The fastest way to remove an app from your Fire Tablet

To delete an app on a Fire Tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove. The app disappears when ready. If you cannot find the app on your home screen, go to the Apps library, find the app you want to remove, press and hold it, and select Remove from Device.

Removing an app this way takes about five seconds and does not affect your Amazon account or any other apps. You can reinstall the same app later from the Amazon Appstore at no cost if the original app was free.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold any app icon on your home screen, then tap Remove to delete it in one step.
  • Apps you remove are deleted from your tablet but remain in your Amazon library, so you can reinstall them later.
  • Removing an app does not delete your account, your other apps, or any files stored on your tablet.
  • If an app does not appear on your home screen, open the Apps library from the menu and search for it there before removing.

Removing apps from your home screen

The home screen is where your most-used apps appear as tiles. To remove one, touch and hold the app icon until a small menu pops up. You will see options including Remove, Rename, and sometimes Move. Tap Remove. The app tile vanishes from your screen right away.

This method works on all Fire Tablet models, including Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10. The app is gone from your home screen but still stored in your Amazon library, which means you have not lost it permanently.

Removing apps from the Apps library

If an app is not pinned to your home screen, you can find it in your Apps library. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the menu, then tap Apps. You will see a list of every app installed on your tablet, organized by category or by most recent.

Find the app you want to remove, press and hold it, and select Remove from Device. A confirmation message may appear asking if you are sure. Tap Remove again to confirm. The app is then deleted from your tablet.

What happens when you remove an app

When you delete an app, it is removed from your tablet but stays in your Amazon account. This means you can reinstall it later without paying again if it was free, or without needing a new license if it was paid. Your Amazon account remembers every app you have ever owned.

Removing an app does not affect your other apps, your files, your photos, or any documents stored on your tablet. It only deletes that one app and the space it was using. If the app stored data like game progress or saved settings, that data is also deleted, so reinstalling the app later will start it fresh.

Reinstalling an app you removed

To put an app back on your tablet, open the Amazon Appstore, search for the app by name, and tap Install or Get. If you owned the app before, the button will say Install instead of asking you to buy it again. The app downloads and installs in a few seconds to a few minutes depending on its size and your internet speed.

You can also go to the Apps library, find the app you want to reinstall, and tap Install from there. Either way, the app returns to your tablet with no extra steps or cost.

Removing pre-installed apps that came with your tablet

Fire Tablets come with some apps already installed, like Amazon Shopping, Alexa, and Silk Browser. You can remove most of these the same way you remove any other app — press and hold and tap Remove. However, some core apps like Settings cannot be removed because your tablet needs them to run.

If you remove a pre-installed app and later want it back, you can reinstall it from the Amazon Appstore for free, just like any other app. Amazon does not charge you to reinstall apps that came with your tablet originally.

Freeing up storage space by removing apps

If your Fire Tablet is running low on storage, removing unused apps is one way to make room. Large apps like games or video players can take up several hundred megabytes. Removing them frees that space for photos, documents, or other files.

To see how much space each app is using, go to Settings, tap Apps & Notifications, then Manage All Applications. You will see a list showing the size of each app. Apps at the top of the list use the most space. Remove the ones you do not use to recover that storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove an app if I paid for it?

Yes. Paid apps can be removed the same way as free apps. You will not be charged again if you reinstall it later — your purchase is tied to your Amazon account, not to the app being on your tablet.

Will removing an app delete my saved games or data?

Yes. When you remove an app, any data it stored on your tablet is also deleted, including game progress, saved settings, and login information. If you reinstall the app later, it will start fresh unless the app syncs data to the cloud.

What if I accidentally remove an app I need?

You can reinstall it right away from the Amazon Appstore. Search for the app by name, tap Install, and it will be back on your tablet in a few moments. There is no penalty for removing and reinstalling apps.

Can I remove the Amazon Appstore itself?

No. The Amazon Appstore cannot be removed because your tablet needs it to read and install other apps. It is a core system app that stays on your device.

Does removing an app free up RAM or just storage?

Removing an app frees up storage space on your tablet's drive. It does not directly affect RAM, but if an app was running in the background, stopping it can free up some RAM when ready. Uninstalling it prevents the app from running at all in the future.