Unlocking Firestick app

[Oxon1 1]

Hi. I've just set up the Emby app on my Fire Stick 4k Max with the intention of streaming movies from my laptop. App look very promising on first view. As I understand it I would be able to pay a one off charge of £5 in order to be able to play movies. However the message I get only mentions unlocking with Emby premiere subscription. Is there still a way to pay the one off fee to unlock, or would I have to pay a monthly subscription? I'm in the UK. 

[GrimReaper 4739]

Depends which client app you've installed - if Emby for FireTV (Emby for AndroidTV) app, you'll have App unlock option, if standard Emby android app, you'll need active Premiere subscription. 

Edit: Yes, there are two apps in the store. If you share a screenshot of your Home Screen or write which app version you've installed, we'll be able to tell you which one you've got (based on your description, I suspect standard one). 

Edited June 4, 2024 by GrimReaper
Append

[Oxon1 1]

Thanks. Turns out I've installed the standard app - didn't realise there was more than one. Just installed Emby for Fire and it's giving me the free trial followed by one off payment message. That solves my problem. Much appreciated.

[GazH1907 0]

Sorry to revive an old thread, I’ve downloaded Emby for android tv app from the App Store, trying to unlock as I’ve purchased premier but when I click unlock app I don’t have an option to restore purchases. 

[GrimReaper 4739]

39 minutes ago, GazH1907 said:

trying to unlock as I’ve purchased premier but when I click unlock app I don’t have an option to restore purchases. 

Have you purchased App unlock previously? As there's nothing to restore if you haven't. 

Emby Premiere Feature Matrix

[GazH1907 0]

I hope I did, I paid £4.99 via PayPal from my iPhone yesterday (same email address for both) 

I’m only just getting into this side of things and I’m not fantastic with tech so my apologies if I’m a little slow! 

[GrimReaper 4739]

Not sure what did you pay for from iPhone, iOS app unlock or subscribed to a month of Premiere?

If it's former, that applies only to iOS client app; if it's latter - you don't need to unlock app separately, with Premiere all features are included.

Edited December 31, 2024 by GrimReaper

[GazH1907 0]

Before I paid the £4.99 no media would play, but after it all works, I was under the impression it was for the premier unlock

[GrimReaper 4739]

I honestly don't know all the pricings in all the countries, but App unlocks and monthly Premiere subscription are typically similarly priced - hence first thing to determine would be what did you actually activate ( I suspect it's iOS app unlock, but we'll get to the bottom of that); did you receive your Premiere key via email which you later inserted into your server?

[GazH1907 0]

No I didn’t get it via an email or have to insert it into my server, I think that may have been done for me but it makes sense that it was for the iOS unlock

Edited December 31, 2024 by GazH1907

[GrimReaper 4739]

22 minutes ago, GazH1907 said:

No I didn’t get it via an email or have to insert it into my server

Then you likely didn't subscribe to Premiere but instead:

22 minutes ago, GazH1907 said:

it was for the iOS unlock

What that enables is Full Playback for your iOS client apps:

hence:

35 minutes ago, GazH1907 said:

Before I paid the £4.99 no media would play, but after it all works

 

That being determined, you are now in/have posted under AndoidTV forum section (which doesn't require unlocking any more as there's 5 free playback devices now as per recent changes) - do you need some assistance with it or some other client app/platform?

Quote

to aid in the transition from our old TV-only Android TV app to the new Standard Android app on that platform, we will be eliminating the need for the app unlock by allowing free playback for up to five TV devices per Emby Server.  Devices beyond that limit will require Emby Premiere.  Previously purchased unlocks will still be honored.

Edited December 31, 2024 by GrimReaper

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  Please let us know if this answers your question.

[michael70199 0]

HI All,

i am also having an issue with unlocking the app.

So my firestick is in my partners name but Emby is in my own name and email address.

i have downloaded emby for fire tv and when i go to unlock the app it states there is an issue with the billing, but i dont see how as emby doesnt allow me to enter any billing info.

Where is it trying to draw it from?

does my firestick need to be in the same email address as emby?

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  Please see my response to your other post.

[DejaVu77 2]

This new 'free full playback' for "5 registered TV Devices" - am I reading this right?! I have 4 FireTV Cubes in my place - With Premium. 
I have 3 family members using my server elsewhere, all with FireTVs, I believe unlocked via the App. 

If I decide to allow 2 more to connect to my server, is one of these family members going to have to monthly subscribe $4.99 per month just to use the App?

[GrimReaper 4739]

8 minutes ago, DejaVu77 said:

I have 4 FireTV Cubes in my place - With Premium. 

What do you mean by "Premium"? You have active Premiere subscription?

[Clackdor 109]

9 hours ago, DejaVu77 said:

This new 'free full playback' for "5 registered TV Devices" - am I reading this right?! I have 4 FireTV Cubes in my place - With Premium. 
I have 3 family members using my server elsewhere, all with FireTVs, I believe unlocked via the App. 

If I decide to allow 2 more to connect to my server, is one of these family members going to have to monthly subscribe $4.99 per month just to use the App?

The 5 free devices only applies if you're using the free version of the emby server (no premiere license or subscription) 

With a premiere license on the server you have a 30 device limit including Android TV devices.

Any friends or family members you have shared your server with don't need to buy or subscribe to anything, nor should they unless they intend to host their own emby server.

Basically the removal of the app unlock means the burden is on the owner of the emby server to buy a premiere license or subscription to have more than the 5 free devices.

[ebr 16169]

5 hours ago, Clackdor said:

The 5 free devices only applies if you're using the free version of the emby server (no premiere license or subscription) 

With a premiere license on the server you have a 30 device limit including Android TV devices.

Any friends or family members you have shared your server with don't need to buy or subscribe to anything, nor should they unless they intend to host their own emby server.

Basically the removal of the app unlock means the burden is on the owner of the emby server to buy a premiere license or subscription to have more than the 5 free devices.

Correct.  @DejaVu77does this answer your question?

[DejaVu77 2]

Indeed it does. Thanks for clarifying. 

[ShelBee 0]

Hi, I purchased the single unlock on my iPad. Now I'm trying to purchase it on my fire stick connected to my tv and it's not giving me the option. I did check and I do have emby for fire tv installed. 

It does allow me to use the app on my Google phone, but it won't allow me to cast to my tv or use my tv due to the limit. I can't seem to find the option to single purchase unlock anywhere in the app store or in my settings. 

Do I need to uninstall the app and reinstall to get it to pop up?

[ebr 16169]

4 minutes ago, ShelBee said:

Hi, I purchased the single unlock on my iPad. Now I'm trying to purchase it on my fire stick connected to my tv and it's not giving me the option. I did check and I do have emby for fire tv installed. 

It does allow me to use the app on my Google phone, but it won't allow me to cast to my tv or use my tv due to the limit. I can't seem to find the option to single purchase unlock anywhere in the app store or in my settings. 

Do I need to uninstall the app and reinstall to get it to pop up?

Hi.  As detailed in this thread, there is no unlock on Fire TV anymore.

[ShelBee 0]

Oh dang. Clearly I missed that line tryna scan for solutions

That sucks. Thanks for the quick reply tho! 

[Luke 42077]

Hi @ShelBeewe work very hard on Emby and we thank you for your support.

[Lumbahh 0]

It sucks indeed. Moving to an actual service I can purchase who actually consider the wallets of their users. Instead of locking them into indefinite subscription. Gross

Edited November 12, 2025 by Lumbahh

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

2 hours ago, Lumbahh said:

It sucks indeed. Moving to an actual service I can purchase who actually consider the wallets of their users. Instead of locking them into indefinite subscription. Gross

I do not understand you. Emby is fully functional on my Fire stick although I rarely use it because the Fire stick is a crappy device. Emby also does not cost anything unless you want live TV or a few other functions. Should you choose to buy an Emby premier license you can cancel anytime with the exception of the lifetime license. 
While I have had, and probably will have again, my fights with Emby I find them the best software company to deal with of any that I have tried.
I do not understand either the nature of your problems or why you are so upset. 

If you wish to cancel Emby then do so and move over to Plex, I am sure you will be very happy with Plex. 
Remember no one ever has forced you, or anyone else, to use Emby. It was your choice and, if you feel you made a bad choice, then un-choose it and move on.
That is what I did with Plex a long time ago and I am very comfortable where I am now.