If you are about to buy a Fire TV Stick specifically to run IPTV apps, Downloader, or anything sideloaded, there is one question that matters more than price or 4K support: is the model you are looking at running Fire OS or Vega OS? This page exists because Amazon’s own UK listings do not make that distinction obvious, and getting it wrong means buying a stick that cannot do the one thing you bought it for.
What Vega OS actually is
Vega OS is a new, Linux-based operating system Amazon has started shipping on some newer, cheaper Fire TV Stick models, replacing the Android-based Fire OS that every previous stick has used. This is not a restricted or cut-down version of sideloading — on the current Vega OS models, there is no “Apps from Unknown Sources” toggle at all, and no Downloader app in the Amazon Appstore for that device. Fire OS and Vega OS apps are built differently, so an APK made for one will not simply run on the other.
Which current models are affected
Based on the most recent reporting available, Amazon has introduced Vega OS on its newest, lowest-cost stick refreshes — including a 2025-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Select and a 2026-generation Fire TV Stick HD. Higher-tier and older models, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube, have continued running Fire OS as of the most recent information available. This is a fast-moving rollout, not a settled list — treat this page as a living tracker rather than a permanent answer, and always check the specific listing’s generation and release year before buying if sideloading matters to you. We update this page as Amazon’s rollout changes.
How to check before you buy
Amazon’s UK product pages do not currently flag “Vega OS” as a headline spec. The most reliable signals are the generation year in the listing title and, where available, customer Q&A or reviews mentioning whether Developer Options or Downloader are present in the settings menu. If in doubt, buying the previous-generation Fire OS model — usually still on sale alongside the newer one — is the safer choice for anyone who needs sideloading. See our full model guide for how this fits into the wider buying decision.
If you already own a Fire OS stick
There is no confirmed evidence that Amazon is force-updating existing Fire OS devices to Vega OS. The rollout so far has applied to new hardware being sold, not a software update pushed to sticks already in people’s homes. That is Amazon’s current approach, not a lifetime guarantee, so it is worth avoiding unnecessary “helpful” system updates on a stick you rely on for sideloaded apps until you have seen how the rollout develops.
What this means for IPTV specifically
IPTV apps such as TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro are typically installed via sideloading on Fire OS devices. On a Vega OS device, that install path does not currently exist. If IPTV is the main reason you are buying a stick, a confirmed Fire OS model is the only reliable choice today — once you have one, our IPTV setup guide covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vega OS in simple terms?
A new operating system Amazon is using on some newer, cheaper Fire TV Stick models, built on Linux rather than Android. It looks similar on the home screen but works differently underneath, and it does not currently support sideloading apps from outside the Amazon Appstore.
Can I still sideload apps on my current Firestick?
If your stick is already running Fire OS, yes — nothing about Vega OS changes what your existing device can already do. The concern is only for new purchases of the specific newer models that ship with Vega OS.
Will my older Firestick be forced onto Vega OS through an update?
Not based on any confirmed evidence available at the time of writing. Amazon’s rollout so far is on new hardware only. This page will be updated if that changes.
I think I already bought a Vega OS model by mistake — is there a workaround?
Not currently, for sideloading specifically. If IPTV or sideloaded apps are the main reason you bought the stick, the most reliable option is to return it within Amazon’s standard returns window and buy a confirmed Fire OS model instead, or check our model guide for an alternative.
If you cannot find the Developer Options menu at all on your stick, see: Fire TV Developer Options missing or greyed out fix.