Amazon launches Vega OS on new Fire Stick, bans sideloading

Amazon announced that its newest Fire Stick devices will run Vega OS, a proprietary Linux-based operating system that blocks the installation of sideloaded applications. According to Ars Technica, the company said the change is aimed at reducing malware risk and giving Amazon tighter control over advertising and feature delivery on the streaming sticks. Vega OS replaces the Android-based platform used in earlier Fire Stick models and prevents users from installing apps from sources outside Amazon’s official store.

Amazon executive Aidan Marcuss emphasized that the security benefits outweigh the loss of flexibility for power users who previously relied on sideloading. The move marks a shift toward a more closed ecosystem for the popular streaming hardware, reflecting Amazon’s focus on protecting users and monetizing the platform.