The fastest way to uninstall an app

To remove an app from your Fire Stick, go to your home screen, highlight the app you want to delete, press and hold the select button (the circle in the middle of your remote), then choose "Remove from Device" from the menu that appears. The app disappears when ready — it does not move to a trash folder or require confirmation. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the Amazon Appstore at no cost.

This method works for any app you downloaded yourself. Apps that came pre-installed on your Fire Stick (like Alexa, Prime Video, and Silk Browser) cannot be fully removed this way, though you can hide them so they do not clutter your home screen.

The entire process takes about 10 seconds. You do not need to restart your Fire Stick or do anything else after deletion.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the select button on any app from your home screen, then tap "Remove from Device" to uninstall it permanently.
  • Pre-installed Amazon apps cannot be deleted, but you can hide them using the same menu so they no longer appear on your home screen.
  • Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your Fire Stick, which can improve performance if your device is running slowly.
  • You can reinstall any app you remove by searching for it in the Amazon Appstore and selecting "read" — there is no cost to reinstall.

How to hide apps you cannot delete

Amazon apps like Alexa, Prime Video, Silk Browser, and Appstore itself are locked and cannot be removed. Instead of deleting them, you can hide them from your home screen so they do not take up space in your app list.

Highlight the app, press and hold the select button, and choose "Hide from Home Screen" instead of "Remove from Device." The app stays on your Fire Stick and continues to work in the background, but it no longer appears when you scroll through your apps. You can unhide it the same way if you need it later — go to Settings, then Apps, then Manage Installed Applications, find the hidden app, and select "Show on Home Screen."

Freeing up storage space

Fire Sticks come with limited built-in storage. A Fire Stick 4K has about 8 GB of usable space, while older models have even less. When your storage fills up, your Fire Stick can slow down, apps may crash, or you might not be able to install new apps at all.

Uninstalling apps you no longer use is the fastest way to recover space. Large apps like games, streaming services, or video editors can take up 500 MB to 2 GB each. If you have five unused apps installed, removing them could free up several gigabytes. Check your storage by going to Settings, then Device, then About, then Storage to see how much space you have left.

If you still need more room after removing apps, you can also clear the cache (temporary files) from individual apps. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Manage Installed Applications, select the app, and choose "Clear Cache." This does not delete the app itself or your saved data — it just removes temporary files that apps create while running.

Reinstalling apps you removed

Removing an app does not prevent you from putting it back. Open the Amazon Appstore (the shopping bag icon on your home screen), search for the app by name, and select "read." Installation usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed.

Your saved data inside the app may or may not return when you reinstall it. Apps that sync to your Amazon account (like Plex or Spotify) will remember your login and settings. Apps that store data only on your Fire Stick (like some games) will start fresh. If you are unsure whether your data will return, check the app's description in the Appstore before reinstalling.

Removing apps from the Apps menu instead

If you prefer not to use the home screen, you can uninstall apps from the Apps menu. Press the menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote, scroll to Apps, then select Manage Installed Applications. Scroll through the list, select the app you want to remove, and choose "Uninstall." The result is the same as removing it from the home screen.

This method is useful if you have many apps and want to see them all in one list rather than scrolling through your home screen. It also shows you exactly how much storage each app is using, which helps you decide which ones to delete if you need to free up space quickly.

What happens to your data when you uninstall

When you delete an app, the app itself and any files it stored only on your Fire Stick are removed. However, data that synced to your Amazon account or to the app developer's servers usually stays safe. For example, if you uninstall Netflix, your watchlist and viewing history remain in your Netflix account — when you reinstall the app and log back in, everything is there.

Some apps store data locally only. Games often save progress to your Fire Stick rather than the cloud. If you uninstall a game without backing up your save file, you will lose that progress and cannot recover it. Before deleting a game or app you care about, check whether it has a backup or cloud save option in its settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall multiple apps at once?

No, you must remove apps one at a time. There is no batch delete option. If you have many apps to remove, the Apps menu method (Settings > Apps > Manage Installed Applications) is faster than scrolling through your home screen, since you can see all your apps in a single list.

Will uninstalling an app delete my account or login information?

No. Your account with the app developer (Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, etc.) remains active. When you reinstall the app and log in again, your account, watchlist, and settings are still there. Only data stored directly on your Fire Stick is lost.

What if I accidentally uninstall an app I need?

Open the Amazon Appstore, search for the app by name, and select "read" to reinstall it. The entire process takes a few minutes. If the app had saved data on your Fire Stick, that data is gone, but your account with the app company is unaffected.

Does uninstalling apps make my Fire Stick faster?

Yes, if your storage was nearly full. When your Fire Stick runs low on space, it slows down because it has less room to create temporary files while apps are running. Removing unused apps frees up storage and can noticeably improve performance. If your Fire Stick is still slow after uninstalling apps, restarting it (unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in) often helps.

Can I uninstall the Amazon Appstore or Alexa?

No. These are pre-installed Amazon apps that cannot be deleted. You can hide them from your home screen so they do not appear, but they will remain on your Fire Stick. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Manage Installed Applications, find the app, and select "Show on Home Screen" to unhide it later if needed.