Your Apps and Channels: Taking Control
One of the most frequent customization needs for Fire TV users is managing the "Your Apps & Channels" row. When you install a new app, it automatically appears at the end of this list. While Fire TV does not support app folders natively in its default launcher, you can easily rearrange and pin your favorite apps to the front for quick access.
How to Rearrange and Pin Apps
Organizing your app library is straightforward and can dramatically improve navigation. Here is a step-by-step process:
- Navigate to the "Your Apps & Channels" row on the home screen.
- Find the icon with three squares and a plus sign, which takes you to your full app library.
- Highlight the app you wish to move. For instance, if you want Netflix at the beginning of the row, highlight it.
- Press the Menu button (the one with three horizontal lines) on your Fire TV remote.
- A menu will appear on the bottom-right of your screen. Select the 'Move' option.
- Use the directional pad on your remote to move the app to your desired position.
- Alternatively, you can select 'Move to Front' to instantly place the app at the beginning of the row.
- Press the Select button to lock the app into its new position.
Removing Apps from the Home Screen
To declutter, you can remove icons from the main home screen row without uninstalling them. This is useful for apps you use infrequently.
- Highlight the app icon you want to hide from the home screen.
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Choose the 'Remove from Your Apps & Channels' option. The app will be moved to the end of the full app library list, accessible via the three-square icon.
Customizing Content Recommendations and Ads
Amazon's Fire TV home screen is heavily populated with sponsored and recommended content. For many, this is a significant source of frustration. The good news is you have control over some of these elements.
Disabling Autoplay Video and Audio
Featured content at the top of the home screen often plays with sound, which can be intrusive. You can turn this off by adjusting your preferences.
- From the home screen, go to Settings.
- Select Preferences.
- Choose Featured Content.
- Toggle off Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay.
Managing Personal Recommendations
Amazon uses your viewing history to generate personalized recommendations. While you can't completely disable the recommendations row, you can influence what appears.
- On your computer, visit the Prime Video website and log in to your account.
- Navigate to Your Recommendations or Improve Your Recommendations.
- You can remove specific titles from your recommendation history to prevent similar content from appearing.
- Use the Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down buttons on content pages to improve the algorithm's accuracy for future suggestions.
Customizing the Ambient Experience
Certain newer Fire TV devices and TVs offer an 'Ambient Experience' that displays widgets and photos instead of a static screensaver.
- Navigate to Settings > Display & Sounds.
- Select Ambient Experience.
- From here, you can change the background to personal photos from your Amazon Photos account and manage which widgets are displayed.
Comparison Table: Customization Options
| Feature | Stock Fire TV Settings | Third-Party Launcher (e.g., Wolf Launcher) |
|---|---|---|
| App Rearrangement | Manual move and pin to front. | Full drag-and-drop flexibility. |
| App Folders | Not supported. | Yes, can create custom app folders. |
| Sponsored Content | Can disable autoplay but main banner persists. | Can completely remove the sponsored content banner. |
| User Interface | Fixed Fire TV UI with standard rows. | Highly customizable, with different layouts and themes. |
| Performance | Can be sluggish with updates. | Often improves speed by removing bloatware. |
| Setup Difficulty | Very easy, no external apps needed. | Requires a technical setup involving developer options. |
| Widgets | Native widgets on supported devices. | More flexible widget options, sometimes with different features. |
Advanced Customization: Third-Party Launchers
For users who desire the most control, third-party launchers offer a way to completely redesign the Fire TV home screen. This process, often referred to as 'sideloading,' can remove the Amazon-branded interface entirely.
How to Install a Third-Party Launcher
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options.
- Enable ADB Debugging and Install Unknown Apps for the 'Downloader' app.
- Install a file manager and the third-party launcher APK using the Downloader app.
- Follow the specific instructions for your chosen launcher to set it as the default, replacing the stock home screen.
Conclusion
While a stock Fire TV home screen can feel restrictive and cluttered, you can customize a Fire TV home screen to a significant degree. For basic personalization, Amazon's built-in settings allow you to organize apps, manage recommendations, and disable annoying autoplay features. For a complete overhaul and total control, third-party launchers are a powerful, albeit more technical, solution. Whether you prefer a quick declutter or a full-scale renovation, your Fire TV can be made to feel more like your own.
Optional Outbound Link
To learn more about the technical details of Fire TV's operating system, including how third-party apps integrate, consult the official Amazon Developer documentation.
Keypoints
- App Organization: Use the remote's menu button to rearrange apps and pin favorites to the front for easy access.
- Remove Clutter: Hide infrequently used app icons from the home screen without needing to uninstall them.
- Disable Autoplay: Turn off distracting autoplay video and audio trailers from the Settings > Preferences menu.
- Manage Recommendations: Control personalized suggestions by rating titles or removing items from your history on the Prime Video website.
- Advanced Control: Install a third-party launcher for a fully customizable home screen, including app folders and removal of sponsored content.
- User Profiles: Create separate profiles for family members to get personalized content recommendations for each user.
- Customize Ambient Display: For newer devices, personalize the screen saver with your own photos and widgets via the Ambient Experience settings.
Faqs
Question: How can I rearrange my apps on the Fire TV home screen? Answer: Navigate to the app you want to move, press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) on your remote, select 'Move', and use the directional pad to place it in a new position.
Question: Can I get rid of the ads and sponsored content at the top of the Fire TV screen? Answer: You can disable the autoplaying video and audio trailers in Settings > Preferences > Featured Content. However, removing the entire top banner requires using a third-party launcher.
Question: Is it possible to create folders for my apps on the Fire TV home screen? Answer: The stock Fire TV interface does not support app folders. You can, however, install a third-party launcher to enable this feature for more advanced organization.
Question: How do I disable the autoplaying trailers that start when I browse the home screen? Answer: Go to Settings > Preferences > Featured Content and turn off both Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay.
Question: How do I improve or remove specific recommendations? Answer: For Prime Video content, use the 'Thumbs Up' and 'Thumbs Down' ratings. For broader changes, you can manage your viewing history and recommendations on the Prime Video website.
Question: Can I customize the screensaver on my Fire TV? Answer: Yes, on newer devices with the Ambient Experience, you can change the background to your personal Amazon Photos albums via Settings > Display & Sounds > Ambient Experience. For older devices, you can set an Amazon Photos album as your Screensaver in Display & Sounds settings.
Question: How do I set up a custom home screen for different family members? Answer: Create separate user profiles by going to Settings > Profiles > Add Profile. This gives each user their own watch history and personalized recommendations.
