Uninstalling apps on Fire Stick takes about 30 seconds per app
You remove an app from Fire Stick by finding it in your apps list, opening its menu, and selecting the uninstall option. The process is the same whether you installed the app from the Amazon Appstore or sideloaded it yourself. Once you uninstall, the app is gone — you can reinstall it later from the Appstore if you change your mind.
Fire Stick has limited storage, so uninstalling apps you don't use regularly frees up space for updates and new installations. Removing an app does not delete any account data tied to that app — if you reinstall Netflix later, you'll still be logged in to your account.
Key Takeaways
- Navigate to Your Apps, find the app you want to remove, press the menu button on your remote, and select Uninstall.
- Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your Fire Stick but does not delete your account information for that service.
- You can reinstall any app from the Amazon Appstore at any time, even if you uninstalled it months ago.
- Some pre-installed Amazon apps cannot be uninstalled, but you can hide them from your home screen instead.
The step-by-step process for removing an app
Start by pressing the Home button on your Fire Stick remote to go to the home screen. From there, navigate to Your Apps using the menu at the top of the screen — you may need to scroll left to find it, depending on your Fire Stick model and software version.
Once you're in Your Apps, scroll through the list until you find the app you want to uninstall. Highlight it with your remote and press the Menu button (the three horizontal lines button on most Fire Stick remotes). A small menu will pop up with several options. Select Uninstall and confirm when prompted. The app will disappear from your device within a few seconds.
If you're looking for an app you haven't used in a while and can't remember its exact name, use the search function at the top of Your Apps. Type the app name and it will show up in the results, even if it's not currently installed.
What happens to your data and accounts when you uninstall
Uninstalling an app does not log you out of your account or delete your saved passwords. If you reinstall the app later, you'll usually find yourself still logged in. This is because account information is stored on the service's servers (Netflix's servers, for example), not on your Fire Stick itself.
Some apps store local data on your Fire Stick — saved game progress, downloaded videos, or cached files. Uninstalling the app will remove this local data. If the app syncs your data to the cloud (many games and productivity apps do), that information stays safe on the company's servers and will sync back when you reinstall.
If you're concerned about a specific app's data, check its settings before uninstalling. Many apps have an option to back up your data or export your information.
Apps you cannot uninstall and how to hide them
Amazon pre-installs certain apps on every Fire Stick — Alexa, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, and a few others. These apps cannot be uninstalled through the normal menu. If you don't use them, you can hide them from your home screen instead, which removes them from view without taking up mental space.
To hide an app, go to Your Apps, highlight the app you want to hide, press Menu, and select Hide. The app stays on your Fire Stick and takes up storage, but it won't appear on your home screen or in your apps list. You can unhide it later using the same process if you change your mind.
If you want to free up storage and cannot uninstall a pre-installed app, your only option is to clear its cache and data through Settings. Go to Settings, then Applications, then Manage Installed Applications, find the app, and select Clear Cache or Clear Data. This removes temporary files and resets the app to its default state without uninstalling it.
Freeing up storage space on your Fire Stick
Fire Stick models have between 8 GB and 16 GB of total storage, but not all of that is available for apps. The operating system takes up space, and Amazon reserves some for system functions. In practice, you typically have 2 to 5 GB of usable space depending on your model.
If your Fire Stick is running slowly or you're getting storage warnings, uninstalling unused apps is the fastest fix. Start by removing apps you haven't opened in the past month. You can always reinstall them later. If you use streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, these usually don't take much space — most of the problem is typically games or apps that download content for offline use.
You can check how much storage each app uses before deciding what to uninstall. Go to Settings, then Applications, then Manage Installed Applications. Select an app and you'll see its size listed. This helps you prioritize which apps to remove if you're running low on space.
Reinstalling an app you uninstalled
Any app you uninstall can be reinstalled from the Amazon Appstore. Go to the Appstore, search for the app by name, and select Install. The app will download and install within a minute or two, depending on your internet speed and the app's size.
If you uninstalled an app and it no longer appears in the Appstore search results, it may have been removed by the developer or is no longer compatible with your Fire Stick model. This is rare, but it happens — older apps sometimes stop being maintained and disappear from the store. In this case, you cannot reinstall it through normal means.
Apps you sideloaded (installed from outside the Amazon Appstore) will not reappear in the Appstore after uninstalling. You'll need to sideload them again using the same method you used originally if you want to reinstall them.
Troubleshooting if an app won't uninstall
If you try to uninstall an app and nothing happens, or you get an error message, restart your Fire Stick first. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up. Then try uninstalling again.
If the app still won't uninstall after a restart, check that you have enough free storage space. Fire Stick sometimes needs a small amount of free space to complete the uninstall process. If you're nearly full, uninstall a different app first to free up room, then try again.
If a pre-installed Amazon app is giving you trouble, you cannot uninstall it, but you can disable it through Settings. Go to Settings, Applications, Manage Installed Applications, select the app, and choose Disable. This stops the app from running in the background and removes it from your apps list, though it will still take up storage space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling an app delete my saved games or progress?
It depends on where the game stores your data. If the game syncs progress to the cloud (most modern games do), your progress stays safe and will reload when you reinstall. If the game only saves locally on your Fire Stick, uninstalling will delete that save. Check the game's settings before uninstalling if you're unsure.
Can I uninstall Amazon Prime Video or Alexa?
No, these are pre-installed by Amazon and cannot be uninstalled. You can hide them from your home screen so they don't appear, or disable them through Settings to stop them from running in the background. Both options keep the app on your device but remove it from view or active use.
What's the difference between uninstalling and hiding an app?
Uninstalling removes the app entirely and frees up storage space. Hiding keeps the app on your Fire Stick but removes it from your home screen and apps list. You can only hide pre-installed apps; regular apps can only be uninstalled.
If I uninstall an app, will I lose my login information?
No. Your account information is stored on the service's servers, not on your Fire Stick. When you reinstall the app, you'll typically still be logged in. If you want to log out before uninstalling, do that through the app's settings first.
How much storage space will I free up by uninstalling apps?
Most streaming apps (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+) use 50 MB to 200 MB each. Games vary widely — some are under 100 MB, while others can be 500 MB or more. Check the app size in Settings before uninstalling if you want to know exactly how much space you'll recover.