5 FireStick settings you'll want to change

1.  Data Monitoring

Even though Amazon is a renowned organization, we do not want anyone stealing or using our data in any way that could compromise your privacy.

While the FireStick privacy settings are ‘ON’ by default, you can easily turn them OFF. Follow the steps below:

1. Go to the FireStick Settings from the home screen

2. Open Preferences on this window

3. Click Privacy Settings when the following set of options are displayed

Note: It is totally up to you whether you want to keep ‘Interest-based Ads’ ON or OFF. To be on the safer side, I have disabled this option

7. Make sure Data Monitoring is OFF on the next screen

2.  Appstore

There are a few options in the Appstore settings you might want to change for a better experience with FireStick. Here is what you can do:

1. Open the FireStick Settings again from the home window

2. Choose and then click the option Applications

3. Next, go ahead and open Appstore

Here is how you would want the various settings to be:

• Automatic Updates: Keep it ON so that the apps update automatically whenever there is an update. This option works only with the apps installed from the Amazon Appstore and not any third-party apps you might have sideloaded
• External Market Links: Certain apps have links that redirect you to the Amazon Appstore for the installation of other apps. Click this option and either choose Ask Before Opening (recommended) or Don’t Open.
• In-App Purchases: Keep this option OFF. It will make sure you don’t end up making in-app purchases accidentally. This will also prevent kids from making in-app purchases.
• Manage My Subscriptions: This option does nothing. It simply asks you to go to www.amazon.com/appstoresubscriptions to manage your subscriptions
• Notifications: You may turn this option OFF if you don’t want to be bothered by the Appstore notifications

3. Notifications

Notifications are often more annoying than they are useful. There are some apps that you need, but they keep throwing irrelevant notification. This could get a bit frustrating and may even affect your overall FireStick and streaming experience.

Thankfully, you can disable app notifications universally for all apps or choose to turn the notifications OFF for specific apps. And, you can do that for apps from Amazon Store as well as the third-party apps that have been sideloaded onto FireStick.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Firestick Settings one more time

2. Open the option Preferences

3. Click Notification Settings

4. If you want to disable notifications from all the apps, turn ON the option DO Not Interrupt

On the other hand, if you would like notification disabled for specific apps, click App Notifications and choose the desired app

4. Autoplay

The home screen of FireStick displays the ‘featured content’ around the top, underneath the menu bar (and above the row Recent).

The video and audio and preview of the content start playing automatically when you leave the home screen idle even for a few seconds. I personally find it a little annoying and if so do you, here is how you can disable it:

1. Go to the Settings Menu on FireStick

2. Click Preferences

3. Click Featured Content on the next screen

4. Turn OFF the following options: Allow Video Autoplay and Allow Audio Autoplay

5. Display

Choosing the right video and display settings is important if you want smooth and judder-free streaming experience. The default display settings of FireStick often work with most streaming applications. However, at certain times, tweaking the settings may give you more satisfactory streaming results.

Follow the steps below:

1. Open Firestick Settings

2. Open the option Display & Sounds

3. Click Display on the following screen