Live NetTV v5.0Short answer: BBC iPlayer works on an Android TV or Google TV box only if the BBC has certified that model. Many boxes run Android TV well but are not on the BBC's list. Until 2026, people on those boxes often sideloaded the iPlayer app and it worked anyway. That is no longer reliable.
What changed in 2026
In July 2026, as reported by AFTVnews, the BBC updated its iPlayer app for Android TV and Google TV so that it checks whether the device is on the BBC's list of certified models. On uncertified devices running a sideloaded copy, iPlayer started showing a message that it would stop working on 30 September 2026. The message could at first be dismissed with a “Continue to iPlayer” button, which was expected to be removed after the deadline.
According to the same report, installing a different or newer official version of the app does not get rid of the message. The check is about the device, not the app version.
Which boxes are affected?
Any Android TV or Google TV device that is not on the BBC's certified list, where iPlayer was sideloaded instead of installed from the Play Store. AFTVnews named popular devices from Nvidia, Onn, TCL, Thomson and Xiaomi among those missing from the list, although some TCL, Thomson and Xiaomi models are certified. Unbranded Android TV boxes bought online are rarely certified.
Devices the BBC does certify include Amazon Fire TV, Roku and NOW TV, Google's own devices, Apple TV, Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV boxes, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles, along with many smart TV brands.
How to check your box
- Search the Play Store on the box itself. Open Google Play on the TV and search for BBC iPlayer. If it is not offered, your box is very likely not certified for it.
- Check the BBC's list. The “Supported devices” page in BBC iPlayer help lists certified models brand by brand. Find your box's exact model number in its settings, under Settings › System › About (the menu name varies), and look for it there.
- Watch for the message. If iPlayer shows a warning that it will stop working on your device, the box is not on the list.
What to do if your box is not certified
- Use another device you already own. A games console, a Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV box, or your smart TV's own iPlayer app may already work. The BBC suggests checking these first.
- Add a cheap certified streaming stick. Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Google's streaming devices all run iPlayer and plug into the same HDMI port as your box.
- Consider a Freely box. Freely boxes such as the Netgem Pleio bring iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and Channel 5 together in one guide. See where Freely works.
- Cast from your phone. The iPlayer app on a phone or tablet can cast to a Chromecast or Google TV device that supports casting.
Frequently asked questions
Why does iPlayer say it will stop working on my Android TV box?
Your box is not on the BBC's list of certified devices. The BBC only supports certified devices and now checks for them in the app.
Will a newer iPlayer APK fix it?
No. The check is about the device model, so any version of the official app shows the same message on an uncertified box. On Chromecast and Google TV devices, though, updating from the Play Store does fix the message.
Does a VPN help?
No. A VPN changes where your connection appears to come from, not which device you are using. Outside the UK, iPlayer is not available at all.
Is a Fire TV Stick certified for iPlayer?
Yes. Amazon Fire TV devices appear on the BBC's certified list, and iPlayer installs from the Amazon Appstore.
Do I need a TV Licence for iPlayer?
Yes. You need a TV Licence to watch or download any programme on BBC iPlayer, live or on demand.