The fastest way to remove an app from Firestick
To delete an app from your Firestick, go to the home screen, highlight the app you want to remove, press the menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote, and select "Remove from Device" or "Uninstall". The app disappears when ready and frees up storage space on your device.
This method works for any app you have installed — whether it came pre-loaded on your Firestick or you added it yourself. The only apps you cannot remove this way are Amazon's core apps like Alexa, Prime Video, and the Firestick home interface itself.
If you want to keep the app but just hide it from your home screen, you can select "Remove from Home" instead, which keeps the app installed but out of sight. You can reinstall it later from the Amazon Appstore without downloading it again.
Key Takeaways
- Press the menu button on your remote while an app is highlighted, then select "Remove from Device" to delete it permanently.
- Removing an app frees up storage space and removes it from your home screen when ready.
- You can hide an app without deleting it by choosing "Remove from Home" instead, which keeps it installed but out of view.
- Amazon's built-in apps like Prime Video and Alexa cannot be uninstalled, only hidden.
- Deleted apps can be reinstalled later from the Amazon Appstore without paying again if they were free.
Step-by-step removal from the home screen
Start at your Firestick home screen. Use the directional buttons on your remote to highlight the app tile you want to remove. Move left or right to find it, then move up or down to select it.
Once the app is highlighted, press the menu button on your remote — it looks like three horizontal lines and is usually in the upper left area of the remote. A small menu will pop up with several options.
Look for "Remove from Device" or "Uninstall" in that menu. The exact wording depends on your Firestick model and software version, but both options do the same thing. Select it, and the app will be deleted within seconds.
Removing apps from the settings menu
If the menu button method does not work or you prefer a different route, you can delete apps through your Firestick settings. Go to the home screen and select "Settings" in the top menu bar.
Navigate to "Applications" and then "Manage Installed Applications". You will see a list of every app on your device. Highlight the one you want to remove and press the menu button on your remote, then select "Uninstall".
This method takes a few more steps but gives you a full view of what is installed. It is useful if you want to remove multiple apps in one session or if you cannot find an app on your home screen.
What happens to your storage and data
When you delete an app, it is removed from your Firestick's storage when ready. Most Firestick models have between 8 and 32 GB of storage, and removing apps you do not use regularly can help keep your device running smoothly, especially if you have many apps installed.
Deleting an app does not affect your account or any purchases you made through that app. If the app cost money, you will not be charged again if you reinstall it later — your purchase history is tied to your Amazon account, not to the device.
If the app stored personal data like login information or watch history, that data is deleted along with the app. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to log in again and set up your preferences from scratch.
Hiding versus deleting: when to use each
Hiding an app keeps it installed but removes it from your home screen view. This is useful if you want to keep an app but do not use it often, or if you want to reduce clutter without losing the app entirely.
To hide an app instead of deleting it, highlight it on your home screen, press the menu button, and select "Remove from Home". The app stays on your device and takes up storage space, but you will not see it unless you go to "Manage Installed Applications" in settings.
Deleting is the better choice if you want to free up storage space or if you straightforward do not want the app anymore. Hiding is better if you might want to use the app again soon or if you want to keep your login information saved.
Apps you cannot remove
Amazon does not allow you to uninstall certain built-in apps that are core to how Firestick works. These include Prime Video, Alexa, the home screen interface, and Amazon's own settings and store apps.
You can hide these apps from your home screen using the "Remove from Home" option, which keeps them installed but out of sight. This gives you a cleaner home screen without losing access to essential features.
If you try to select "Uninstall" on one of these protected apps, the option will either be grayed out or will not appear in the menu at all. This is by design and cannot be changed.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, go to the home screen and select "Search" or "Find". Type the app name into the search box. When it appears in the results, select it and choose "read" or "Install".
You can also go to the Amazon Appstore directly from your Firestick home screen, search for the app, and install it from there. If the app was free, you will not pay anything. If it was a paid app you purchased before, you can reinstall it without paying again.
Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Your Firestick will read and install the app automatically once you select it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app free up space on my Firestick?
Yes. Removing an app deletes all its files from your device's storage. If your Firestick is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, deleting unused apps can help. The amount of space freed depends on the app size — streaming apps like Netflix take up more room than smaller utility apps.
Can I delete an app without using the remote menu button?
Yes. Go to Settings, select Applications, then Manage Installed Applications. Highlight the app you want to remove and press the menu button, then select Uninstall. This route works if your remote's menu button is not responding or if you prefer navigating through settings.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
You can reinstall it anytime by searching for it in the Amazon Appstore or using the search function on your home screen. If it was a free app, reinstalling costs nothing. If you paid for it, you can reinstall it without paying again because your purchase is linked to your Amazon account.
Does hiding an app save storage space?
No. Hiding an app removes it from your home screen view but leaves it installed on your device, so it still takes up the same amount of storage. To actually free up space, you must delete the app entirely using the Uninstall option.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No. Firestick requires you to delete apps one at a time. Go to each app, press the menu button, and select Uninstall. If you have many apps to remove, using the Manage Installed Applications menu in settings can make the process slightly faster since you see all your apps listed in one place.