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Netflix Will Discontinue Support for Old Smart TVs in 2026; Samsung, LG, TCL, Panasonic, and Sony Will Have Dozens of Incompatible Models, Check the Detailed List.
Starting from 2026, millions of Smart TVs will stop running the integrated Netflix app due to not meeting the platform’s minimum technical requirements. This large-scale change has been anticipated by manufacturers and widely reported by specialized portals such as TodoCelular and Canaltech, which have consolidated lists of models that will lose access to the service.
The decision stems from hardware and software limitations: Older TVs no longer receive firmware updates and do not support the modern codecs, security protocols, and performance requirements that Netflix has begun to adopt in its latest versions.
Samsung: Dozens of Old Models Will Lose the Netflix App
Samsung, a brand with a significant presence in the Brazilian market, has already internally confirmed that older Tizen systems, particularly those produced before 2019, will be affected.
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Among the models that will no longer support the Netflix app in 2026 are historic series such as:
Televisions from the Samsung UN* line released between 2012 and 2018, specifically models like UN40J5200, UN43J5500, UN50J6200, UN55J6300, UN65J6500, and similar variants from the J6, J5, and J4 family. These devices use outdated versions of the Tizen system, lacking support for codecs like HEVC/H.265 and now AV1, which makes running the updated Netflix app impossible.
Models from the KU and MU lines produced before 2019 are also on the list. Samsung, on its support pages, emphasizes that TVs no longer receiving official firmware generally become ineligible for new applications and content service updates.
LG (WebOS): Models Produced Before 2017 Lose Netflix
LG, whose Smart TV platform is webOS, has also internally listed a series of models that will no longer receive support for Netflix in 2026.
According to data compiled from specialized publications and official LG support documentation, the LG 4K Smart TV series with webOS versions below 3.0, i.e., models launched up to 2016, are the ones most likely to stop running the app.
This includes televisions such as LG 49UH6100, LG 55UH6500, LG 49UM7300, among others that use the earlier versions of webOS and have not received subsequent updates that would bring support for modern codecs or new DRM standards required by Netflix.
TCL: Old Models with Android TV or Roku from Previous Generations Will Not Have Support
TCL, which has been growing in the Brazilian market with models equipped with Android TV or an integrated Roku interface, will also have dozens of televisions whose operating system and hardware versions make it impossible to maintain the Netflix app.
Older models, such as TCL P607, TCL P615, and older versions of the S4/S5 series launched before 2014, as well as entry-level devices with basic chips that do not support software requirements, will gradually be phased out of support.
These devices operate with outdated versions of Android TV or Roku TV that have not received updates for years, and thus simply cannot run the latest Netflix app.
Panasonic and Other Brands with Confirmed Cuts
Although not as popular as Samsung, LG, and TCL in Brazil, Panasonic and Sony have also confirmed that their old Smart TVs will lose access to Netflix. Models from Panasonic manufactured before 2019, especially those from the Panasonic Viera series with outdated systems, will no longer receive support.
In the case of Sony, which exited the Brazilian market in 2021 but whose devices are still in circulation, TVs with old versions of Android TV that have not received updates, especially those manufactured before 2018, have compromised compatibility with the latest versions of streaming applications, including Netflix.
How to Identify If Your TV Is on the Affected List
To know for sure if your specific model will lose the Netflix app in 2026, the first step is to check the manufacturing year, which can usually be found in the TV settings or on the back label.
If the TV is prior to:
- 2019 in the case of Samsung
- 2017 in the case of LG
- 2014 in the case of many TCL models
- 2019 in the case of Panasonic
- 2018 in the case of Sony
the likelihood of losing the app is high.
Additionally, the lack of firmware updates available on the manufacturer’s website for your model is a clear sign that the platform has reached the end of its useful life in terms of software—and, consequently, is likely to lose support for services like Netflix.
What Happens When the App Stops Working
When support is discontinued, the TV will continue to function normally in all its basic functions—antenna broadcasting, HDMI input, USB ports, and other applications that still run on the current system. What will stop working is the native Netflix app, which will either fail to open or display an incompatibility message.
This does not mean canceling your subscription, losing access to content on other devices, or being locked out of your account. The integrated app on the Smart TV simply will no longer be available.
How to Continue Watching Netflix If the TV Loses Support
The most viable alternative for most affected users is to connect an external streaming device. Devices like Google Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Roku Streaming Stick, as well as video game consoles connected to the TV, will continue to run the Netflix app even if the TV’s internal app stops working.
This type of device turns any television with an HDMI input into a platform compatible with the latest apps, including Netflix, Globoplay, YouTube, Prime Video, and others.
The Scenario and What It Represents for the TV Market
The decision to end support for old TVs highlights a growing phenomenon in the industry: functional software obsolescence, which occurs when a product still physically works but ceases to support crucial software updates.
In the case of Netflix, this means that rapid technological evolution—with new codecs, security standards, and greater hardware performance requirements—is reducing the practical lifespan of Smart TVs. This occurs even when the graphic processing, image quality, or physical functionalities of the device are still in good condition.
The anticipated discontinuation of Netflix support on old Smart TVs by 2026 affects dozens of models produced by the major market brands. Samsung, LG, TCL, Panasonic, and Sony have indicated that devices produced in years prior to the update cycles will lose access to the app.
For users, the change represents the need to adapt via external devices or the eventual purchase of a more modern TV, should they wish to continue using the service in an integrated manner with the television.
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