Delete an app using the home screen menu
The fastest way to remove an app from your Fire Stick is to find it on your home screen, highlight it, and press the menu button on your remote. From there, you can select the delete option and confirm. The whole process takes about 30 seconds and the app disappears immediately.
Start by using your remote to navigate to the app you want to remove. Highlight it so it's selected (it will appear larger or highlighted on screen). Press the menu button — this is the three horizontal lines button on your remote, usually near the top. A small menu will pop up with options including "Remove from Home" or "Delete". Select "Delete" if that option appears, or "Remove from Home" if you only see that choice. Press the select button (the center circle) to confirm.
If you only see "Remove from Home", the app is still installed on your Fire Stick but hidden from the home screen. You can reinstall it later from the Amazon Appstore without downloading it again. If you see "Delete", the app will be completely removed from your device.
Key Takeaways
- Highlight the app on your home screen, press the menu button on your remote, and select delete to remove it completely.
- "Remove from Home" hides the app but keeps it installed; "Delete" removes it entirely from your Fire Stick.
- You can reinstall deleted apps later from the Amazon Appstore without paying again if they were free.
- If an app won't delete from the home screen menu, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications to force remove it.
Delete an app through the Settings menu
If an app doesn't appear on your home screen or the menu button doesn't work, you can remove it through your Fire Stick's settings. This method also works if you want to see all installed apps at once and delete multiple apps in a row.
On your home screen, navigate to Settings (usually at the top right). Select Applications. Then select Manage Installed Applications. You'll see a list of every app currently on your Fire Stick. Scroll through and highlight the one you want to delete. Press the select button and choose "Uninstall". Confirm when prompted. The app will be removed from your device.
This method is useful because you can see exactly how much storage space each app takes up, which helps if your Fire Stick is running slowly or running out of storage. Removing large apps like games or streaming services can free up noticeable space.
What happens when you delete an app
When you delete an app, it's completely removed from your Fire Stick. The app no longer appears on your home screen or in your installed applications list. If the app stored any data — like login information, watch history, or saved games — that data is also deleted and cannot be recovered.
You can reinstall the app later at any time by going to the Amazon Appstore, searching for it by name, and selecting "Download" or "Install". If the app was free, you won't pay anything to reinstall it. If it was a paid app, you may be able to reinstall it for free if you purchased it before, depending on the app's policy.
Some apps that came pre-installed on your Fire Stick (like Amazon Prime Video or Alexa) cannot be deleted, only removed from your home screen. If you try to delete one of these built-in apps, you'll see "Uninstall" grayed out or unavailable.
Apps that won't delete
A few apps cannot be deleted because they're part of the Fire Stick's core system. Amazon Prime Video, Alexa, and the Amazon Appstore itself are examples. If you don't want to see these apps on your home screen, you can remove them from the home screen without deleting them — they'll stay installed but hidden.
If an app appears to be stuck and won't delete even after you've tried both methods above, restart your Fire Stick. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully load. Once it's restarted, try deleting the app again through Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
If the app still won't delete after a restart, it may be a system app that Fire Stick doesn't allow you to remove. In that case, removing it from your home screen is the only option available.
Free up storage space by deleting large apps
Fire Sticks have limited storage — usually between 8 and 16 gigabytes depending on the model. Large apps like games, streaming services, or apps with lots of video content can take up several gigabytes each. If your Fire Stick is running slowly, freezing, or won't download new apps, deleting apps you don't use regularly can help.
To see which apps are using the most space, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications. The storage size appears next to each app's name. Start by deleting the largest apps you haven't used in the past month. Games and video apps are usually the biggest culprits.
After you delete a few large apps, restart your Fire Stick and try using it again. You should notice faster performance and the ability to download new apps. Keep in mind that some apps will re-download data automatically the next time you open them, so the storage space may not stay free permanently.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later change your mind, you can reinstall it from the Amazon Appstore. On your Fire Stick home screen, navigate to the Appstore (usually at the top of the screen). Use the search function to find the app by name. When you find it, select it and choose "Download" or "Install". The app will download and install automatically.
If the app was free when you first installed it, it will be free to reinstall. If it was a paid app, you may see a "Download" button instead of a price, which means you've already purchased it and can reinstall it without paying again. Some paid apps may require you to pay again if the developer has changed their policy, but this is rare.
Reinstalling usually takes a few minutes depending on the app's size and your internet speed. You don't need to do anything while it installs — just leave your Fire Stick on and connected to WiFi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, Fire Stick requires you to delete apps one at a time. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications and delete each app individually by highlighting it and selecting Uninstall. It takes a few minutes to delete several apps, but it's straightforward.
Will deleting an app delete my account or login information?
Yes. When you delete an app, any data stored on your Fire Stick — including login information, watch history, and saved preferences — is deleted along with it. When you reinstall the app, you'll need to log in again. Your account itself (like your Netflix or Hulu account) is not affected and still exists.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
You can reinstall it immediately from the Amazon Appstore. Search for the app by name, select it, and choose Download. It will reinstall in a few minutes. There's no penalty for deleting and reinstalling apps, and free apps cost nothing to reinstall.
Does deleting apps make my Fire Stick faster?
Yes, deleting large apps you don't use can free up storage space and improve performance. Fire Sticks run slower when storage is nearly full. Removing apps that take up several gigabytes can noticeably speed up your device, especially if you're trying to download new apps.
Can I delete the Amazon Appstore or Prime Video?
No. These are system apps that Fire Stick doesn't allow you to delete. You can remove them from your home screen so they don't appear, but they will remain installed on your device. The Uninstall button will be grayed out if you try to delete them.