Did you just find out that the Amazon FireTV stick you got recently is registered to someone else’s Amazon account?
Well, don’t worry. It’s no reason to panic and you are definitely NOT hacked.
You can even keep using it without any issues, but it isn’t a good idea.
In this article, I will lay down the reasons why your Firestick registered to someone else and what your next steps should be.
Why Is My Fire Stick Registered To Someone Else? (5 Reasons)
First up, let’s talk about how your Amazon Firestick might have been registered to someone else in the first place.
Some of the reasons are:
Buying A Used Firestick
This is the most common reason why your Amazon FireStick is registered to someone else.
The device must still be registered to its previous owner’s Amazon account. They either forgot or didn’t know they should disconnect it before it’s sold.
Lending Your Firestick To Someone Else
If someone borrowed your Firestick for a while, it is possible that they deregistered it from your account and registered it on their own.
If the device was registered to your own account prior to you letting them borrow it, this is most likely what happened.
Buying The Firestick Using Someone Else’s Amazon Account
Amazon FireTV devices usually come pre-registered to the Amazon account used to buy it.
So, if you use someone else’s account to buy your Firestick, it is going to come registered to that person’s account instead of yours.
Buying A Firestick From An Amazon Warehouse
Maybe you got your Firestick from an Amazon warehouse.
The Firestick devices available there are not brand new, but refurbished.
All those refurbished FireTv devices are usually deregistered from the previous owners accounts, but this step can be skipped mistakenly on rare occasions.
A Mistake On Amazon’s End
Even though it is extremely rare, it could be that Amazon got the orders mixed up and delivered a Firestick registered to someone else to you.
Deregister The Account On Amazon FireTV Stick
No matter why your Firestick is registered to someone else, the solution is simple.
All you have to do is deregister it from the Amazon account it is currently registered to, and re-register on your own.
To deregister the Firestick from the account it is currently registered to, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your Firestick.
- Select My Account.
- Select Amazon Account.
- Select Deregister.
- Confirm deregistration.
Once registration is complete, you will be given the option to register the device. Do so with your own account.
Can I Use Someone Else’s Firestick?
Technically, you can use someone else’s Fire Stick and not run into any issues. But it’s not ethical unless you know them and borrowed it for a while.
I know it can be really tempting with all the free subscriptions all, but don’t do it if the account belongs to the previous owner.
So if you are going to use it, you need to deregister the device from the previous owner’s Amazon account and register it on your own.
Can I Give My Firestick To Someone Else?
Yes, you can give your Fire Stick to someone else.
However, make sure to reset the device to its factory settings and deregister it from your Amazon account.
To reset the device, do the following:
- Press both the back and right navigation buttons on the Firestick remote at the same time and hold for ten seconds.
- A message asking for confirmation will appear on the TV screen.
- Click OK to confirm, and the resetting process will start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Someone Else’s Firestick Remote?
Yes, you can use someone else’s Fire Stick remote as long as it is paired with the Fire Stick. Firestick remotes are universal and will work on any Fire TV. And unlike the Firestick, you don’t need to reset or deregister anything.
How To Stop Someone From Connecting To Your Firestick?
The best way to stop someone from connecting to your Fire Stick is to stop them from accessing your network by changing your Wi-Fi password. You can set them up with a guest network on your router instead.
You can also utilize FireTV features like parental controls and access PINs. If you want to know how here’s a detailed guide on setting up fire TV parental controls
Also, disable the CEC function on your TV to stop stuff like casting.
If you think another Firestick is using your Amazon account, you can find and deregister it from your Amazon account.
