Guides for Fire Tablet

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  1. Thanks for the info, but this is very frustrating. The SDK manager in Android Studio doesn’t install everything it needs to to make this happen. Amazon should just make this happen natively. Boooo.

    Reply

  3. Lot’s of problems;
    – SDK’s for Kindle not available for API17 or any other Android ver.
    – my PC would not recognize my Kindle via “adp device” command even though I could access it via MS Windows Explorer
    Spent over two hours loading all the apps/files …no result.

    Reply

  6. When I run the command, “adb shell pm grant com.google.android.gms android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS”, it returns “Error: Unknown command ‘grant'”.

    I have a Kindle Fire HD 8.9, system version 8.5.1_user_5158820.

    Reply

  8. First of all, thank you! This seems to be the only guide on the web that enables Google apps without rooting.

    I followed this guide with some difficulty (and help from Google) and got to the point where Google Play Services is working. My account was recognized when I added it from Keep, and 2-step-authentication seemed to work at first, but then there was an error message (along the lines of) that authentication failed. None of the Google apps are working except services, which lists my account and lets me manage some settings.

    Could it be that I need to use an app-specific password in order to authenticate? I’d like to try but I couldn’t figure out how to re-add my account or even get a new chance to type in my password.

    Thanks for your help!

    Reply

  10. No luck. I get a notification that Google Play services is the wrong architecture. Any remedies? Thanks!

    Reply

  11. Anyone get hung up on a ‘Signing in…’ page? I only have Google Music and Google hangouts installed, and it only hangs up on hangouts. Google music seems to run fine.

    Reply

  12. I am unable to get the SDK Manager to list the Kindle Fire Device Definitions or the Amazon AVD Launcher, it only lists the USB drive… I have used both the listed tutorials for setting up SDK but no luck getting those to show up in the list for extras.

    Are there any other places/urls that can be added to give these?

    Reply

  13. I am not able to get this to work. I installed all the apps and ran the adb command without error, but when I attempt to add the google account for the gmail app (or any google app), I end up with “error communicating with google servers”, which is what I thought the adb command fixes. Help? Thank you in advance.

    Reply

  14. OK. Now I feel like an idiot…

    Had everything working fine and dandy without ADB debugging (no clue what I did or how it worked or what). 1Mobile notifies me there is an update to Google Play Services, so, of course, I install…

    After the install, about half the apps stop working, though Google Play Books is still working, which is good because its the only one I really care about. But… I think, lets try to go back and I really screw it all up from there…

    Long story short, I reset it, attempted to do what I did before and was not able to get logged into my Google account.

    I reset a couple more times, thinking I had messed something up, trying both the new version and the older version of Google Play Services and it still does not work. With the old version, it says it needs the update to Google Play Services to work when I try to use GMail to log into my account, with the new version, it just says it cannot communicate with Google servers.

    So I try the ADB thing again and figure out what my mistakes were before and get it to display my device and attempted the command but it says my device is unauthorized and I cannot get it to work…

    Am I missing something?

    Reply

    • I know I.did see a message asking me to confirm the adb connection one time. I’m having same issues, but adb is working fine for me.

      Reply

    • Well, I feel like an larger idiot, but I fixed the unauthorized thing (there is a pop-up I had to click on that to authorize my computer……..) and…

      I think its working… I used the older Services but without installing 1Mobile at all, using APKs I found online to get this running first, will try to install/use 1Mobile once everything seems to be working.

      Apps working before installing 1Mobile:
      Google Play Books
      Google Play Music (though gives notification of an issue with Play Services, but no noticeable issues)
      Google Now
      Chrome

      Installed 1Mobile and installed the following, which work:
      Google+
      Calender
      Camera

      Apps that do not work w/o Play Services update:
      Google Keep
      Google Drive
      Google Photos
      Sheets
      Docs

      Right now I am scared to update Google Play Services lol

      FYI: The problem I was having with getting adb to work… apparently the SDK manager did not actually install the driver on my PC? I went to its location and installed the file and then everything worked.

      (also, with the new Google Play Services, it has a “wrong architecture” error. before I fubar’d my device, it did not seem to affect anything though…)

      Reply

    • Updated Google Play Services and everything that worked before, still works. Google Drive and YouTube (which did not work before) now work, but Keep, Sheets, Docs, and Photos still do not work.

      Reply

  15. Hi,

    Great guide, but ran into an issue and could use some help.

    Applying this on a Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ (System Version 8.5.1, App Version 6.1045.1603.14A) , ADB Enabled = ON

    This is similar to the above re: “Unknown command” error, but I’ll provide you a bit more info as there appears to have been a change in the available “adb” commands. I got everything installed eventually. I am able to list my device with the “adb devices -l” command just fine, but when I execute the “adb” command to grant permissions in an elevated or non-elevated command prompt, I get the following output:

    C:\Program Files\Android\sdk\platform-tools>adb shell pm grant com.google.android.gms android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS
    Error: unknown command ‘grant’
    usage: pm list packages [-f] [-d] [-e] [-s] [-e] [-u] [FILTER]
    pm list permission-groups
    pm list permissions [-g] [-f] [-d] [-u] [GROUP]
    pm list instrumentation [-f] [TARGET-PACKAGE]
    pm list features
    pm list libraries
    pm path PACKAGE
    pm install [-l] [-r] [-t] [-i INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME] [-s] [-f] PATH
    pm uninstall [-k] PACKAGE
    pm clear PACKAGE
    pm enable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
    pm disable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
    pm disable-user PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
    pm set-install-location [0/auto] [1/internal] [2/external]
    pm get-install-location
    pm createUser USER_NAME
    pm removeUser USER_ID

    pm list packages: prints all packages, optionally only
    those whose package name contains the text in FILTER. Options:
    -f: see their associated file.
    -d: filter to only show disbled packages.
    -e: filter to only show enabled packages.
    -s: filter to only show system packages.
    -3: filter to only show third party packages.
    -u: also include uninstalled packages.

    pm list permission-groups: prints all known permission groups.

    pm list permissions: prints all known permissions, optionally only
    those in GROUP. Options:
    -g: organize by group.
    -f: print all information.
    -s: short summary.
    -d: only list dangerous permissions.
    -u: list only the permissions users will see.

    pm list instrumentation: use to list all test packages; optionally
    supply to list the test packages for a particular
    application. Options:
    -f: list the .apk file for the test package.

    pm list features: prints all features of the system.

    pm path: print the path to the .apk of the given PACKAGE.

    pm install: installs a package to the system. Options:
    -l: install the package with FORWARD_LOCK.
    -r: reinstall an exisiting app, keeping its data.
    -t: allow test .apks to be installed.
    -i: specify the installer package name.
    -s: install package on sdcard.
    -f: install package on internal flash.

    pm uninstall: removes a package from the system. Options:
    -k: keep the data and cache directories around after package removal.

    pm clear: deletes all data associated with a package.

    pm enable, disable, disable-user: these commands change the enabled state
    of a given package or component (written as “package/class”).

    pm get-install-location: returns the current install location.
    0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
    1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
    2 [external]: Install on external media

    pm set-install-location: changes the default install location.
    NOTE: this is only intended for debugging; using this can cause
    applications to break and other undersireable behavior.
    0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
    1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
    2 [external]: Install on external media

    =======================================
    Now when I go into the shell via the “adb shell” command I’m able to get into the Unix shell just fine and can navigate around as shown below:

    C:\Program Files\Android\sdk\platform-tools>adb shell

    shell@android:/ $ ls -al

    drwxr-xr-x root root 2015-08-23 15:40 acct
    drwxrwx— system cache 2015-08-09 08:36 cache
    dr-x—— root root 2015-08-23 15:40 config
    lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-08-23 15:40 d -> /sys/kernel/debug
    drwxrwx–x system system 2012-11-30 22:53 data
    -rw-r–r– root root 89 1969-12-31 16:00 default.prop
    drwxr-xr-x root root 2015-08-23 15:40 dev
    drwxrwxr-x radio radio 2012-11-09 22:33 efs
    lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-08-23 15:40 etc -> /system/etc
    -rwxr-x— root root 98700 1969-12-31 16:00 init
    -rwxr-x— root root 12274 1969-12-31 16:00 init.bowser.rc
    -rwxr-x— root root 8685 1969-12-31 16:00 init.bowser.usb.rc
    -rwxr-x— root root 2344 1969-12-31 16:00 init.goldfish.rc
    -rwxr-x— root root 0 1969-12-31 16:00 init.hg.rc
    -rwxr-x— root root 18352 1969-12-31 16:00 init.rc
    lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-08-23 15:40 misc -> /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.1/by-name/misc
    drwxrwxr-x root system 2015-08-23 15:40 mnt
    dr-xr-xr-x root root 1969-12-31 16:00 proc
    drwx—— root root 2014-09-03 14:46 root
    drwxr-x— root root 1969-12-31 16:00 sbin
    lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-08-23 15:40 sdcard -> /mnt/sdcard
    drwxr-xr-x root root 2015-08-23 15:40 sys
    drwxr-xr-x root root 2015-08-09 08:36 system
    -rw-r–r– root root 1603 1969-12-31 16:00 ueventd.bowser.rc
    -rw-r–r– root root 272 1969-12-31 16:00 ueventd.goldfish.rc
    -rw-r–r– root root 4504 1969-12-31 16:00 ueventd.rc
    lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-08-23 15:40 vendor -> /system/vendor

    shell@android:/ $
    =======================================

    And of course I can run the “pm” commands natively from the shell as well, but I still get the same error as above.

    Agreed, that the package manager may have some issue, but the question is what kind of issues and how can I correct them? Is there anything I can provide you that may answer these questions?

    Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

    Reply

  16. Everything works to the point I have to use the command prompt to list adb devices. I get the response: adb is not an internal or external command.

    My device manager lists the device as ADB Interface.

    Reply

  17. Everything worked fine until the end until I ran: adb shell pm grant com.google.android.gms android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS. I get the following error:

    Bad Argument: java.lang.illegalArgumentException: Unknown package: com.google.android.gms

    Reply

  18. Thanks for the guide. I am considering buying one of the new Fire tablets. I searched for the Google Music app in the Amazon App Store, and no dice. That’s a dealbreaker for me. If there’s a way to sideload the account and app, the tablet becomes much more attractive.

    Reply

  20. Hello!
    New Kindle Fire 5th generation. This worked like a charm!. Many, many, many thanks, now mi Kindle fire is just perfect!.

    Reply

  22. Thank you so much for sharing those apks. I actually used them on my Chinese Xiaomi android phone and everything is working like a dream! Thank you!

    Reply

  23. Hey thanks for this. I just got the Fire Phone.. awesome price. Now I am on 4.6.5.. the newest. All I did was install you files you gave.. signed in. Never did it once say error..

    Reply

  24. The ADB DEVICES command returns the ID of my Kindle Fire 7 HD (2nd Version) however it doesn’t produce a popup on the Kindle, and the ‘pm grant’ functionality seems to be missing from the shell. I think this is because they have removed the Device Definitions for the kindles. I tried setting it up manually but it makes no difference to making the popup work.

    How do I get past this?

    Reply

  25. I don’t understand what the end result is after all these steps are executed if Google is in fact filtering out Kindle serial numbers which blocks the device from being recognized as an eligible android device and furthermore what specific apps are compatible with the device based on google filters?

    Reply

  26. I just bought a Fire 7 – 5th Gen and forgot that you can’t install Google apps on the Kindle… Well now I can. I didn’t need to do the ADB part. Thanks for this post. Very very much appreciated. James

    Reply

  27. I followed this and for the most part it seems to work (I was able to get Galaxy on Fire 2 HD apk off of the google store and sideload it). My issue is that all the Google apps seem to throw an error “Unknown issue with Google play services”. I can’t connect to Google Play, Gmail opens however never loads anything and if I attempt to sync it either sits there for a very long time “spinning” or throws the aforementioned error. Any idea what I did wrong (aside from buy the tablet before checking more forums lol)?

    Reply

  29. Yay, it works now! First, I had forgotten to install google accounts apk, which is why the login screen didn’t show.

    The easiest way to not forget anything the second time around was to just use the dropbox folder with all four apks provided by you. I had to update the Play services app through 1Mobile store to make youtube work, and now it all works like a charm.

    One small idea for improvement: I would have appreciated a warning at beginning of article that this takes about 2-4 hours if you factor in installation of the Android SDK and a a couple of trial and errors.

    Overall, I am very happy with your instructions. Thank you!

    Reply

  30. I spoke too soon–again.

    While I am logged into google now it seems (It shows my name in top left corner in apps), I get error messages in nearly all apps.

    In Gmail, it shows my account when I try to log in, but I get the error, “Unknown issue with google play services.”

    In Play Music, I get the error “Sorry, we were unable to connect to the server to add the account. Please try again later from Settings.

    When I try it through settings in Play Music, it states, “Couldn’t authenticate your Music account.”

    When I try to add another gmail account now, it gives me the error, “Couldn’t sign in. There was a problem communicating with Google servers. Please try again later..

    I didn’t get an error when I put in ADB command, but I did notice that some of the Kindle Fire SDK packages werent available when seeting up the Android SDK.

    Your help would be appreciated.

    Reply

  32. Too much & very detailed info. was very happy to try it out, took two days to download & setup everything but after running commands it seemed that everything is good & I may try to add my google account now but the same communication error is still there. I am using Fire phone with OS 4.6.6 Model # SD4930UR. Does the AT&T matters?? because I have an App pre-installed name myAT&T.

    Reply

  33. I got everything up and running but when I try to add my google account I get a ‘Couldn’t sign in’ error saying ‘There was a problem communicating with Google servers. Please try again later.’ I have tried multiple times with different accounts and I keep getting the same error. Any ideas?

    Reply

  34. Thanks for the helpful advice. I bought a kindle fire hd 6 for my 5 year old son and really wanted the youtube kids app on it. After a few version conflicts got resolved between the yt kids app and google play services, it works.

    Reply

  36. I have setup everything and I have two of my gmail accounts working within the gmail app. One has 2-step auth and the other does not. While trying to add the third account it just fails. when I click on manage accounts it takes me to the settings screen but there isn’t any place to manage the google accounts on the device. Since this is a Fire 7 the only account option is for the Fire.

    Am I missing something? How do I remove a google account or manage the ones I have?

    Reply

  39. I tried to follow the above steps,but the tools have changed to the point when I have no idea what is going on,

    * instead of Android SDK (which I used on a prior computer to root devices), there is Android Studio,’
    I have no idea where the Debugging mode is. The deeper I dig, the most I become. I just do not know what the various details mean.

    * I have Windows 10, which seems to do NOTHING the same as prior versions of Windows.

    To be clear, I have a $50 Fire Tablet, a Windows 10 computer, a small (tiny) amount of experience with Android SDK & a large amount of frustrated puzzlement (I tried to solved this myself, off on and on, for most of today. I tried to research and look for useful answers, but… no bueno)

    Reply

  40. I had never succeeded with this particular guide on my 4th gen Kindle Fire HD 6, like several other commenters here. Then I found this http://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/installing-google-framework-playstore-t3216122 and it worked flawlessly. Note it seems to require Fire OS 5, furthermore the description says it works on 5th gen devices only, but it worked like a charm on my 4th gen Kindle Fire (bought in 2015). Other redeeming quality: It’s dead easy if you’ve already tried this guide, and it also removes the ads in the same sweep.

    By “working flawlessly” I mean the full package: Google Accounts, Play Store, and all the Google apps I have tried, excepting Inbox, which works in principle but misbehaves to where it is impractical to use. I’m hoping updates may fix it in the future.

    Nevertheless, I appreciate what Simon has done here given how many people were clearly helped by his efforts. Keep it up!

    Reply

  41. After hours and hours of following instructions from all related sites, and numerous reboots, all Google apps including Gmail, YT work except Play. Two hours after I gave up I tried to download an app from Play and it just works. Guess it could take a long time for Services to connect.

    Reply

  44. Did anyone find solution to the problem mentioned above that when you run the adb command you get the error that says “unknown command grant”

    I thought the adb command is part of the Android sdk, why would it say it is an unknown command for some of us if we are all running the same version of Android sdk?

    Reply

  45. Step 4 above says to run the adb command from a CMD promt on the PC. I ran the first step and I get the Kindle serial number. But when I run the abd command to grant permission to google play services, that is when it says “grant” is not a command.
    How do you run the abd command on the kindle? There is no DOS window.

    Reply

    • I think that “grant” command will only be there if the correct Kindle Fire system images are installed, unfortunately some of the ones for the older Kindles are no longer shipped.

      For anyone who has done it, is it not possible for someone to upload these images somewhere

      Reply

  46. I’m not sure about how to log out of an account once all is said and done. Iv successfully ran played and installed apps but I have purchesd games on another account and cannot figure out how to log into that account from google play since I don’t have google settings?

    Reply

  47. So, I don’t know where I’m going wrong, but I ran the command prompt, everything looks like it came out ok as far ad the ADB goes… But I still get the issue in communicating with the servers. Anyone got some ideas?

    Reply

  48. This is an excellent guide! Make sure to install all 4 of the apps before you try to run the adb commands. Follow the official guides for getting adb to recognize your device – this took a bit to figure out. This allowed me to get google play (music, store, gmail, etc) to work without root – awesome!

    Reply

  49. hi simon 1st probem. have 5th gen fire tablet but when i go into settings cannot bring up apps from unknown sourses from apps and games option in device

    Reply

  52. Is there any way to remove a google account once it is added to the amazon tablet. I was able to install the google play store with one account and later added another account that already had apps I wanted, but now I cant get rid of the first account. Thanks.

    Reply

  55. After entering the given link in the Android SDK Manager, I don’t see the Kindle Device Definitions kit. I just see the Kindle USB driver. I’ve tried restarting the SDK Manager, but no go.

    Reply

  56. I successfully installed google acounts, playstore and apps. I have two gmail accounts and added them both, but when I try to access my other account, or add it in google drive I get an error. What do I need to do to be able to access both drives? One is personal, the other work. Fire HD 8

    Reply

  57. Hello, I have Kindle Fire 3rd Gen running 4.5.5.2.
    I have performed the 4 apk file installs and the ADB command successfully. Then I performed update of Google Play services via 1Mobile software. Note: Doing update thru an app like GMAIL will fail because it brings up Google Play Store that only gives the RH-01 error.
    At one time I was actually able to get GMAIL application to work, but other apps would fail.
    So I removed everything and tried again. Now it is worse. Google Play Services keeps crashing.

    So my question is this: Can you tell me the correct versions of each piece of software that should work with each other without Google Play Services crashing? I think it’s important to make sure I have the right architecture version and maybe some other pieces.

    Here is the APKs I am trying to use:
    Google Services Framework, 4.4.4-1227136

    Google Play Services, 10.0.84 (036-13749526)
    http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-10-0-84-release/google-play-services-10-0-84-030-137749526-android-apk-download/

    Google Account Manager, 4.4.4-1227136

    Google Play Store, 7.2.13.J-all [0] [PR] 138561921
    http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/google-play-store-7-2-13-j-all-0-pr-138561921-release/google-play-store-7-2-13-j-all-0-pr-138561921-android-apk-download/

    All I really hope to run is: Chomecast with Plex and Hangouts

    It would be a shame to toss out this decent tablet.

    Reply

  58. It didn’t work for my Fire An 5th generation. (2015) when I typethw adb command mybpc says “/system/bin/sh: grant : not found

    Reply

  59. Since Google updated the chromecast (cast) app to Google Home, has anyone got this working? I get the Home app to open, click sign in, and then it crashes back to the home screen.

    Reply

  60. I downloaded and installed these apks on my Kindle fire GR8 (6TH gen). The only problem I am having is with location services. The Fire OS 5.3.3.3.0 is in conflict with Google services. The Location Services in the Fire IS settings now refuses to turn on. Is there any way around this???

    Reply

  61. Hi,

    I got my account on chrome, but when I click on it to sign in and click continue nothing happens. Is there something else I need to do?

    I didn’t do anything with the ABD

    Reply

  62. To get Google Contacts to work correctly, you need to install the Google Contacts apkj (of course), but you also have to install the Google Contacts Sync apk.

    Reply

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