The quickest way to delete an app from your Fire Stick
To delete an app, 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 "Delete". The app disappears when ready. You can reinstall it later from the Amazon Appstore at no cost if you change your mind.
This works the same way whether the app came pre-installed on your Fire Stick or you downloaded it yourself. Removing an app frees up storage space on your device, which can help if your Fire Stick is running slowly or you are running out of room for new apps.
Key Takeaways
- Press the menu button on your remote while an app is highlighted, then select "Remove from Device" to delete it in seconds.
- Deleting an app does not erase your account information or subscriptions tied to that app — you keep your login details if you reinstall it later.
- Removing apps frees up storage space, which can improve performance if your Fire Stick is slowing down.
- You can reinstall any app you delete by searching for it in the Amazon Appstore and downloading it again.
Step-by-step: removing an app from the home screen
Start from your Fire Stick home screen. Use the directional pad on your remote to highlight the app tile you want to delete. Move left, right, up, or down until the app is selected — it will have a border or highlight around it.
Once the app is highlighted, press the menu button on your remote. This is the button with three horizontal lines, usually located in the upper left area of the remote. A menu will pop up with several options.
Look for "Remove from Device" or "Delete" in the menu. The exact wording depends on your Fire Stick model and software version, but both options do the same thing. Select it by pressing the center button on your remote's directional pad. The app will be removed from your Fire Stick within a few seconds.
Deleting apps from the settings menu
If you prefer to manage apps through settings instead of the home screen, you can delete them there too. Go to Settings (usually found on the left side of the home screen), then select Applications or Manage Installed Applications, depending on your Fire Stick model.
Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find the one you want to remove. Select it, and you will see an option to "Uninstall" or "Remove". Press it, and the app will be deleted. This method takes a few more steps but gives you a full view of everything installed on your device.
What happens to your data and accounts when you delete an app
Deleting an app does not erase your login information or account details for that service. If you had a Netflix account linked to the Netflix app, for example, that account still exists and your subscription is still active — you are just removing the app itself from your Fire Stick.
When you reinstall the app later, you can log back in with the same username and password. Your watch history, preferences, and saved content usually remain on the service's servers, so you pick up where you left off. The only thing that disappears is the app file from your device.
Some apps store data locally on your Fire Stick — like game save files or downloaded videos. Deleting the app may remove this local data, though many services back up your progress to their own servers. If you are concerned about losing something specific, check the app's settings before you delete it.
Freeing up storage space by removing unused apps
Fire Sticks have limited built-in storage, and apps take up space. If your device is running slowly, has trouble installing new apps, or keeps freezing, removing apps you no longer use can help. Start by deleting the largest or least-used apps first.
To see how much space an app is using, go to Settings, then Applications or Manage Installed Applications, select the app, and look for storage information. Apps like games, streaming services with offline downloads, or apps with large caches can take up several hundred megabytes or more.
Removing even three or four unused apps can free up enough space to noticeably improve performance. If your Fire Stick continues to run slowly after removing apps, the issue may be something else — like too many apps running in the background or a need to restart the device.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it for free. Go to the home screen and select the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top. Type the name of the app you want.
When the app appears in the search results, select it and choose "read" or "Install". The app will read and install automatically. Once it is done, it will appear on your home screen or in your apps list, and you can open it and log back in.
You can also browse the Amazon Appstore directly by selecting Apps from the home screen menu, then searching or browsing by category. Every app you have ever downloaded to your Amazon account is listed under "My Library" or "My Apps", so you can find and reinstall anything you have removed before.
Removing pre-installed apps you do not use
Fire Sticks come with several built-in apps like Alexa, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Most of these cannot be fully deleted, but you can remove them from your home screen so they do not clutter your view. The process is the same: highlight the app, press menu, and select "Remove from Device".
When you remove a pre-installed app this way, it is hidden from your home screen but still installed on your device. You can bring it back by going to Settings, Applications, and selecting "Show All Applications" or "Manage All Applications", then finding it in the full list and selecting "Add to Home Screen".
If you want to completely uninstall a pre-installed app rather than just hide it, some Fire Stick models allow this through the Applications settings menu. Look for an "Uninstall" option instead of just "Remove from Home Screen". Not all pre-installed apps can be fully uninstalled, but most third-party apps you read can be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app stop my subscription to that service?
No. Deleting the Netflix app, for example, does not cancel your Netflix subscription. Your account and payment method stay active. You are only removing the app from your Fire Stick. If you want to cancel the service itself, you have to do that through the service's website or app on another device.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, Fire Stick does not have a bulk delete feature. You have to remove apps one at a time by highlighting each one and selecting "Remove from Device". If you have many apps to delete, it takes a few minutes, but the process is straightforward.
What should I do if an app will not delete?
If an app is stuck or will not respond to the delete command, try restarting your Fire Stick. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up. Then try deleting the app again. If it still will not delete, try removing it through the Settings menu instead of the home screen.
Does deleting apps make my Fire Stick faster?
Yes, if your device is running slowly due to low storage space. Removing unused apps frees up storage and can reduce the load on your device's processor. However, if your Fire Stick is slow for other reasons — like a weak internet connection or too many apps running at once — deleting apps may not help much.
Can I recover an app I accidentally deleted?
Yes. Go to the search function on your home screen, type the app name, and reinstall it. Your account information and login details are still there, so you can log back in when ready. The only data that might be lost is anything stored locally on the device, like game saves or downloaded videos.