Replacing your Fire Stick in four steps

Replacing an old Fire Stick with a new one takes about 15 minutes and requires only your new device, your Wi-Fi password, and your Amazon account login. The process is straightforward: deregister the old device from your Amazon account, physically swap it out, plug in the new one, and sign back in. Your apps, watchlist, and preferences transfer automatically because they are tied to your Amazon account, not the device itself.

You do not need to contact Amazon support or do anything complicated. The old Fire Stick can be unplugged and stored or given away once it is deregistered. The new device handles the rest during its first setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Deregister your old Fire Stick from your Amazon account before unplugging it, which takes two minutes and prevents someone else from using it with your account.
  • Your apps, watchlist, and viewing history stay with your Amazon account and appear on the new Fire Stick automatically after you sign in.
  • The new Fire Stick will ask for your Wi-Fi password and Amazon login during first setup, which takes about five minutes.
  • You can keep the old Fire Stick plugged in during setup of the new one; they will not interfere with each other.

Deregister the old Fire Stick from your account

Before you unplug the old device, remove it from your Amazon account. This step prevents anyone who finds or receives the old Fire Stick from accessing your account, apps, or payment information. It takes two minutes and you do it from the device itself.

On your old Fire Stick, go to Settings (the gear icon on the home screen). Scroll down and select My Account. Choose Deregister and confirm when prompted. The screen will show a message confirming the device has been deregistered. You can now unplug it safely.

If you cannot access the old Fire Stick because it is broken or lost, you can deregister it from a web browser instead. Go to amazon.com, sign in, navigate to Your Account, then Login & Security, scroll to Devices and Permissions, find the old Fire Stick in the list, and select Deregister. This accomplishes the same thing without touching the device.

Unplug the old Fire Stick and set up the new one

Once deregistered, unplug the old Fire Stick from your TV and power outlet. Take the new Fire Stick out of its box and plug it into an available HDMI port on your TV. Plug the power cable into the new device and into a wall outlet or USB port on your TV (if your TV has one). The device will power on automatically and show an Amazon logo on your screen.

Wait about 30 seconds for the setup screen to appear. You will see a language selection menu. Choose your language and continue. The device will then search for Wi-Fi networks.

Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to your Amazon account

When the Wi-Fi menu appears, select your home network from the list. Enter your Wi-Fi password using the on-screen keyboard. This usually takes one or two attempts to get right—the keyboard can be slow, so type carefully and double-check before confirming.

After Wi-Fi connects, the device will ask you to sign in to your Amazon account. Use the same email and password you used on the old Fire Stick. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Amazon account, you will receive a code via email or text; enter it when prompted. The device will then read your account settings, apps, and preferences. This step takes three to five minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once sign-in is complete, your home screen will populate with your apps and your watchlist will appear exactly as it was on the old device. You are ready to use the new Fire Stick.

What transfers and what does not

Your Amazon account carries over all your apps, watch history, saved shows, and preferences. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video will appear on the home screen, but you may need to sign in to each one separately the first time you open it. Your login credentials for those services are not stored on the Fire Stick itself, so the device does not transfer them automatically.

Downloaded content (movies or shows you downloaded to watch offline) does not transfer. If you had downloaded anything on the old Fire Stick, you will need to read it again on the new one. Sideloaded apps—apps installed outside the Amazon Appstore—also do not transfer and must be reinstalled manually if you want them on the new device.

Troubleshooting common setup problems

If the new Fire Stick does not power on, check that both the HDMI cable and power cable are fully inserted. Try a different HDMI port on your TV if the first one does not work. If your TV does not recognize the device, make sure the TV is set to the correct input (usually labeled HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.).

If Wi-Fi will not connect, move the Fire Stick closer to your router temporarily during setup, then move it back once connected. If you enter the wrong Wi-Fi password, the device will show an error message; select the network again and re-enter the password. If you forget your Amazon password, go to amazon.com on a computer or phone, click Forgot Password, and reset it before continuing setup on the Fire Stick.

If your apps do not appear after sign-in, wait five to ten minutes—the device is still downloading them in the background. If an app still does not show up after 15 minutes, go to Settings on the new Fire Stick, select Applications, then Manage Installed Applications, and search for the app by name. You can reinstall it from there.

What to do with the old Fire Stick

Once deregistered, the old Fire Stick is no longer tied to your account and can be stored, given away, or sold. If you give it to someone else, they can set it up with their own Amazon account and use it normally. If you plan to sell it, factory reset it first to remove any personal data. Go to Settings, select Reset to Factory Defaults, and confirm. This erases all data and returns the device to its original state.

If the old Fire Stick is broken and you cannot access the settings menu, deregister it from your Amazon account online (through amazon.com) instead. Once deregistered, you can safely dispose of it or attempt repairs without worrying about account security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my apps and watchlist when I switch Fire Sticks?

No. Your apps and watchlist are saved to your Amazon account, not to the device. When you sign in to your Amazon account on the new Fire Stick, all your apps and preferences appear automatically. Streaming services may ask you to sign in again, but your watch history and saved shows are still there.

Can I use both Fire Sticks at the same time on the same TV?

Yes, but only one can be plugged into the TV at a time. You can keep both plugged in if your TV has multiple HDMI ports and switch between them using your TV remote's input button. However, only one can be registered to your Amazon account at once, so you would need to deregister one before registering the other.

What if I do not remember my Amazon password?

Go to amazon.com on a computer or phone, click Forgot Password, and follow the steps to reset it. You will receive a link via email. Once you have reset your password, use the new one to sign in on the new Fire Stick during setup.

Will my streaming service passwords transfer to the new Fire Stick?

No. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming services store their login information on your account with those services, not on the Fire Stick. You will need to sign in to each service the first time you open it on the new device. After you sign in once, the app will remember you.

How long does the whole replacement process take?

Deregistering the old device takes two minutes. Physically swapping the devices takes one minute. Setup on the new Fire Stick—Wi-Fi connection, Amazon sign-in, and app read—takes five to ten minutes depending on your internet speed. Total time is usually 10 to 15 minutes.