On December 1, 2019, thousands of Samsung Smart TV and Roku owners are all going to start wondering the same thing: Why did the Netflix Roku and Netflix Samsung apps stop working? Here’s what’s going on and why it might be time to buy a new TV or Roku.
Netflix On Samsung Smart TV Not Working? Netflix on Roku Not Working Either? Here’s Why…
In early November 2019, it was reported that Netflix will stop supporting some older Samsung Smart TV devices after December 1, 2019. Although Netflix didn’t immediately provide a list of which hardware that they plan to sunset support for, customers with older Samsung TVs should check Netflix’s page of compatible devices for more details.
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Older Roku models will also be impacted. The specific Roku devices that will lose Netflix support include the Roku HD Player, Roku SD Player, Roku 2050X, Roku 2000C, Roku 2100X, and Roku XR Player.
Why It’s Necessary To Sunset Both The Netflix Roku And Netflix Samsung Apps For Older Hardware Devices
You might have already experienced a similar situation like this before on your computer or smartphone. As hardware devices get older, it becomes more difficult for app developers to maintain compatibility on these devices while still adding new features for newer devices.
I typically try to hang on to my phones and computers as long as possible. It’s only after I run into issues with apps that stop working because of the age of my OS or hardware that I start looking at buying a new phone or laptop.
Alternative Solutions For Netflix Subscribers With Older Samsung TV and Roku Devices?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do besides upgrading your devices. There’s no easy way to hack your Samsung TV or manually upgrade the Netflix app yourself. The same goes for a Roku box. You can’t hack the Netflix Roku app and make it upgrade.
But the good news is that your Netflix Roku problem is easy to solve. Upgrading your older Roku is easy and affordable. And a new Roku Express ($24.99; affiliate link) is even compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Buying a new TV just to watch Netflix is a harder purchase to justify, especially if your older TV still works perfectly fine. As an owner of two Samsung TVs from 2007, I look forward to replacing them someday to take advantage of some of the new features in more modern TVs. But right now, they still both work perfectly fine. Even though new Smart TVs are more affordable than they have ever been, I’ll hold out a little longer. Maybe even wait for the new ATSC 3.0 compatible Next Gen TV models coming out next year.
If you’re not ready to replace your older Samsung TV, then just buy a Connected TV device like an Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV or Roku. Not only will they give you access to Netflix, but hundreds of other apps and features.
NERD NOTE: Netflix founder and CEO, Reed Hastings, first got the idea for Netflix after he was charged a $40 late fee in 1997 after renting the film Apollo 13 on VHS.
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