Fire TV Stick with Amazon Account 101

You’ve never been a big Amazon fan, but you recently got a Fire TV Stick, so you can watch movies on your old TV.

You don’t usually buy things online or watch Amazon Prime, so you don’t even have an Amazon account. Not to mention, you really don’t want to make one. 

But, will you need to make an Amazon account when setting up your Fire Stick? Is there a way to use your Fire Stick without an Amazon account?

Keep reading to find out! 

How to Set Up a Fire TV Stick?

Setting up a Fire TV Stick only takes a few minutes!

Fire TV sticks are notoriously easy to set up. Let’s learn how! 

Step 1: Set Up the Hardware 

First, you’ll need to connect your Fire TV Stick to your TV by plugging it into one of your TV’s HDMI ports. Then, you’ll need to connect it to power. Not all TVs have powered USB ports, and some powered USB ports cannot supply enough electricity for your Fire Stick. 

If your TV can’t supply enough power, use a USB adapter, like the Amazon Basics One-Port USB Wall Charger  to plug it into a wall outlet instead. 

Alternatively, you can use the QFUP USB Power Adapter for Fire TV Stick , which will boost your TV USB’s power output.

Step 2: Adjust Your TV’s Input

You will need to adjust your TV’s input to see your Fire TV Stick’s interface on-screen. This can be done via your remote’s Source or Input button. Click it until you see the Fire TV Stick setup page on-screen. 

If none of your inputs displays the Fire TV Stick, check that the device is properly plugged in and powered. 

Step 3: Pair Your Fire Stick Remote 

If this is the first time setting up your Fire TV Stick, you may have to pair your remote to it manually. 

To pair the remote, check that the Fire Stick Remote has working batteries and hold the Home button, marked by a house symbol. Release it when prompted to press the Play/Pause button. 

Follow any additional on-screen prompts. 

Pro Tip: Your Fire Stick remote works with Bluetooth, so you don’t have to point it directly at your TV for it to work. 

Step 4: Connect to a Stable Network

Although Amazon recommends connecting your Fire Stick to Wi-Fi, it can also be connected to a router with an Ethernet cable or a hotspot. To use a wired internet connection for your Fire Stick, you will need to plug an Ethernet adapter into your Fire Stick’s micro USB port. 

We recommend checking out the Amazon Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fire TV Devices  if you’re on the hunt for a reliable Ethernet adapter specifically designed for your Fire TV Stick. 

However, the network must be fast and reliable since streaming works best with high-speed internet. 

Your Fire TV Stick will display directions on-screen instructing you to connect to a network. Using the on-screen keyboard, you may also need to enter your router or personal hotspot’s password. 

Step 5: Sign into Your Amazon Account

Now it’s time to sign into your Amazon account. If you don’t already have an Amazon account, we recommend making one on your laptop before signing into it on your Fire TV Stick. 

You will need to insert your email or phone number and your password. Remember, your password is case-sensitive, so use the on-screen keyboard’s capslock button if necessary. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to set up a Fire Stick. 

Can I Use a Fire Stick Without an Amazon Account? 

No, you can not use a Fire Stick without an Amazon account. 

As discussed, the last step when setting up your Fire Stick is to sign into your Amazon account. 

You will not get past the setup screen without correctly entering your Amazon account login credentials. 

Unfortunately, there is no way to bypass this step, so you will need to make an account if you want to use your Fire TV Stick.

However, there is one big pro to signing into your Amazon account. 

If you purchase any paid apps on your Fire TV Stick, you will still be able to access them on another Fire TV Stick device via your Amazon account. You will need to download them onto the device. However, the Appstore will show that you’ve already bought the app. 

This means you won’t have to pay for apps several times if you use a different Fire TV Stick device. The apps will also sync with your other devices. 

So, to make sure you don’t have to buy the same app multiple times or lose your personal information, Amazon requires you to sign into your account. 

Is There an Alternative Solution to Making an Amazon Account?

Sorry to break it to you, but there is no way to get around logging into your Amazon account. 

Luckily, Amazon accounts are completely free to make, and you don’t even need to enter your credit card information to create one. 

You don’t even have to insert your email address. Instead, you can insert your phone number. 

If you’re worried about Amazon tracking you and want to remain as anonymous as possible, try creating a dummy Amazon account. 

Don’t worry. This is completely legal and won’t affect your user experience as long as you’re not using another person’s real information and impersonating them online.

You can even make a fake Gmail or Yahoo account to link to your dummy Amazon account. 

Enter some fake information. You can even say your name is something to the effect of John Amazon. 

However, please note that if you have multiple Amazon accounts (both real and fake), they will not sync with each other. 

Is There a Guest Mode on a Fire TV Stick?

No, there is no guest mode on a Fire TV Stick. 

You will be unable to use a Fire TV Stick if it’s not logged into an Amazon account, even as a guest. 

This means that if you’re using a Fire TV Stick at an Airbnb or a friend’s house, it must be connected to an Amazon account. 

You also cannot log into more than one Amazon account at once on a Fire TV Stick.

So, if you would like to access your Amazon account on a Fire Stick that’s already connected to someone else’s Amazon account, you will need to have them log out.   

What To Do When Your Fire Stick Is Registered to Someone Else

You must deregister the other person’s account before registering your own.

Whether you’re using a friend’s Fire TV Stick or buying one second-hand, there are several reasons why you may need to deregister someone’s Amazon account. 

You should not use someone’s Amazon account without their permission, even if you do not make any purchases using their linked credit card.

So, you have two options here. 

The first option is to deregister the account through the settings. 

Don’t worry. Deregistering your account from your Fire TV Stick will not delete your Amazon account. 

Your Fire TV Stick must be connected to the internet for this process. 

Using your remote, open the Settings, followed by Account. Select About and click Deregister. 

Please note that several Fire TV Stick settings will not work when it is not connected to an Amazon account. You may also not be able to access certain apps, and their icons will be grayed out until you register an account. 

Once it’s deregistered, your Fire TV Stick will bring you to a sign-in page where you can register your Amazon account. 

The second option is to create a new account, but we recommend doing this on your laptop, as typing with your Fire TV Stick remote can be tedious. 

To learn more about how to deregister your Amazon account from your Fire TV Stick and what will happen to your apps and home screen when there isn’t an account linked to it, watch the video below. 

Alternative

If you’re planning on giving your Fire TV Stick away and want to deregister your account beforehand, we recommend factory resetting it. 

Deregistering your Amazon account will not delete all of your Fire TV Sticks data, so it’s best to factory reset your device to ensure your personal information is kept private. 

Go to your Fire TV Stick’s Settings, then open My Fire TV. Next, click on Reset to Factory Defaults and Reset. 

Wait a few minutes for all of your personal data to be wiped from your Fire TV Stick. 

Once your Fire TV Stick has reset, you must pair your remote, connect it to Wi-Fi (don’t forget to save the Wi-Fi password if you’re connecting it to your home’s router), and log in to your Amazon account. 

Watch the video below explaining how to factory reset a Fire TV Stick, set it up, and register a new Amazon account. 

Wrapping Things Up

There are no “ifs,” “ands,” or “buts” about it. You absolutely must have an Amazon account to use a Fire TV Stick. 

You can log into an existing account or create one within your Fire TV Stick interface. 

You also have the liberty of creating a dummy Amazon account and using that instead. 

If someone else’s Amazon account is registered with your device, you will need to either deregister them through the settings or factory reset the Fire TV Stick, deleting all of its data. 

What’s your experience deregistering an Amazon account on a Fire TV Stick? Let us know in the comments below!