Amazon Fire TV Blaster Set to Stop Working in Weeks as Support Ends 🔥
An Amazon Fire TV accessory is about to become completely unusable, after Amazon confirmed it is ending support for the device.
Customers are currently receiving emails explaining that support for the Fire TV Blaster will be switched off from 31 January. Once that happens, the device will no longer work at all.
A Rare Move from Amazon
While :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} has discontinued hardware in the past, this is one of the first times it has actively disabled a product that still works perfectly.
For comparison, the Echo Flex smart speaker was pulled from sale back in 2021, yet it continues to function today. The Fire TV Blaster, however, is heading for a full shutdown.
Amazon quietly stopped selling the Blaster last year, ending a six-year run.
What Amazon Is Telling Customers
In an email sent to owners, Amazon says that support will be discontinued in the coming weeks, after which the Fire TV Blaster will stop operating altogether.
To soften the impact, Amazon is offering affected users a discount on its premium streaming device, the Fire TV Cube.
UK customers will also receive a gift card worth the full £34.99 purchase price of the Blaster. Amazon says the credit should appear within 24 hours.
Customers are also being encouraged to send the device back to Amazon for recycling.
Why the Fire TV Blaster Is Being Dropped
According to Amazon, there is now less demand for a standalone infrared blaster because modern Fire TV devices are far more advanced.
That said, current Fire TV hardware does not include an infrared blaster built in. This means there is no direct replacement for users who relied on the Blaster to control older TVs, soundbars or AV equipment.
Not a Fan Favourite, But Still Useful
The Fire TV Blaster was never a blockbuster product, holding a modest 3.8-star rating from around 3,600 reviews on Amazon.
Even so, many users found it handy, especially in smart home setups where voice control replaced traditional remotes.
Crackdown on Illegal Streaming
The timing of this shutdown comes as Amazon steps up its efforts to tackle illegal streaming through modified Fire TV Sticks.
A recent :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} survey suggests around 1.5 million adults have streamed paid content illegally in the past six months using so-called jailbroken Fire TV devices.
Police have already carried out raids linked to illegal streaming operations, while Amazon is working with anti-piracy groups to identify unofficial apps.
Warnings Now Turning Into Blocks
Users running illegal apps on modified Fire TV devices are currently seeing on-screen warnings. Amazon says these apps can expose users to malware, scams and cyber-fraud.
While the warnings can still be dismissed for now, Amazon has confirmed they will soon be replaced by messages that block the apps entirely.
If you own a Fire TV Blaster, the clock is officially ticking.
