The ads on your Fire tablet come from Amazon and can be removed without paying
Amazon Fire tablets show ads on the lock screen and home screen by default. These are called "Special Offers" and they're part of what keeps the tablet affordable. You can turn them off in your device settings without spending money — you just won't get a refund on the tablet's original price. The process takes about two minutes.
There are three ways to remove the ads: turn off Special Offers in settings, contact Amazon customer service to have them disabled, or use a workaround if you've already tried the settings route and it didn't work. Which one works depends on your tablet model and Amazon account setup.
Key Takeaways
- Special Offers ads can be turned off directly in your Fire tablet's settings under Display without paying anything.
- If the settings option doesn't work or is grayed out, contacting Amazon customer service is the fastest way to have ads removed from your account.
- Some tablets purchased through promotions or third-party sellers may have ads locked on and require a call to Amazon to disable them.
- Removing ads does not refund the original tablet purchase price, but it stops new ads from appearing when ready.
Turn off Special Offers in your tablet settings
Open your Fire tablet and swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings. Tap the gear icon to open full Settings. Scroll down and tap Display, then look for Special Offers or Lockscreen Ads depending on your tablet model.
Toggle the switch to the off position. The ads should disappear from your lock screen within a few minutes. If the toggle is grayed out or missing, your tablet may have been set up with ads locked on by your Amazon account or a promotion code, and you'll need to contact Amazon instead.
Contact Amazon customer service to disable ads on your account
If the settings toggle doesn't work, call Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331 or use the chat option in the Amazon app. Tell them you want to turn off Special Offers on your Fire tablet. They can disable it from their end without you paying anything.
Have your tablet's serial number ready — you can find it in Settings > Device Options > About Fire Tablet. The process usually takes less than five minutes on the call. Once they disable it, the ads will stop appearing on your device within a few minutes to a few hours.
Why some Fire tablets have ads locked on
Amazon sells two versions of most Fire tablets: one with Special Offers (cheaper) and one without (more expensive). If you bought your tablet on sale, through a promotion, or from a third-party seller, it may have come with ads locked on at the account level rather than just the device level.
This lock prevents you from turning off ads in settings alone. It's not a technical problem — it's a business setting on your Amazon account. Customer service can unlock it, but they need to verify you own the tablet and the account. That's why they ask for the serial number.
What happens after you remove the ads
Once ads are off, your lock screen will show a clock and your home screen will display your apps and content without promotional banners. You won't see new ads appear. The change is permanent unless you turn Special Offers back on yourself later.
Removing ads does not change your tablet's performance, storage, or any other features. It only affects what appears on your screen. If you ever want ads back on (for example, if you're selling the tablet), you can turn them back on in the same settings menu.
If you're still seeing ads after turning them off
Wait at least 30 minutes after changing the setting, then restart your tablet by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Sometimes the change takes time to sync across Amazon's servers. After the restart, check your lock screen and home screen again.
If ads are still there after a restart, the toggle was likely grayed out and you didn't realize it. Go back to Settings > Display and check whether the Special Offers toggle is actually in the off position or if it's unavailable. If it's unavailable, contact Amazon customer service — that's your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to remove ads from my Fire tablet?
No. You can turn off Special Offers in settings for free. If the settings option doesn't work, Amazon customer service will disable them at no cost. You won't get a refund on the tablet's original price, but removing ads itself is free.
Will removing ads void my warranty?
No. Turning off Special Offers is a normal setting change and does not affect your warranty. Amazon supports this feature and customer service regularly disables ads for users who request it.
Can I remove ads from a Fire tablet I bought used?
Yes, but you'll need to sign in with your own Amazon account. If the previous owner's account is still linked to the tablet, you'll need to factory reset it first. After you sign in with your account, you can turn off Special Offers in settings or contact customer service to have them disabled.
What if I want ads back on later?
You can turn Special Offers back on anytime in Settings > Display > Special Offers. Toggle it back to the on position. If you disabled ads through customer service, you can also call them back to re-enable them.
Do third-party apps remove ads from Fire tablets?
No legitimate app removes Amazon's built-in Special Offers. Any app claiming to do so is either fake or will not work. The only real ways to remove ads are through settings or by contacting Amazon customer service.