The following article explains how to stop Amazon from spying on you by changing some Fire TV settings.
If you’re using a Fire TV Stick or any Fire TV device, Amazon is collecting more of your data than you realize.
Each update brings new settings hidden inside menus with many of them tied to tracking and data collection. The good news? You can shut most of it off.
Below I’ll show you which Fire TV settings to change if you want more control over your privacy. Unfortunately you can’t turn off ads, but at least there are ways to limit this.
I’ve never been a fan of sending my usage data back to the tech giants whether it’s Amazon, Google, or anyone else. Amazon at least gives users a way to turn a lot of this off. You just need to know where to look.
How to Stop Amazon From Spying On You
In this short example we are using an Amazon Firestick 4K, but this will work on any Fire TV device.
1. Hover over the Settings icon and click Preferences.
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2. Click Privacy Settings.
3. First turn off Device Usage Data. This is where Amazon can use your personal data for marketing and other purposes.
4. Next turn off Collect App Usage Data. This allows Amazon to collect information on the apps you use.
5. Then turn off Interest-based Ads. This will prevent advertisers from using your specific ID to show specific ads.
6. I also suggest turning off Manage Sharing from Apps. This is another hidden setting that Amazon uses to collect our data.
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7. Now click the back button on your remote and click Data Usage Monitoring.
8. Turn off Data Usage Monitoring. This will prevent the monitoring of data consumption on your Fire TV device.
9. Now click the back button and select Featured Content.
10. I recommend turning off both Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay.
If for some reason you don’t see these options on your Firestick or Fire TV device, I suggest updating the software.
Other Online Privacy Tips
In addition to changing these Fire TV settings, there are some other online privacy tips we should be using for added protection.
A reliable VPN to hide your IP address is a must to keep your online activity private, especially when streaming with third-party apps.
It’s recommended to turn off voice assistants on all devices if you’re not using them. Also stick with secure email services like StartMail and avoid logging into streaming apps with your main Amazon or Google account.
Final Thoughts from Troy
Amazon makes it easy to enjoy content, but not so easy to protect your privacy. Changing a few Fire TV settings can help you take back some control.
It’s not about paranoia, it’s about knowing what’s happening in the background and what big tech companies like Amazon can do with your data.
You’ll thank yourself the next time your Fire TV isn’t showing ads for something you only mentioned out loud once.
Do you trust Amazon with your data on Fire TV devices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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This information helped me very much. Amazon is really a pain. I cannot delete their numerous apps. Keep clearing cache and force stopping them. How can an app use cache when it is not being used. Thank you for all your help. You’re the best!