Transform Amazon Fire Tablet Into Stock Android Experience With Ease

Turning an Amazon Fire tablet into a device that feels like a stock Android tablet involves several steps, including installing the Google Play Store, changing the launcher, and disabling Amazon-specific features. Here’s a detailed guide to help you achieve this transformation.

Enabling Developer Options

To start modifying your Fire tablet, you need to enable developer options. This step is crucial for allowing USB debugging, which is necessary for using tools like Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and Fire Toolbox.

Navigate to Settings: Open the Settings menu by swiping down from the top of the screen to reveal the quick settings menu.
Access Device Options: Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and select “Device Options.”
Unlock Developer Options: Tap on “About Fire Tablet” and then tap on the “Serial Number” eight times in rapid succession. This will unlock the developer options.
Enable Developer Options: Go back one screen and tap on “Developer Options.” Enable “Developer Options” by toggling the switch on.
Enable USB Debugging: Scroll down and toggle the switch labelled “USB debugging” to “ON.” A pop-up will ask if you really want to do this; tap “OK”.

Installing Google Play Store

The Google Play Store is essential for accessing a wide range of Android apps. Here’s how to install it:

Download the Necessary Files: You will need to download the Google Play Store APK files. There are several guides available online that provide the necessary files and steps.
Install the APKs: Install the downloaded APKs on your Fire tablet. This typically involves installing the Google Account Manager, Google Services Framework, and the Google Play Store APKs in a specific order.
Set Up Google Play: Once installed, open the Google Play Store and sign in with your Google account to start downloading apps.

Changing the Home Screen Launcher

The default launcher on Fire tablets is not as customizable as those found on stock Android devices. Here’s how to change it:

Choose a Custom Launcher: Select a custom launcher that mimics the stock Android experience, such as Lawnchair 2 or Nova Launcher.
Install the Custom Launcher: Download and install the custom launcher from the Google Play Store.
Use ADB to Set the Default Launcher: Connect your Fire tablet to a PC and use ADB commands to set the custom launcher as the default. For example, you can use the command adb shell cmd package set-home-activity "packageNameGoesHere/activityNameGoesHere".
Disable Amazon’s Built-in Launcher: Use the command adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.amazon.firelauncher to disable Amazon’s built-in launcher.

Using Fire Toolbox for Simplified Modifications

Fire Toolbox is a handy tool that simplifies the process of modifying your Fire tablet without needing to issue complex ADB commands.

Download Fire Toolbox: Download Fire Toolbox from the XDA Developers forum. It supports most Amazon devices and is available for Windows and Linux.
Install and Run Fire Toolbox: Run Fire Toolbox on your PC and follow the setup process. This tool will guide you through enabling ADB on your tablet and making various modifications.
Disable Lock Screen Ads and Amazon Apps: Use Fire Toolbox to disable lock screen ads and remove or disable unwanted Amazon apps.

Additional Customizations

Set Chrome as the Default Web Browser

Install Chrome: Download and install Chrome from the Google Play Store.
Set Chrome as Default: Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Default apps > Browser app, and select Chrome.

Enable Google Autofill

Install Gboard: Download and install Gboard from the Google Play Store.
Enable Google Autofill: Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Autofill service, and select Google Autofill.

Considerations and Limitations

Security and Support: Keep in mind that modifying your Fire tablet may void its warranty and could potentially leave it vulnerable to security risks. Amazon’s Fire OS receives regular security updates, which might not be the case with custom modifications.
Hardware Compatibility: Custom ROMs or extensive modifications might not support all hardware features, such as DRM for services like Netflix.
Stability: Custom launchers and modifications can sometimes break with new updates or cause instability.

By following these steps, you can significantly enhance your Amazon Fire tablet’s functionality to make it feel more like a stock Android device. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential limitations and risks involved.