Create App Shortcuts on FireStick: In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to create shortcuts for your favorite apps directly on the FireStick home screen. This method works across all Fire TV devices, including Fire TV Cube, FireStick Lite, FireStick 4K, and FireStick 4K Max. I’ll also share how you can launch FireStick apps using your smartphone.
The FireStick gives you access to a massive selection of apps. Over time, your app collection can grow significantly. While you might only use some of them occasionally (and should consider uninstalling those), others you may use daily. Having to scroll and search for frequently used apps every time can be annoying. That’s why placing shortcuts on your home screen is a smart move. With shortcuts, your most-used apps are just one click away. Creating app shortcuts makes navigating your FireStick faster and much more efficient. Let’s dive into how to do it.
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How to Add App Shortcuts to the FireStick Home Screen
- From your FireStick’s home screen, select the “Apps & Channels” button (the icon with three squares and a plus sign).
- Find the app you want to create a shortcut for—but don’t select it yet. For this example, we’ll use the YouTube app.
- With the app highlighted, press the menu button on your FireStick remote (the one with three horizontal lines). A pop-up menu will appear on the right side.
- To move the app to the front of the list and make it instantly accessible on your home screen, choose “Move to Front.” That’s it! The app will now appear at the beginning of your shortcut list on the FireStick home screen.
- If you prefer more control over the placement, select “Move.”
- The top row on this screen represents the apps that appear as shortcuts on your home screen. Keep in mind: the closer an app is to the left, the quicker it is to access using the FireStick remote.
- Use the directional buttons on your remote to move the app left or right along the top row. For instance, if you want YouTube to be the second app on your home screen, move it into that position.
- When you’re happy with the app’s placement, press the Select button to lock it in.
Where to Find Your New Shortcut
Once you’ve positioned the app, go back to the FireStick home screen. You’ll now see it appear just beneath the main featured content carousel, in the exact order you set. From there, you can launch any of your favorite apps instantly by clicking their tiles—no need to dig through menus every time.
How to Launch FireStick Apps Using Your Smartphone
You can easily open apps on your FireStick directly from your smartphone—no remote needed. The Amazon Fire TV app, available on both Android and iOS, offers a simple and official way to control your FireStick, including launching apps quickly. Below, I’ll walk you through how to set up the app on your smartphone and use it to launch FireStick apps.
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Part 1: Connect Your Smartphone to Your FireStick
- Install the Amazon Fire TV app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Make sure your phone and FireStick are connected to the same Wi-Fi network—this step is essential for the app to detect your device.
- Open the Amazon Fire TV app on your phone. After a few seconds, your FireStick should appear under the “Connect to Remote” section. Tap on your FireStick’s name.
- A four-digit code will show up on your TV screen via FireStick.
- Enter this code into the app on your smartphone to complete the pairing process.
Once connected, your phone will function as a full-featured remote for your FireStick.
Part 2: Open FireStick Apps from Your Smartphone
The Amazon Fire TV app offers a range of useful features. It allows you to control your FireStick right from your smartphone, including navigation and voice commands via Alexa. You can also use your phone’s keyboard, making typing much easier than using the FireStick remote. One of the app’s best features is the ability to launch apps installed on your FireStick. If you’ve run out of home screen shortcut slots, this is a quick and convenient way to access all your favorite apps directly from your phone.
Here’s how:
- From the main screen of the Amazon Fire TV app, tap the Apps icon (grid icon).
- You’ll see a list of all the apps installed on your FireStick. Just tap any app from the list to launch it instantly on your FireStick.
With this method, you can bypass your physical remote and easily open any app from your smartphone—even those not added to your FireStick home screen.
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FAQs
Do app shortcuts reset when I restart my FireStick?
No, your home screen shortcuts will remain intact even after multiple restarts. The only time they might disappear is if you sign out of your Amazon account—but they’ll return once you sign back in.
Are the app shortcuts on the home screen permanent?
You can update or rearrange your app shortcuts anytime by following the steps in this guide. They stay in place until you choose to change them.
How do I remove a shortcut from the home screen?
To remove a shortcut, go to the “Apps & Channels” menu and move the app out of the top row. Only the top six apps appear as shortcuts on your home screen.
How many shortcuts can I pin to the FireStick home screen?
The FireStick allows a maximum of six app shortcuts on the home screen. It’s best to reserve these for your most-used apps.
Can I remove unused shortcut slots from the home screen?
Unfortunately, no. FireStick always displays six shortcut slots. If you’re not using all of them, the empty slots will remain visible.
Is it possible to pair more than one FireStick to the Amazon Fire TV app?
Yes, you can pair multiple FireSticks with the app. However, you’ll need to switch between them—you can only control one device at a time.
Wrapping Up
In this tutorial, I showed you two simple ways to quickly launch apps on your FireStick—either by adding them as home screen shortcuts or by using the Amazon Fire TV app on your smartphone. Both options make navigating your device faster and more convenient. If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to leave a comment below!
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