Roku has been making streaming devices for nearly two decades, and in that time it’s become one of the biggest 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 is no longer my main streaming device as I am upgrading to one Year Ultrabut my premiere is still going strong on the TV in my spare room, doing exactly what I need: 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 would be using it for so long. Looking back, it was a great investment though.
However, since Roku has been in the streaming market since 2008, not every device it makes still gets support. Many Roku devices have effectively achieved theirs expiration date. Not because they’ve completely stopped working, but because Roku no longer supports them, which means their app availability, performance, and overall reliability may not be what they once were.
If you have an older Roku, it may have already reached that point. Here’s how Roku software support works and how you can tell if your Roku’s time is up.
Roku doesn’t support its devices forever
Older Rokus that are no longer supported are considered “legacy” devices
Roku doesn’t guarantee an exact support timeline for its devices or offer a specific date for when they might become “legacy,” meaning they’ll no longer be supported. However, on average, most Roku devices get about 7 to 10 years of support.
That said, while Roku doesn’t offer a definitive support timeline, it does organize its devices into three categories, making it easy to see where each one stands: Current, Update, and Legacy.
Up to date means that Roku is still actively manufacturing and fully supporting the device with the latest Roku OS software updates. In other words, these are the devices in Roku’s current lineup, such as the Roku Streaming Stick HD (2025), Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025), Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021), and Roku Ultra (2024).
Updateable Devices are no longer manufactured by Roku, but they can still receive the latest Roku OS updates. So, while they have been discontinued, they are not yet obsolete.
Then there is Legacy. These devices have been completely discontinued and will no longer receive Roku OS updates. Simply put, they have reached their expiration date.
Currently, Roku considers 20 devices legacy, consisting primarily of its much older streaming sticks and set-top boxes (via Roku Support). Here are all of them:
device name | Model number |
|---|---|
Roku DVP | N1000 |
Year SD | N1050 |
Roku HD | N1100 |
Roku HD-XR | N1101 |
Roku HD | 2000 c |
Year XD | 2050X, 2050N |
Year XD | 2100X, 2100N |
Year LT | 24 00x |
Roku 2 HD | 3000x |
Year 2 XD | 3050x |
Year 2 XS | 31 00x |
Year LT | 2450x |
Roku HD | 2500x |
Roku Streaming Stick | 3400X, 3420X |
Year LT | 27 00x |
Year 1, Year SE | 2710x |
Year 2 | 2720x |
Roku Streaming Stick | 3500x |
year 4 | 44 00x |
8K Roku TV | E000X |
QuizRoku streaming devices
Trivia challenge
From its humble beginnings in your living room – how well do you really know Roku?
HistoryHardwareFunctionsStreamingFounder
In what year was Roku founded?
Right! Roku was founded in 2008 by Anthony Wood, who previously founded ReplayTV. The company launched its first streaming player the same year it was founded, making it a pivotal moment in streaming history.
Not quite. Roku was founded in 2008 by Anthony Wood. It launched its very first streaming device that same year, just months after the company was founded, which was remarkably fast for a hardware startup.
Who is the founder and CEO of Roku?
Right! Anthony Wood founded Roku in 2008 and has served as CEO since then. Before Roku, he founded ReplayTV, one of the first digital video recorder companies, giving him deep roots in home entertainment technology.
Not quite. The answer is Anthony Wood. He founded Roku in 2008 after previously founding ReplayTV. Reed Hastings is associated with Netflix, while Tony Fadell is known as the key figure behind the iPod and Nest.
Roku was originally spun off from which major streaming company?
Right! Roku began as an internal project at Netflix, which invested in the company and helped shape its early direction. Netflix eventually decided to spin it off as a separate company to avoid competing with other device manufacturers who might not want to carry a Netflix-branded box.
Not quite. Roku was actually spun off by Netflix. Netflix funded and incubated the project before deciding it was better to keep the streaming device market open and neutral rather than launch a Netflix-branded player that could alienate other hardware partners.
What was the name of Roku’s very first streaming device launched in 2008?
Right! The Roku DVP N1000, also known as the Roku Digital Video Player, was the company’s debut product. It was launched in May 2008 at a price of $99 and could stream Netflix content directly to your TV – a truly groundbreaking feature at the time.
Not quite. The first Roku device was the Roku DVP N1000, which was launched in May 2008. Priced at $99, it was designed primarily for streaming Netflix and helped pioneer the idea of a dedicated, affordable streaming box for the living room.
What’s the name of Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming channel built right into its platform?
Right! The Roku Channel launched in 2017 and offers thousands of free, ad-supported movies and TV shows. It has since become one of the most watched channels on the Roku platform and is also available on other devices and on the Internet.
Not quite. The correct answer is The Roku Channel, which was launched in 2017. It offers free, ad-supported content and has become a big part of Roku’s business strategy, helping the company earn revenue beyond just hardware sales.
Roku’s business model relies heavily on which of the following revenue streams?
Right! While Roku sells hardware, its primary revenue engine is its platform business, which includes advertising, revenue sharing with streaming partners, and The Roku Channel. This platform-first approach is what makes Roku more than just a device manufacturer.
Not quite. Roku makes the majority of its money from its platform business, which includes advertising and revenue-sharing arrangements with streaming services. Hardware sales are actually sold at low margins, with the real profit keeping users engaged on the platform.
Which of the following form factors did Roku introduce to make streaming even more portable and discreet?
Right! Roku has introduced the Roku Streaming Stick, a compact dongle that plugs directly into a TV’s HDMI port. It was a game changer for portability, making it easy to turn any modern TV into a smart TV without a bulky box sitting on your shelf.
Not quite. Roku launched the Roku Streaming Stick, a small dongle that plugs directly into an HDMI port. This compact form factor has made Roku devices much more discreet and portable, competing directly with the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
In what year did Roku go public on the Nasdaq stock market?
Right! Roku went public on September 28, 2017 and traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ROKU. Its IPO was considered a huge success, and the stock rose significantly in the months that followed, reflecting strong investor confidence in the streaming market.
Not quite. Roku held its IPO on September 28, 2017, listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker ROKU. The offer was well received by investors and marked a major milestone in the company’s journey from a Netflix spin-off to a publicly traded streaming powerhouse.
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How to find out if your Roku has expired
If it’s been a while since you bought your Roku, and you’re not quite sure what its device name or model number is, luckily there’s an easy way to find out right in your device’s settings menu. Here’s how:
1. From the Roku homepage, go to Settings.
2. Navigate to System > About.
3. Look for it Modelwhich lists the model number and name of your device.
Once you have found the model number and name of your device, you can cross it with the table above. If your Roku is one of the devices listed as legacy, Roku has stopped updating it. This means it won’t get new features, some apps may stop working, and its overall performance may not be as good as it was.
If your Roku’s model number doesn’t match one of those listed as legacy, that means it’s either classified as updatable or current. In both cases, Roku still supports your device with the latest versions of Roku OS, which means you’ll still get new features, up-to-date app support, and performance improvements.
…once your Roku is classified as legacy, it will still work, but your overall streaming experience probably won’t be what it once was. And that’s when it’s time to start an upgrade.
Chances are, if you bought your Roku in the last year or two, it’s classified as Current, which means your device will continue to receive Roku OS updates for a long time. On the other hand, if you bought it a few years ago, Roku may have since stopped manufacturing it, meaning it’s now classified as updateable, and its software support could be limited to just a few more years, or possibly less. If you’re curious about which category your Roku falls into, you can check out the full list of Current and Updateable devices on the Roku Support page.
All things considered, Roku does a pretty good job of supporting its devices with new software updates for a long time. For the most part, it’s really only devices released more than a decade ago that have stopped receiving support. That said, if your Roku is classified as legacy, it will still work, but your overall streaming experience probably won’t be what it once was. And that’s when it’s time to start an upgrade.