Amazon Firestick has become one of the most popular streaming devices offering users easy access to their favorite shows, movies and apps however one downside of using Firestick is the frequent appearance of ads especially those intrusive full screen video ads these ads can be frustrating particularly when youre in the middle of watching your favorite content.
Fortunately there are simple ways to block ads on your Firestick and remove full screen video ads in this guide well show you how to get rid of those annoying interruptions with both free and premium solutions that suit every user.
Why Are There Ads on Firestick?
Firestick ads are mainly shown in the devices interface to promote Amazons own services or third party products the ads may appear as:
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Banner Ads: Displayed at the top or bottom of the screen.
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Full-Screen Video Ads: These take over the entire screen and interrupt your viewing experience.
Although these ads help Amazon generate revenue many users find them disruptive luckily there are ways to block or reduce these ads so lets explore the methods.
1. Disable Personalized Ads in Firestick Settings
One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of ads you see is by adjusting your Firestick settings this will not completely block all ads but it can prevent personalized ads from being shown based on your activity.
Step by Step Guide to Disable Personalized Ads:
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Turn on Your Firestick and navigate to the Home screen.
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Go to Settings at the top of the screen.
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Scroll over to Preferences and select it.
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Choose Privacy Settings.
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You will see the following options:
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Device Usage Data: Disable this to stop Amazon from tracking your device usage for advertising.
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Collect App Usage Data: Turn off this option to prevent apps from sharing your data with Amazon.
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Interest Based Ads: This is the key option disable it to stop receiving personalized ads.
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After making these changes restart your Firestick to apply the new settings.
While this wont remove all ads it should reduce personalized advertisements and give you a smoother experience.
2. Use a VPN to Block Ads
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an excellent tool for blocking ads especially if youre looking for a more robust solution in addition to protecting your online privacy, many VPNs offer ad blocking features by using a VPN you can block unwanted ads including the full screen video ads on Firestick.
How to Set Up a VPN on Firestick:
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Choose a VPN: Look for a VPN that offers ad blocking features popular options like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and CyberGhost work well with Firestick.
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Download and Install the VPN: Go to the Amazon App Store search for your chosen VPN and install it.
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Sign In to the VPN: Open the app and log in with your credentials.
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Activate the VPN: Once logged in select a server location and turn on the VPN.
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Enable Ad Blocking: If your VPN has an ad blocking feature make sure its turned on in the settings.
Once the VPN is active your Firestick will have an added layer of protection and ads should be blocked during your streaming sessions.
3. Use Ad Blocking Apps
If you want a more direct approach to blocking ads you can install third party ad blocking apps on your Firestick these apps can block ads in many apps and websites across your device.
Popular Ad Blocking Apps:
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AdGuard: AdGuard is a powerful ad blocking app that can block all kinds of ads including banner ads and video ads.
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Download the AdGuard APK from a trusted website.
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Use the Downloader app to install it on your Firestick.
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After installation open AdGuard and enable the ad blocking feature.
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Blokada: Blokada works by blocking ads at the network level its a great choice for blocking ads across all your apps on Firestick.
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Download Blokada APK and install it using the Downloader app.
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Once installed open Blokada and activate the ad blocking feature.
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These apps can effectively block ads and many of them are free to use giving you a cost effective way to remove ads on your Firestick.
4. Install a Custom Launcher to Avoid Ads
Another great way to block ads on Firestick is by installing a custom launcher a custom launcher replaces the default Firestick home screen allowing you to avoid seeing the usual ads this method is ideal if you dont mind changing your interface.
How to Install a Custom Launcher:
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Enable Apps from Unknown Sources:
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Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options.
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Turn on both ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources.
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Install a Custom Launcher:
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Popular options include Hal Launcher and Wolf Launcher you can download these launchers from the Amazon App Store or other trusted sources.
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Use the Downloader app to install the launcher on your Firestick.
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Set the new launcher as your default under Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
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Using a custom launcher can help you eliminate most of the ads shown on the Firestick home screen providing a cleaner and more ad free experience.
5. Subscribe to Ad Free Apps
If you prefer not to deal with ads at all subscribing to premium ad free versions of your favorite apps is a great solution many streaming apps offer paid subscriptions that remove ads entirely allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted content.
Examples of Ad Free Subscriptions:
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Netflix (Ad Free)
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Amazon Prime Video (No Ads in Movies/TV Shows)
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YouTube Premium (Ad Free YouTube)
By subscribing to these services you wont have to worry about ads disrupting your viewing experience.
6. Factory Reset Firestick (Last Resort)
If youve tried all the methods and still encounter too many ads performing a factory reset may be your last resort a factory reset will return your Firestick to its original settings and can potentially eliminate ads.
How to Factory Reset Firestick:
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Go to Settings > My Fire TV.
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Select Reset to Factory Defaults.
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Follow the on screen prompts to complete the reset.
Keep in mind that a factory reset will erase all your apps and personal data so be sure to back up any important information before proceeding.
7. Use Paid Streaming Services
While free streaming apps like Pluto TV, Tubi and Crackle offer great content they often come with ads if youre tired of ads consider switching to paid streaming services which usually offer an ad free experience some popular paid services include:
These services often provide better quality and a more seamless experience without any interruptions from ads.
Conclusion
Dealing with ads on Firestick can be frustrating, but with the methods mentioned above you can enjoy an ad free or ad reduced experience whether youre adjusting settings using a VPN installing ad blocking apps or switching to a custom launcher there are many ways to block ads and improve your streaming experience.
If youre still bothered by ads subscribing to ad free versions of apps or opting for premium streaming services may be the best solution by following these steps youll be able to enjoy your Firestick without constant interruptions from ads making your entertainment time more enjoyable.
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