug-in streaming devices have been popular among users looking for cheaper access to sports and entertainment. Unauthorized third-party apps can be sideloaded onto these devices, allowing access to illegal streaming platforms at little or no cost. These apps often bypass location restrictions, and some users combine them with VPNs to access blocked content.
However, Amazon’s new system-level block aims to shut down this loophole entirely. Once the update rolls out, Fire TV devices will automatically block apps identified as providing pirated content including apps downloaded from outside the Amazon Appstore. This means many popular hacks and sideloaded tools will simply stop working.
The move comes just weeks after Amazon launched the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which runs on Linux instead of the more easily modified Android base used in older models. The new stick includes stronger security features and limits app installation to only those approved in Amazon’s Appstore.
In a statement shared with The Athletic, Amazon said:
“Piracy is illegal and we’ve always worked to block it from our app store… We’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our app store. This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses and fraud.”
A recent YouGov Sport survey also highlights why Amazon is taking action. The report shows that around 4.7 million UK adults roughly 9% admitted to illegally streaming sports in 2025. Fire TV Sticks were the second most common method for accessing pirated sports content, right behind unauthorized websites.
With streaming piracy continuing to grow, Amazon’s global ban marks one of the company’s biggest steps yet in tightening control over its streaming ecosystem.
