The fastest way to free up space on your Firestick

Uninstalling an app on a Firestick takes about 30 seconds. Go to the home screen, highlight the app you want to remove, press the menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote, and select "Uninstall" from the menu that appears. The app disappears when ready, and the storage space it used becomes available again.

You do not need to restart your Firestick or do anything else after uninstalling. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall the same app from the Amazon Appstore at any time — your login information and any purchases you made through that app stay tied to your Amazon account.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling an app requires only your remote: highlight the app, press menu, and select uninstall.
  • Firestick comes with some built-in apps you cannot remove, but you can hide them from your home screen instead.
  • Removing apps frees up storage space, which can improve your Firestick's speed if it is running slowly.
  • You can reinstall any app you uninstall later without losing purchases or account information tied to that app.

Step-by-step uninstall for any app

Start from your Firestick home screen. Use the remote to highlight the app you want to remove — it will have a colored border around it when selected. Do not open the app; just select it.

Press the menu button on your remote. This is the button with three horizontal lines, usually in the upper left area of the remote. A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Uninstall" and press the button to select it. A confirmation message may appear asking if you are sure; select "Yes" or "OK" to complete the removal.

The app is now gone from your Firestick. You will have more free storage space, and the app will no longer appear on your home screen or in your apps list.

What happens to your data and purchases when you uninstall

Uninstalling an app does not delete your account information or any purchases you made through that app. If you had a login saved in the app — like a Netflix password or a Hulu account — that information stays with your Amazon account, not with the app itself. When you reinstall the app later, you can log back in using the same credentials.

Purchases made through an app (like in-app coins, subscriptions, or digital items) are tied to your Amazon account and the app's developer, not to the app installation on your device. You will still own those purchases if you reinstall. However, any data saved only within the app — like game progress stored locally on the Firestick itself — may be lost. Most apps that track progress (games, streaming services, fitness apps) save that data to their own servers, so reinstalling will not affect it.

Built-in apps you cannot uninstall

Some apps come pre-installed on Firestick and cannot be removed. These typically include Amazon Prime Video, Alexa, and a few others that Amazon considers core to the device. If you try to uninstall one of these, the "Uninstall" option straightforward will not appear in the menu.

If you do not want to see these apps on your home screen, you can hide them instead. Highlight the app, press menu, and look for "Remove from Home" or "Hide" — the exact wording depends on your Firestick model and software version. The app stays on your device but disappears from your home screen. You can unhide it later the same way if you change your mind.

When uninstalling apps can speed up your Firestick

If your Firestick is running slowly, freezing, or taking a long time to load apps, removing unused apps can sometimes help. Each app takes up storage space and uses a small amount of memory even when closed. On older Firestick models with limited storage (like the basic Fire TV Stick), removing apps you do not use regularly can free up enough space to improve performance.

Uninstalling apps is most helpful if your Firestick storage is nearly full. Check how much space you have left by going to Settings, then System, then Storage. If you are using more than 80 percent of available storage, removing a few large apps (like games or streaming apps you rarely use) may noticeably improve speed. If you have plenty of free space, uninstalling apps will have little effect on performance.

Reinstalling an app you removed

To get an app back, go to the home screen and select the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top. Type the app name and press search. When the app appears in the results, select it and choose "read" or "Install." The app will read and install automatically, usually within a minute or two depending on your internet speed.

You can also find apps by opening the Appstore from your home screen, searching for the app by name, and selecting "read." Either method works the same way. Once installation is complete, the app will appear on your home screen and be ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling an app delete my account or passwords?

No. Your account information and passwords are stored with your Amazon account and the app's servers, not on the Firestick itself. When you reinstall the app, you can log back in with the same username and password you used before.

Can I uninstall Amazon Prime Video or other built-in apps?

No, some apps come pre-installed and cannot be uninstalled. You can hide them from your home screen instead by selecting the app, pressing menu, and choosing "Remove from Home." They stay on your device but will not clutter your home screen.

How much storage space do apps actually use?

It varies widely. Small apps like weather or news readers use 10 to 50 megabytes. Larger apps like games or streaming services can use 100 megabytes to over 1 gigabyte. You can see how much space each app uses by going to Settings, System, Storage, and selecting "Manage Storage."

If I uninstall an app, will my game progress be lost?

Most games save progress to the game developer's servers, so your progress stays safe. However, some older games or apps that save data only to your Firestick may lose that data. If you are unsure, check the app's settings or help section before uninstalling to see where it saves your data.

Do I need to restart my Firestick after uninstalling an app?

No. Uninstalling an app takes effect when ready, and your Firestick will continue working normally. You do not need to restart or do anything else after removing an app.