Remove Old Devices: How to Clean Up Your Streaming Accounts and Stay Secure

When you remove old devices, you’re cutting off access to your streaming accounts from hardware you no longer use. Also known as deauthorizing inactive devices, this simple step keeps your accounts secure, frees up licenses, and stops someone else from using your Netflix, Hulu, or Fire TV without permission. Most people forget they signed in on a friend’s tablet, an old Roku, or a rental laptop five years ago. Those devices are still connected—and they’re a security risk.

Streaming services like Amazon Fire TV, a popular streaming platform with built-in parental controls and device tracking and Hulu + Live TV, a cable alternative that limits simultaneous streams let you see every device logged into your account. You can’t watch two shows at once on Hulu if your old work laptop is still signed in. And if you use parental controls, features that lock apps and block purchases for kids, leftover devices can mess up those settings. Imagine your child suddenly able to buy a game because an old Fire TV still has access—and no PIN is active on it anymore.

Removing old devices isn’t just about security—it’s about control. If you’ve upgraded your TV, sold your tablet, or switched from Roku to Apple TV, those old gadgets are sitting ducks. Hackers use leaked login data to target inactive accounts. And if you’ve shared your password with a roommate or family member who’s since moved out, you’re still giving them access. The fix takes under five minutes on most platforms. You don’t need a tech degree. Just go to your account settings, find the device list, and hit remove.

Some services, like Fire TV, even let you see when a device was last used. That’s your clue: if it hasn’t been active in six months, it’s safe to delete. And if you’re using K-dramas, Korean content that often requires regional account restrictions or Tidal, a music streaming service that limits device count for premium tiers, removing unused devices unlocks your full access. Same goes for Hulu Originals or Netflix—each has a hard limit on how many screens can stream at once.

You’ll also notice that medications that affect memory, like some antihistamines or antidepressants can make you forget you even had a device signed in. That’s why this step matters more than ever. If you’re older, or if you’re managing a family account, you’re more likely to have forgotten devices cluttering your profile. Cleaning them out isn’t just smart—it’s necessary.

Below, you’ll find real guides that show you exactly how to remove old devices on Fire TV, Hulu, and other platforms. You’ll also learn how to lock down access for kids, avoid accidental purchases, and keep your streaming life running clean. No fluff. No jargon. Just what works.