While it might not feel like it, your first-generation Apple TV 4K is closing in on a decade old. While yours might be like mine and still work, it’s clear the writing is on the wall. This December, Disney+ will stop working on some of the old devices, including the first-gen 4K model. It’s not time to panic, however, as all you have to do is go into the settings and hit a few buttons to make sure your device keeps the app.
According to Disney, you’ll have to be on a device that supports at least tvOS 16 or later. This means everything from the Apple TV fourth-gen and on should still work once the cutoff date arrives and that all three generations of Apple TV 4K are safe as well. The original three Apple TV devices were discontinued by the time a Disney+ app ever existed. Although most of the models are still supported, you still have to make sure you’re keeping your tvOS up to date. I updated my first-gen Apple TV 4K to tvOS 26 and noticed no changes whatsoever, so I don’t blame you if you don’t think much about it if your device doesn’t see any changes. It’s easy to forget about these updates, but now there’s an important reason to stay up to date if you haven’t. If you haven’t or won’t update, you can always use the Disney+ app on your smart TV or something else to make sure nothing’s interrupted.
It might be time for an upgrade
Open your wallet, or wait
I’ve been trying to leave behind my first-gen Apple TV 4K for a while now, and I keep pushing it back based on the rumors of a fourth-gen 4K model dropping soon. Going to a third-gen model would be a big upgrade for me, and I’d finally be able to see what the fuss about Liquid Glass is all about, but I’d rather get the newest product than buy something that’s already three years old. The problem is that I don’t know if a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K is coming this year. Rumors seem to indicate it’s right around the corner, but these same rumors have been saying that all year.
The Apple TV 4K is already the most expensive streaming box by a significant margin, and considering it hardly goes on sale, that gap widens even further around Black Friday. Fortunately, this Disney+ change isn’t forcing anybody into a premature upgrade as long as they stay up-to-date with their tvOS changes, but it’s clear some of these older models are closer to the end of their lives than we might think. At least I don’t have to rush out and get a model in December.
