Skip to Content
Newsletter Facebook Bluesky Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comBluesky

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon is removing a popular feature from Fire TV interfaces

Amazon is removing a popular feature from Fire TV interfaces

Fire TV owners will no longer be able to hide apps on their home screens once they’ve got the new update.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
David Satin
•
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.

For years, Amazon Fire TV device owners have enjoyed the ability to hide apps from their home screens and app lists to reduce digital clutter. However, according to AFTV News, that ability is about to disappear. A new software update making its way to Fire TV devices removes the ability to hide apps, which is sure to make owners of these devices hopping mad.

Key Details:

  • The ability to hide apps on Fire TV was first introduced in 2019.
  • All installed apps on Fire TV sets and players will now be seen in app lists.
  • The only way to hide an app on Fire TV devices going forward will be to uninstall that app.

The new update is already rolling out to Amazon Fire TV devices and has reportedly come to the first-generation Fire TV Stick 4K, as well as the second-generation Fire TV Max player. It takes away viewers’ ability to hide apps from their menus, which first became available with another software update in 2019.

Once the ability to hide apps is removed, customers will be forced to browse through all apps installed on their Fire TV device when scrolling through lists. That includes apps used on other profiles on Fire TV devices; if your partner uses Netflix all the time on their profile, but you don’t watch it at all, you’ll still have to scroll past it on your own profile when the new update hits your device.

Once your player or Fire TV set has the new update, the only way to not see a given app in your lists will be to uninstall it. But there are some apps that come pre-installed on Fire TV sets, such as Prime Video, Amazon News, and Amazon Shopping, and there’s no way to uninstall them.

It’s not clear why Amazon is removing the ability to hide apps on Fire TV devices, or if the function will be restored on future updates. Perhaps the change comes at the behest of app owners who want more customer eyes on their products, though whether this actually leads to new subscriptions is doubtful.

The last time Amazon made a change to the Fire TV interface, it was a fairly innocuous decision to move the apps bar found at the top of the screen down a little. However, this change is likely to attract a lot more negative attention from Fire TV owners.

David Satin
David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.
Read full bio ›
Facebook LinkedIn Reddit

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

DIRECTV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.