Kindle and Fire Tablet Guides

Google Play store is the store for Android devices. Although Amazon App store and the pre-installed Amazon apps are sufficient for some owners, many users may need to install Google Play Store on Amazon tablet to get more value from their Fire 6, Fire 7, HD 8 or HD 10.

This fire guide explains steps of installing Google Play Store on Amazon Fire tablet, and show you how to download and install the 4 correct APK files. 

This guide applies to all Amazon fire tablets with Fore OS 5 or newer. So, you can follow this guide to install Google Play Store on Amazon fire tablets including Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 from 4th gen to 8th gen, including the Kids edition.

Why do I need to manually install Google Play Store on Amazon fire tablet?

In a nutshell, Amazon tablet is an Android tablet. Fire OS in Amazon tablet is based on Android.

In the past, Amazon tried very hard to make it difficult to install Google Play store on the Fire tablet. But since Fire OS 5 (corresponds to Android Lollipop 5.1), Amazon apparently stopped the efforts.

But you should not expect Google Play store or any Google services on Amazon products: they are direct competitors on all fronts:  Amazon Appstore vs Google Play store, Amazon Fire TV vs Google Chromecast, Amazon Echo vs Google Home, Amazon Video vs Google Play TV movies + YouTube Prime, Amazon Cloud vs Google Cloud ….

The relationship between Google and Amazon is so intense that Amazon bars Google Chromecast and Google Home in the platform. You can buy everything from Amazon except Chromecast and Google Home.… Read the rest

The post How to install Google Play Store on Amazon Fire Tablet: Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Update (2018):

For Fire Tablet 4th gen to 8th gen (Fire HD 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10), you may check this guide to find out how to install Google Play Store directly on the tablet.

Some links to APK files in this post were broken. Please use this guide if you want to install Google Play store or use any Google services on your Amazon Fire tablet.

Update (2016): What works and what doesn’t when set up a Google account on Amazon Fire tablet?

1. For Fire tablet 5th generation (Settings–Device options –Device model)

If you have own the current generation (5th) of Fire tablet, you can use Google Play store as well. Just install the 4APK files, and run one ADB command. Everything should work, including the Google Play store. You can update Play services and all apps through the Play store.

For Chromecast users,  screencast (screen mirroring) also works!!

Yes, the $50 fire tablet can run Google Play store and almost all Google apps without issues.

2. For all previous generations of Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HDX tablets

Almost all Google apps except Google Play store, work on all previous generation of Kindle Fire tablets. This is very likely blocked by Amazon. But you can install Google apps APK files directly. GMail, YouTube,… almost all Google apps should work after you install the 4 APK files and run one ADB command.

In this case, although Google Play store does not work on these tablets, you still need to install it because some other Google apps require it.

Because you cannot update Google Play services through the Play store, you need manually install the latest version of Play services using APK files.… Read the rest

The post How to setup a Google account on Amazon Fire tablet? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Android developer options give app developers a lot of options to test the app under various simulated conditions.

But for normal users, sometimes, you may also need some features that are under developer options. For example, when you need run an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command to backup the phone, or take lots of screenshots of Amazon Fire tablet  from your PC (if you just want to take a few, you can do this on the tablet with Power and volume up button as illustrated in this guide), you need turn on USB Debugging (enable ADB).

By default, the developer options on Amazon Fire tablet is hidden with the recent Fire OS. This is consistent with other Android devices which hide developer options since Android Jelly Bean 4.2,

But it is very easy to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet. In this guide, Fire tablet refers to Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX.

This guide will show you how to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet, and how to disable and hide the developer options on Amazon Fire tablet (after you enabling them).

How to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet?

Step 1: Go to Settings–Device Options

In your Amazon Fire tablet, go to Settings by swiping down from the status bar (top of the screen) or tap Settings app in the app drawer.

Then tap Device Options as shown below.

Step 2: Tap Serial Number Field  7 times

In the Device Options page, tap the serial number field 7 times.

After tapping the serial number 2 times, it starts to pop out the message as shown below.:

You are now X steps away from being a developer

Continue to tap the field to 7 times and the message will notify you the developer options are enabled on your Amazon Fire tablet.… Read the rest

The post How to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet (Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX), and how to hide developer options again? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Update (2018-12):

Please use this guide if you want to install Google Play store or use any Google services on your Amazon Fire tablet. It works on Fire tablet (HD 7, HD 8 and HD 10) from 4th gen, 5th gen, 6th gen, 7th gen and 8th gen.

Updated with video. Transcripts added at the end of this post.

Video guide: how to sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

Can I run Android Apps on Kindle Fire tablets?

You may already know that Kindle Fire tablet (Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX) actually is an Android tablet. The Fire OS 3 in the new Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 actually is based on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.

Of course, Amazon hacked Android so heavily that it is hard to find any traces of Jelly Bean in the UI. But this does not mean you cannot install Android apps, for example, from Google Play Store.

Amazon Appstore for Android has a decent collection of apps that are compatible with most Android devices. Similarly, most Android apps can work on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablets without any modifications.

So, the answer is very clear. Yes, you can run almost all Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

Why sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

Currently, Amazon Appstore for Android still has far fewer apps than Google Play store. Sometimes, you may need some apps that are available in Google Play, but are not available in Amazon Appstore.… Read the rest

The post How to sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Do you know you can take a screenshot on Kindle Fire, Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD, Kindel Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 without using any apps?

You can easily share with your friends or family members whatever shown on your Kind Fire  (including Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HDX) screen: web pages, product images, photos, book pages, app screen, game achievement screen.

Of course, what can be shared is the screenshot, not the video file, or the app itself.  This Kindle Fire Guide will show you how to take screenshots on your Kindle Fire tablet easily.

Taking screenshots on Kindle Fire tablets is really very easy and simple. You do not need any apps.

In fact, most screen capture apps require a rooted tablet. So, don’t consider any apps to take screenshots on Kindle Fire tablets.

You do not need ADB, which requires a USB connection to a PC for your Kindle Fire tablet. Many app developers like to use this heavy tool.

To take screenshot on Kindle Fire (including Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HDX), you can simply press and hold both the Power and Volume down key for about three seconds.

You will hear the camera shutter click. Then, the screenshot is saved into your Photos. You can check the screenshot taken in Photos at any time.

If you want, you can edit it in Kindle Fire using all available photo editing tools in the tablet. The screenshot is saved just a normal image file.

Is taking screenshots for Kindle Fire very simple? This method of taking screenshots is native to all Android phones (Kindle Fire is powered by Fire OS, which is a customized Android) .… Read the rest

The post How to take screenshot on Fire HD, Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HDX tablets? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Ultimate Kindle Fire Guide, Guide of Kind Fire for Kids, is the collection of the best guide, tutorials, manual on how to better use Kindle Fire tablets (Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7 Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 and all later Fire HD (Fire HD 6, Fire HD 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10) and Fire HD Kids edition..

The main focus of the ultimate Kindle Fire guide, or guide of Kind Fire for kids, is how to convert the affordable tablet into the best edutainment machine for your kids.

Amazon offers great contents and services that many parents are not aware of.  These guides will teach you, step-by-step, how to get the most out of your new Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9).

Writing Kindle Fire guides are not a simple job because different users may have quite different backgrounds. The Kindle Fire guides on this page are specially tailored for parents with limited experience with Kindle Fire tablets. Experienced users can also find some in-depth tutorials on this page.

Most of the screenshots of the Kindle Fire guides in this site are from Kindle Fire HDX 7 or Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. But almost all of the tutorials also apply to the new Kindle Fire HD (2013)  or even older Kindle Fire tablets. We will try to point this out in each guide.

This is an on-going project. We update the Kindle Fire guides regularly. If you cannot find the guide you need, you may check back later, or leave your feedback in the comment box below.

The list of finished or coming-soon Kindle Fire guides:

1. How to set up and use display mirroring on Kindle Fire HDX 7 and HDX 8.9

2. Ultimate guide of Kindle FreeTime

3. A practical guide of Kindle FreeTime Unlimited

4. How to install Flash player for your Kindle Fire tablets?

… Read the rest

The post Ultimate Kindle Fire Guide appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

You are probably playing around with the new Kindle Fire HDX 7 or Kindle Fire HDX 8.9.

But do you know you can get even more from these incredibly affordable tablets?

In this post, I will share with you the top 10 features you should know about new Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9.  These include:

• the Mayday  button
• Lag-free Mojito 3.1 (Fire OS 3.1)
• Fast and reliable WiFi
• Stunning display
• Watch everything on TV ( Display Mirroring)
• Free Month of Amazon Prime
• Kindle FreeTime
• Free month of Kindle FreeTime Unlimited
• Free Amazon cloud
• Free app of the day

The Mayday button exclusively on Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.0

The Mayday button is a revolutionary live  tech support system.  Whenever you need help, you can get face-to-face support without visiting any service centers. You can get the live support at anytime and just at anywhere by tapping the Mayday button.

The live (real-time)  tech support is through on-screen video and chat. The Amazon experts (just a better name of technicians) can work on your tablet directly. He or she can also demonstrate some functions on your screen. If you want, they can directly change the settings for you. They can also answer some other questions related to Amazon products or offering.

The Mayday button is extremely useful for your grandma and others who are not so familiar with tablets.

Lag-free Mojito 3.1 (Fire OS 3.1)

Once you get your Kindle Fire HDX 7 or  Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, the first thing you should do is to  connect to internet and check for update.  Very likely, the pre-installed OS is Fire OS 3.0, and you should update to Fire OS 3.1.… Read the rest

The post Top 10 things you should know about new Kindle Fire HDX 7 and HDX 8.9 appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

Kindle eReader, Kindle Fire tablets (Kindel Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7, and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9), Fire HD tablet (Fire HD 6, Fire HD 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10)  and Fire are one of the most useful devices. They are very affordable.

The Kids edition of Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 are probably the best value-for-money tablets for your kids. The bundled FreeTime Unlimited offers great contents for kids up to 13 years old.

Amazon’s ecosystem (ebook, movies, TV shows, music, apps and shopping) simply makes the tablet the most useful entertainment devices. Forget about Nexus 7, Nexus 10, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. You can enjoy far more contents in Kindle Fire at a far lower price.

You can also install Google Play Store on your Fire tablet to fully enjoy all Android apps that are not available on Amazon Appstore.

But most Kindle or Fire tablet owners may not realize that these are great devices for your kids as well.  Really? How?

Kindle Fire For Kid is here to help you convert your Kindle and Fire tablet into a most powerful edutainment tool for your kids.

The Kindle Fire for Kids Guide section will give you step-by-step guides how to convert your  Kindle Fire tablet (we will mainly focus on the new Kindle Fire HD 2013,  Kindle Fire HDX 7, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10) into the most powerful kid’s edutainment devices. Of course, some Kindle Fire tips and trick can also be found here: not only your kids but also you can use the tablet like a guru.… Read the rest

The post Kindle Fire For Kid: we show you how to use the Fire and Fire HD tablet and Kindle reader? appeared first on Kindle Fire For Kid.

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If you want to ask a question on Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 privately, or want to leave feedback/give suggestions, please use this form to leave your message.

We will try to answer you as early as possible.

Kindle Fire for Kid is dedicated to parents who are using Kindle devices (Kindle e-Reader, Kindle Fire tablet, Fire tablet, Fire TV)  for the education and entertainment of toddlers and children.

If you want to find how-to guides, you may check the Kindle Fire how-to guides page.

Of course, you should check our parent guide of Kindle Fire for Kid.

You are also welcome to start a discussion in the Kindle Fire For Kid Forum, a public forum for parents.

Please note, KindleFireforKid.com is a community site for Kindle device owners helping owners. We are not affiliated with Amazon.

If you need contact Amazon, please visit their website directly.

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We will try to answer your questions only if we have the answer.… Read the rest

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