The fastest way to remove an app from your Firestick
To delete an app on your Firestick, go to your 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 and frees up storage space on your device.
The menu button location depends on your remote model. On most current Firestick remotes, it is the button with three horizontal lines in the upper left area. On older remotes, it may be labeled with an asterisk (*). If you are unsure which button it is, look for the one that brings up options when you press it while an app is highlighted.
Deleting an app does not remove your account or settings from that service — it only removes the Firestick version. If you reinstall the app later, you can usually log back in with the same username and password you used before.
Key Takeaways
- Highlight any app on your Firestick home screen, press the menu button on your remote, and select the delete or remove option.
- Deleted apps can be reinstalled later from the Amazon Appstore without losing your account information for that service.
- Removing apps frees up storage space, which can help your Firestick run faster if you have many apps installed.
- You cannot delete Amazon's built-in apps like Alexa or the home screen itself, but you can hide them from view.
Why you might want to delete apps
Apps take up storage space on your Firestick, and older models have limited room. If your device is running slowly or you are seeing messages about low storage, removing apps you no longer use can help. Firestick devices typically have between 8 GB and 16 GB of total storage, and the operating system itself uses a large portion of that.
You might also delete an app for privacy reasons — if you no longer want a particular service on your device, removing it means it cannot collect data or send notifications. Some people delete streaming apps seasonally (removing a sports app in the off-season, for example) and reinstall them when needed.
Apps you cannot delete and how to hide them instead
Amazon's system apps — including Alexa, Home, Store, and Settings — cannot be deleted. These are built into the Firestick and required for the device to function. If you do not want to see them on your home screen, you can hide them instead.
To hide an app, highlight it, press the menu button, and select "Hide from Home Screen" or "Hide". The app remains on your device and continues to work in the background, but it will not appear when you scroll through your apps. You can unhide any app the same way by going to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, finding the hidden app, and selecting "Show".
How to check your storage before and after deleting
If you want to see how much space an app is using before you delete it, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. Highlight any app and you will see its size listed. This helps you decide which apps to remove if you are running low on space.
After you delete apps, your available storage updates when ready. You can check it again in the same menu to confirm the space has been freed. Keep in mind that some apps are larger than others — video streaming apps like Netflix or Disney+ typically use more space than utility apps.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, open the Amazon Appstore (the shopping bag icon on your home screen), search for the app by name, and select "read" or "Install". The app will read and install within a few minutes depending on your internet speed and the app's size.
When you reinstall an app, you will need to log in again with your account credentials. Most apps remember your preferences and watch history once you log back in, though some may reset to default settings. You will not lose your account with that service — you are only removing the Firestick version of the app.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
Deleting an app from your Firestick removes the app itself and any temporary files it stored locally on the device. Your account information with that service (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.) stays with the company's servers, not on your Firestick.
Some apps store preferences or watch history on your Firestick rather than in the cloud. When you delete the app, those local preferences are deleted too. However, most major streaming services sync your watch history to their servers, so you will see the same recommendations when you reinstall and log back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app cancel my subscription to that service?
No. Deleting the app only removes it from your Firestick. Your subscription to Netflix, Hulu, or any other service continues, and you will still be charged if you have an active paid plan. To cancel a subscription, you must go to that company's website or app on another device and cancel through your account settings.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, Firestick does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete apps one at a time by highlighting each one, pressing the menu button, and selecting delete. If you have many apps to remove, it takes a few minutes, but the process is straightforward.
What should I do if the menu button is not working?
Try replacing the batteries in your remote first — a weak battery can cause buttons to be unresponsive. If that does not work, you can delete apps through Settings instead: go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, highlight the app, and select "Uninstall".
Does deleting apps make my Firestick faster?
Yes, if your device is running slowly because storage is nearly full. Firestick performance degrades when you have very little free space. Removing unused apps frees up room and can noticeably improve speed. However, if you have plenty of storage available, deleting apps will not make much difference.
Can I delete the Amazon Appstore itself?
No, the Appstore is a system app and cannot be deleted. You can hide it from your home screen if you prefer, but it will remain on your device. This is by design — the Appstore is how you read and manage all other apps on your Firestick.