There is a new bug in Firestick and Fire TV devices that are causing some users to notice that their installed applications are being removed.
This is due to Amazon’s new auto-offload feature that automatically “offloads” applications that have not been used for 60 days.
Unfortunately, there seems to be an issue with this feature as many are running into issues with apps being removed even when they are used frequently.
This problem appears to be occurring when the Firestick is reset. This happens quite often for those who use the device on a daily basis.
Luckily, the auto offload feature can be disabled within the Settings. We provide instructions for this below.
Special thanks to TechDoctorUK for recognizing this flaw that has caused headaches for numerous Firestick users.
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Apps Being Removed Due to Lack of Use
Even though you may use an application frequently on your device, it seems that a flaw in the auto-offload feature is not recognizing this.
If you visit your applications, you can sort them by Recency. This will provide you with the last time you accessed a certain application.
1. From the home screen, open Settings and select Applications.
2. Click Manage Installed Applications.
3. Choose Sort.
4. Select Recency.
5. You can now see when you last used your installed applications. However, much of this information is incorrect as most apps show “Never Used” even though they are used daily.
This is the case for Surfshark VPN which we always connect to when using our Firestick or Fire TV.
We launched Surfshark and noticed that the app is functioning properly.
We then returned to the Settings to show App Recency, and it displayed that we have used the app today.
However, after doing a Firestick Reset, we returned to Manage Installed Applications, and again it listed Surfshark as Never Used.
This is a major problem. Many are complaining that apps are being removed due to this flaw.
Thankfully, we can easily disable the auto-offload feature within settings to ensure that this does not happen.
How to Disable Auto Offload on Firestick & Fire TV
1. From the home screen, hover over Settings and select My Fire TV.
2. Choose About.
3. Select Storage.
4. Click Auto Offload.
5. Make sure this feature is set to OFF.
This should solve the problem of apps being removed on your Firestick or Fire TV device. Enjoy!
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