Disconnect Your Firestick from WiFi or Bluetooth

Breaking a connection on your Firestick means stopping it from talking to your WiFi network, a Bluetooth device like a remote or speaker, or your Amazon account. The method depends on which connection you want to stop. Most of the time, you're either disconnecting from WiFi so the device stops streaming, or unparing a Bluetooth remote that isn't working right.

The fastest way to break a WiFi connection is to go to Settings, select Network, find your network name in the list, and choose Forget. Your Firestick will no longer try to connect to that network. If you want to reconnect later, you'll enter the password again.

For Bluetooth devices, go to Settings, choose Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, find the device you want to disconnect, and select Unpair. The Firestick will stop looking for that remote or speaker.

Key Takeaways

  • To disconnect from WiFi, go to Settings > Network, find your network, and select Forget.
  • To unpair a Bluetooth remote or speaker, go to Settings > Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, select the device, and choose Unpair.
  • Forgetting a network or unpairing a device does not delete your Amazon account or any shows you've watched.
  • If you want to stop using the Firestick entirely, you can deregister it from your Amazon account in the Manage Your Content and Devices section on Amazon.com.

Disconnect from WiFi Step by Step

Start at the Firestick home screen. Use your remote to navigate to the top of the screen and select Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down and select Network.

You'll see a list of WiFi networks your Firestick has connected to before, plus networks nearby. Find the one you're currently connected to — it will have a checkmark or say "Connected" next to it. Highlight that network and press the select button on your remote.

A menu will appear with options. Select Forget. Your Firestick will disconnect when ready and stop trying to reconnect to that network. If you see a message asking you to confirm, select Yes or Confirm.

Unpair a Bluetooth Remote or Speaker

Go to Settings from the home screen, then scroll down to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices. Select it.

You'll see a list of Bluetooth devices your Firestick knows about. Find the one you want to stop using — usually your remote, but it could be a wireless speaker or headphones. Highlight it and select it.

Choose Unpair from the menu that appears. The Firestick will forget that device. If the remote stops working after you unpair it, you can pair it again by going back to the same menu and selecting Pair New Device, then following the on-screen steps.

Deregister Your Firestick from Your Amazon Account

If you want to completely break the connection between your Firestick and your Amazon account — for example, before selling it or giving it away — you need to deregister it. This erases your account information from the device and stops it from using your shows, music, and payment methods.

You can deregister from the Firestick itself by going to Settings > My Account > Deregister. The device will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, the Firestick will restart and return to the setup screen, as if it were brand new.

You can also deregister from a computer or phone. Go to Amazon.com, sign in to your account, and visit Manage Your Content and Devices. Find your Firestick in the list of devices, select it, and choose Deregister. This does the same thing as deregistering from the device itself.

What Happens When You Break These Connections

When you forget a WiFi network, your Firestick stops connecting to the internet through that network. You won't be able to stream shows, movies, or music until you connect to a different network or reconnect to the same one by entering the password again.

When you unpair a Bluetooth device, that remote, speaker, or headphones will no longer work with your Firestick. Other Bluetooth devices you've paired will still work. If you want to use that remote again, you'll need to pair it a second time.

When you deregister your Firestick, it forgets your Amazon account entirely. Your watch history, saved shows, and payment information are erased from the device. Your account information stays safe on Amazon's servers — deregistering only removes it from that specific Firestick.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems

If your Firestick keeps reconnecting to a network you tried to forget, restart the device. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. After it restarts, try forgetting the network again.

If a Bluetooth remote won't unpair, try restarting the Firestick first. If that doesn't work, go back to Remotes and Bluetooth Devices, find the remote, and select Unpair again. Sometimes the first attempt doesn't register.

If you deregister your Firestick but it still shows your account information, restart the device and check again. Deregistration can take a minute or two to finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my watch history if I disconnect from WiFi?

No. Disconnecting from WiFi only stops the Firestick from reaching the internet. Your watch history stays on your Amazon account. When you reconnect to WiFi or pair to a new network, your history will be there.

Can I unpair my remote without using the remote?

Yes. Go to Settings > Remotes and Bluetooth Devices on the Firestick using the on-screen menu and your phone's Amazon Alexa app as a remote. Find the remote you want to unpair and select Unpair. You can also deregister the entire Firestick from Amazon.com, which will unpair all Bluetooth devices.

What if I deregister my Firestick by accident?

You can register it again when ready. Plug it in, go through the setup steps, and sign back into your Amazon account. Your watch history and saved shows will reappear once you're signed in.

Does forgetting a WiFi network delete my password?

The Firestick forgets the password you entered for that network. If you want to reconnect later, you'll need to enter the password again. Your actual WiFi password on the router doesn't change.

Can I break the connection without using the remote?

Yes. read the Amazon Alexa app on your phone, open it, and select your Firestick. You can navigate the menu and access Settings the same way you would with the remote. Use this to disconnect from WiFi or unpair Bluetooth devices.