Turn Off Lockscreen and Home Screen Ads
Amazon Fire tablets show ads on the lockscreen and home screen by default. You can turn these off in your device settings without paying anything extra — Amazon straightforward removes the ads rather than replacing them with something else.
Open Settings on your tablet. Tap Display & Sounds, then scroll down and tap Lockscreen. Toggle off the switch next to Show Lockscreen Ads. The ads will disappear the next time your screen locks.
Home screen ads are removed the same way. Go back to Settings, tap Home Screen, and toggle off Show Recommendations. This removes the sponsored content rows that appear below your apps and books.
Key Takeaways
- Lockscreen and home screen ads can be turned off in Settings without paying a fee or changing your Amazon account.
- The toggle switches for both are in Display & Sounds and Home Screen sections of Settings.
- Ads in apps and web browsers come from those apps themselves, not Amazon, and require different steps to block.
- If you bought your tablet with ads included, turning them off does not refund the original purchase price.
Block Ads in Apps and Web Browsers
The ads that appear inside apps — like banner ads in games or sponsored content in news apps — come from the app developers, not Amazon. Turning off Amazon's system ads will not remove them. Your options depend on which app you are using.
Many apps offer a paid version without ads, or a subscription tier that removes advertising. Check the app's settings menu first: some apps have an Ads or Advertising section where you can disable them. If the app does not offer that option, look in the app store listing to see whether a paid or premium version exists.
For web browsing, the Fire tablet comes with the Silk browser. Silk has a built-in ad blocker that you can enable. Open Silk, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines), tap Settings, then tap Privacy. Toggle on Block Ads. This will reduce — but not eliminate — ads on websites you visit.
Understand What Ads You Cannot Remove
Some ads are built into the content itself and cannot be blocked by any setting. YouTube videos with ads, sponsored posts in social media apps, and ads embedded in articles are all part of the app's design. Blocking these would require not using the app at all, or paying for a premium version if one exists.
Amazon also shows ads in the Appstore and in services like Prime Video if you have a Prime membership. These are part of how Amazon runs those services and cannot be disabled through tablet settings. If you find them intrusive, your only option is to use a different service or upgrade to an ad-free tier if available.
What Happens If You Bought Your Tablet With Ads Included
Amazon sells Fire tablets in two versions: one with lockscreen and home screen ads, and one without. The ad-free version costs more upfront. If you bought the cheaper version with ads, turning off the ads in settings does not refund the price difference — you are straightforward disabling a feature that came with your device.
If you want to remove ads after purchase and did not buy the ad-free model, you can contact Amazon Customer Service and ask about upgrading. Some customers report that Amazon will remove ads for a one-time fee, usually around $15 to $20, though this varies and is not may provide. Call or chat with Amazon support to ask whether this option is available for your specific tablet.
Stop Notifications and Promotional Messages
Amazon also sends promotional notifications to your tablet — alerts about sales, new releases, or recommendations. These are separate from the lockscreen and home screen ads. To turn them off, go to Settings, tap Notifications, and look for Amazon Shopping or Amazon Appstore. Toggle off notifications for each service you do not want to hear from.
You can also manage promotional emails through your Amazon account online. Sign in at amazon.com, go to Account, select Login & Security, scroll down to Marketing Preferences, and uncheck the boxes for emails you do not want to receive. Changes made online will sync to your tablet within a few hours.
Use a Third-Party Ad Blocker App
If you want more aggressive ad blocking across all apps and websites, you can install a third-party ad blocker from the Amazon Appstore. Apps like Adblock Browser and DNS66 block ads at the network level, meaning they work across most apps and websites without needing to configure each one individually.
Keep in mind that aggressive ad blockers can slow down your tablet or cause some apps to malfunction. Test any ad blocker app for a few days to make sure it does not break apps you use regularly. If it does, uninstall it and stick with the built-in options instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to turn off Amazon's ads?
No. Turning off lockscreen and home screen ads through Settings is free. If you bought your tablet with ads included and want to remove them retroactively, Amazon may charge a one-time fee, but the initial toggle is always free.
Will turning off ads affect my Prime membership or other services?
No. Disabling lockscreen and home screen ads does not change your Prime membership, your ability to shop, or any other Amazon service. You will still see ads in Prime Video and the Appstore, but those are separate from the system ads you can turn off.
Can I block ads in YouTube or other streaming apps?
YouTube ads can only be removed by paying for YouTube Premium. Silk's built-in ad blocker will reduce ads on websites but not inside apps like YouTube. If an app has a paid or premium version, that is usually the only way to remove its ads.
What if I turn off ads and they come back after an update?
Amazon occasionally resets some settings during major software updates. If ads reappear after you update your tablet, go back to Settings and toggle them off again. Your preference should stick until the next major update.
Can I block ads without using Settings?
The easiest way is through Settings, but you can also manage some ads through your Amazon account online. Promotional emails and some notifications can be controlled at amazon.com under Account and Marketing Preferences, which is useful if you want to change settings across multiple devices at once.