Hardware Locked on My Kindle Fire Root

The Amazon Fire tablets are an excellent value for money; notwithstanding, there are some significant disadvantages. The Burn down tablets all run FireOS, which is a fork of Android. Unfortunately, there are some pretty large compromises users volition brand when opting for a Burn down Tablet. Follow along in this guide to larn how to turn your Amazon Fire tablet into a stock Android device – with some exceptions.

Fire Tablet Disadvantages

At first glance, the operating system running Amazon Burn devices appears as though it is Android. While that is technically true, at least in the sense that Fire devices run a lot of Android lawmaking, FireOS isn't really the Android you know, as Burn down devices do not support the Google Play Shop or whatever Google Services. Think of it this manner: the foundation of FireOS is Android, but the residue of the house is something entirely different. Unfortunately, this ways that there are some caveats.

No Google Play

For the majority of users, the biggest difference is the missing Google Play Shop. To install apps on an Amazon Fire device, users have to use Amazon's own app store. The biggest trouble most users will come across is the express apps available on the Amazon App Shop as compared to on Google Play. This limits the functionality of your device.

Can't Change the Default Launcher

Furthermore, Amazon doesn't allow Fire device users to swap the launcher. 1 of the all-time features of the Android Bone is the power to customize it. For most users, customization starts with the launcher: the home screen where users can launch apps, open the app drawer, etc. At that place are a ton of launchers available, and they all tweak the end user experience.

Unfortunately, Amazon does not let Burn down device users to alter the default launcher. This ways that FireOS users are with a banal looking grid layout, reminiscent of iPadOS. To make matters fifty-fifty worse, Amazon-centric apps are front and center, urging you lot to go on spending money at the online retail giant.

Lock Screen Ads

1 of the biggest draws of the Amazon Fire tablets is the price signal. Before the Amazon Burn tablets, purchasing an Android tablet for effectually $50 meant you'd be rolling the dice with a questionable no-name device. To Amazon's credit, it recognized the lack of quality products at a low price betoken and filled that space with the Fire devices. They have done this with devices that perform well, have a good build quality and a legitimate warranty.

The reason Amazon is willing to exercise this is twofold. First, the low toll Burn down devices act every bit a portal to the Amazon ecosystem. Secondly, Amazon Fire tablets are little advertizement generators that point you to other Amazon products. When ownership an Amazon Fire tablet in that location are two versions of the same model. The lower cost selection (typically around $ten-15 cheaper) comes with lock screen ads. These are ads that run automatically on the screen of your Fire tablet when information technology is not in utilise. Alternatively, you can opt out of seeing ads on the more expensive model.

What Will Happen to Your Amazon Fire Tablet If Y'all Do This?

Substantially, what nosotros do in the procedure outlined beneath is featherbed some of the restrictions put in place by Amazon on your Burn down tablet. Past using a free software tool, we are installing the Google Play Store on the tablet. This allows yous to install any Android app found on the Google Play Shop on your Burn tablet, regardless of whether or not that app is available on the Amazon App Store. Furthermore, you'll able to install whatever custom launcher to your Burn down tablet. Y'all'll have greater control over the look and functionality of your device, including getting rid of Amazon bloatware. In addition, lock screen ads can exist disabled, if necessary. Let's take a wait at how to make this happen.

What Y'all'll Need to Convert Your Burn Tablet into an Android Device

Before starting, there are a few things yous'll need. Start, y'all'll need an Amazon Fire tablet. Whatsoever Fire tablet from 2014 to the present is uniform with the method detailed below. Additionally, you'll demand a PC running Windows (at that place is no support for Linux and macOS at the moment, merely running Windows inside a virtual machine should work).

Finally, y'all'll need a software tool chosen Burn Toolbox. This software utilizes ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to tweak your Amazon Burn down tablet by removing the restrictions put in identify by Amazon and restoring full command to the end user.

1. Prep Your Fire Tablet

Earlier you lot do anything, you'll need to enable USB debugging on your Fire tablet. This will let yous to tweak your Burn tablet via your PC. To practice this, nosotros need to enable programmer options on your Fire tablet.

Open the Settings menu by swiping down from the top of the screen to reveal the quick settings carte du jour.
In the bottom right, yous'll spot a cog icon. Tap on that to see all of the Settings options on your device.
Scroll downwardly to the lesser of the menu and select "Device Options."
On the next screen, tap on "Well-nigh Fire Tablet."
Tap on "Serial Number" eight times in rapid succession. Y'all should meet a inaugural of the number of taps needed to unlock the developer options at the bottom of the screen.
If done correctly, this will reveal the "Programmer Options" setting in the previous carte.
Go back one screen and tap on "Developer Options."

Note: if "Developer Options" is not listed in the Settings menu, become back to the "Device Options" screen and tap on the Serial Number five or 6 times once more.

Enable "Programmer Options" by tapping on the toggle switch.
When you see a pop-up asking yous if you lot actually want to plow on developer options, tap "OK."
Scroll downwardly and motion picture the toggle switch labelled "USB debugging." A popular-up will inquire if you really desire to do this. Tap "OK."

Now that nosotros've enabled USB debugging, we can hop over to the PC for the next steps.

The get-go affair you lot demand to do is download and install "Burn down Toolbox" on your Windows PC. The tool tin be found on XDA Developers alongside copious documentation. We recommend that you read through the instructions and FAQ institute on XDA.

Download the Burn Toolbox installer or aught file to your PC. At the time of this writing, the most recent version of Fire Toolbox is v25.two.

Once the installer has finished downloading, open the awarding to launch the Fire Toolbox.
The programme will recognize that it is your get-go time running Fire Toolbox and volition ask you to cull a theme for the tool's User Interface.
Once you lot make a selection, the program volition reboot.
When Fire Toolbox relaunches, information technology will automatically search for whatsoever updates that are available. We recommend applying whatever updates to the software. Burn Toolbox volition relaunch if whatsoever updates are applied.

Note: some users have reported receiving an mistake message when applying updates. If this happens, simply relaunch Fire Toolbox.

3. Plug Your Fire Tablet into Your PC

When Fire Toolbox relaunches, information technology will report the following: "No device was detected. Delight plug in a Fire Tablet."
Plug your Amazon Fire tablet into your PC using the USB cable that came with your device.
When the Burn tablet is recognized by the PC, you should come across a pop-up on your Burn tablet request if you want to allow USB debugging. Tap on OK. This volition allow your PC to make changes to your Fire tablet.
If you are using your personal computer, feel free to put a check in the box labelled "E'er allow from this reckoner."

Now that yous've plugged your Fire tablet into your PC, you will see the Fire Toolbox interface. It will ask if yous accept used Fire Toolbox before. If yous haven't, nosotros would recommend clicking "No, I'thousand a new user". This will provide a brief walkthrough on how to use the software.

The Fire Toolbox offers a bunch of options to tweak and customize the Fire tablet. We cover the iv most popular ones beneath, simply feel gratis to experiment with the other options as well.

Install Google Play and Google Services

As nosotros mentioned in a higher place, Burn tablets do not accept the Google Play Shop. This forces users to install apps from Amazon's App Store, which has a paltry selection of apps in comparison. To install the Google Play Store, click on the push button labelled "Google Services." Doing so will provide a description of what volition happen to your Burn tablet. If you're happy with the proposed changes, click "Execute Tool." Let Burn down Toolbox practice its affair and exist certain to read any and all prompts that appear.

Manage Preinstalled Amazon Apps

Amazon wants you to use its services over competitors, and then the Fire tablet range pushes these apps pretty hard. Fortunately, you can disable these apps by following the instructions below and using the Fire Toolbox. Note that instead of the Fire Toolbox deleting the applications completely, information technology disables them and hides them from view.

Click "Manage Amazon Apps" in the master menu.
On the next screen, choose to manually disable sure apps. Doing so volition bring you to a list of apps that y'all tin disable. They are color-coded to indicate how rubber they are to disable, with green being okay and red beingness not recommended.

However, if you don't want to mess around with private apps, choose an automated debloat of your Fire tablet. On the "Manage Amazon Apps" screen in that location is a drib-downward box labelled "Disable Amazon Apps."

This presents yous with two options: "Complete debloat" and "Standard debloat." You lot'll find that the "Standard" option is recommended. For that reason, we suggest that you opt for that equally well. Click on "Execute" to run the tool and disable the recommended Amazon apps.

Install a Custom Launcher

The default FireOS launcher is pretty apparently, and Amazon disables the ability to change it out of the box. Thankfully, we can install a new default launcher using Burn Toolbox.

From the principal menu, click "Custom Launcher."
Click the drop-downwards box to select the launcher you prefer.

Once you lot've selected the launcher of your selection, you'll exist presented with a few other options. We recommend disabling the Burn down launcher. Furthermore, you can enable widgets if you use them.
When you're ready, click the "Yeah" push. Burn down Toolbox volition automatically download and install your called launcher.

Disable Lockscreen Ads

Finally, we're going to want to disable those annoying lockscreen ads.

Note: If you lot opted for a more expensive model that doesn't take lockscreen ads, you can skip this step.

On the master menu of the Fire Toolbox, click "Lockscreen Management." On the next page, click "Remove Lockscreen Ads -> Execute Tool." When it asks if yous really want to keep, click "OK" and allow the tool practice its affair. One time the tool is finished, y'all will no longer run into lockscreen ads on your Fire tablet.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why doesn't Amazon offer stock Android Fire tablets?

There are a few ways to reply this question, but basically it boils downward to one thing: control. Amazon wants to lock users into an Amazon-centric experience. The online retail giant wants to be the gatekeeper of the device, meaning that yous demand to go through Amazon to do annihilation and everything on your Burn device. This puts them at a ameliorate position to forcefulness you to use Amazon apps for everything.

At the end of the mean solar day, Amazon doesn't desire you to utilise a competitor, in this case Google, on the device. It makes sense from a business perspective, merely for the user, this ends up creating a somewhat stifled experience. Fortunately, if yous desire your Amazon Fire tablet to function more like a standard Android device, there is a style to practice so.

2. Tin can I reverse the changes fabricated to my Fire Tablet?

In short, yes. There is about no risk associated with tweaking the way your Amazon Fire tablet looks and behaves. This is due to Fire Toolbox not doing annihilation to the System partition of your Fire tablet. All changes made can be reversed past simply doing a factory reset on your Amazon Burn down tablet.

3. Will this void the warranty on my Fire Tablet?

Amazon and retailers that sell the Amazon Fire Tablet, similar Target, certainly don't desire you to do what is outlined above. However, every bit we mentioned before, you aren't doing annihilation to your tablet that can't be undone. This means nix outlined in this guide will void your warranty.

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