How to sideload Android apps in Fire, Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX?

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.

Because the official way to get apps on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is through Amazon Appstore for Android, you have to sideload apps to your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX if the apps are from other sources.

Can I sideload Android apps to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX by myself?

Thankfully, sideloading Android apps to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is quite easy. Actually, there are many different ways. In this post, I will show you the easiest way to sideload apps to a Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablet.

It is so easy that everyone can do it.  After finishing the tutorial, you will  sideload Android apps (two apps) to your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD or  Kindle Fire HDX tablets already.

Sideload Android Apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX: a step-by-step guide

Step 0: Make sure your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire HDX is connected to internet

To sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, you need an internet connection. It is probably better to use WiFi if your mobile data plan is very limited or is very slow.

Step 1: Enable “Apps from unknown sources”

Sideloading android apps means you want to install apps from places other than from the “official” market designated by the tablet vendor.

The official app market for Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is Amazon Appstore for Android. If you want to install any apps that are not from this Appstore, you must enable “Apps from unknown sources”. This is a security measure. You need make sure you get the apps from reliable sources if you want to sideload apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

To enable “Apps from unknown sources”, you need:

• Swipe down the notification bar.
• Tap settings (1).
• Tap Applications (2).
• Tap “On” for Apps from unknown sources (3).
• Tap “OK”  to acknowledge the warning message (4).
• Make sure the Apps from unknown source is on.
• Tap Home button to return to home (5).

 

Step 2: Download and install 1Mobile Market app

To sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, you need find the apk file. Although you can do this manually by visiting individual developers website, most developers now do not put APK files on their website. Instead, most of them put a link to Google Play store.

1Mobile app can be a middleman between your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablet and Google Play store. With 1Mobile app, you can get almost all apps that are available in Google Play store. Sometimes, it may even help you overcome the geographic limitations for some apps (some apps are available in selected regions in Google Play store; 1Mobile may download the app even though you are not in the targeted regions.)

So the first Android app that we need to sideload to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is 1Mobile App. You can do this by following these operations:

• In the home screen, tap Silk browser (6).
• The Silk browser should open. In Silk browser, type the address: 1mobile.com (7).
• Tap 1Mobile Market button (8)
• Choose Tablet version of the 1Mobile app. Tap and download the app (9).
• Tap “OK” to start the download (10).
• Once the download for 1Mobile app is finished, tap the menu button (3 vertical dots) of the silk browser (11).
• Tap “Downloads” (12).
• Tap the APK file entry to install 1Mobile app (13).
• Tap “Install” to finish the sideloading 1Mobile app (14).
• Tap Home button to return to home screen (15).

 

 

Step 3: Add 1Mobile Market app to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire HDX home screen

Once in the home screen, you cannot find the app (1Mobile app) you just installed, because none of the apps sideloaded to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX appears on the home screen by default.

So, after you sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, you need manually add it to the home screen so that you can access them quickly next time.

To add the sideloaded Android apps to the home screen, you can follow these steps:

• In the home screen, tap Apps (16).
• Tap “On Device” (17).
• You should find the sideloaded apps now.
• Tap and hold the 1Mobile App icon until the context menu pops out (18).
• Tap “Add to home” to add a shortcut of 1Mobile app in the home screen (19).
• Tap Home button to return to home screen (20).
• Scroll down the home screen, and you can now find the 1Mobile app there (21).

 

 

Step 4 (optional): Disable update notification and show notification

But before using the 1Mobile Market app, you may want to change some 1Mobile Market app settings.

This step is totally optional. But sometimes, the notifications from 1Mobile are a bit annoying.  You may want to disable them.  At the end of this tutorial, I will show you disable the notification from 1Mobile app completely.

• In the home screen, launch 1Mobile market  app (21).
• Tap 1Mobile Market menu icon (the 3 vertical dots) (22).
• Tap “Settings” (23).
• You may turn off “Enable update notification” and “Show notification”. (drag the On to the left to switch to Off)
• Tap return button to return to 1Mobile market app (24).

 

 

Step 5:  Download and install Chrome for Android app

After sideloading 1Mobile Market app, you can install almost all apps that are available in Google Play store.

Now let's try to sideload Chrome browser to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

• In the search bar, type “chrome” (25).
• Tap Chrome Browser-Google (26).
• Tap “Install” (27).
• Once installation of Google Chrome for Android is done, tap Home button to return to home screen.

Now the Google Chrome for Android is successfully sideloaded into Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX and it is ready for using.

 

Step 6: Add Chrome for Android app to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX home screen

As mentioned before, after you sideload Android apps to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, they are not shown on the home screen by default. You need add the sideloaded app to home screen manually.

• In the home screen, tap Apps (28).
• Tap “On Device” (29). You should find Chrome for Android is listed there.
• Tap and hold Chrome app icon, until the context menu pops out (30).
• Tap “Add to Home” (31). This will add a shortcut of Chrome for Android app in the home screen.
• Tap Home button to return to home screen (32).
• In the home screen, scroll down (swipe up). You can find Chrome now is listed there (33).

 

Step 7: Test Chrome for Android app on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX

Now you can test the sideloaded Chrome for Android on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX. Normally, after you sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, it is  a good practice to test it.

• In the home screen, tap Chrome App icon (33). Chrome browser should launch in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX now.
• In the address bar, type: kindlefireforkid.com (34)
• And, it works!

How to disable some annoying notifications from 1Mobile market app

1Mobile Market is one of the best apps if you want to sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX. It gives you access almost all apps in Google Play store from Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablets.

However, the notification of 1Mobile can be annoying sometimes.

Luckily, in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX (including Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX HDX), it is very easy to totally disable ALL notifications from 1Mobile.

• In home screen, swipe down to access Settings–Notifications and Quite time (A).
• Tap 1Mobile Market (B).
• Tap “Off” for Show in notification tray (Play sounds will be automatically off) (C).
• Make sure the Show in notification tray is off.

 

 

 

Transcripts for the video of “How to sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX”

Hello guys, this is a step-by-step tutorial teaching you how to sideload Android apps to your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX.

For the transcripts and other Kindle Fire guides, please visit Kindle Fire for Kid dot com.

You may already know that your Kindle Fire tablet, including 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. So, you can run almost all Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

Sometimes, you may need some apps that are available in Google Play, but are not available in Amazon Appstore. Because the official way to get apps on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is through Amazon Appstore for Android, you have to sideload apps to your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX if the apps are from other sources.
This tutorial will guide you to sideload two Android apps to your Kindle Fire HDX tablet. It also applies to Kindle Fire, and Kindle Fire HD.

Let's start.

Step 1: Enable “Apps from unknown sources”
In the home screen, swipe down the notification bar.

Tap settings

Tap Applications

Tap “On” for Apps from unknown sources . This will make it possible to sideload apps from sources other than Amazon's official App store.

Tap “OK” to acknowledge the warning message . This essentially tells you the risk of sideloading. You need sure you only apps from reliable and trusted sources.

Make sure the Apps from unknown source is on. Yellow color indicates this option is on. Tap Home button to return to home screen

Step 2: Download and install 1Mobile Market app
To sideload Android apps in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, you need find the APK file. Although you can do this manually by visiting individual developers website, most developers now do not put APK files on their website. Instead, most of them put a link to Google Play store.

1Mobile app can be a middleman between your Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX tablet and Google Play store. With 1Mobile app, you can get almost all apps that are available in Google Play store. Sometimes, it may even help you overcome the geographic limitations for some apps. Some apps are available in selected regions in Google Play store; 1Mobile may download the app even though you are not in the targeted regions.

So the first Android app that we need to sideload to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX is 1Mobile App. Now. let's start.

In the home screen, tap Silk browser This is the default web browser in Kindle Fire tablets

In Silk browser, type the address: 1mobile.com Tap 1Mobile Market button as shown.

Choose Tablet version of the 1Mobile app. Tap and download the app .The tablet version is optimized for bigger screens in tablets.

Tap “OK” to start the download .

Once the download for 1Mobile app is finished, tap the menu button (3 vertical dots) of the silk browser This will open the options of Silk browser. Tap “Downloads”. This will list all files downloaded through your Silk browser.

Tap the APK file entry as shown to install 1Mobile app .

Tap “Install” to finish the sideloading 1Mobile app. In landscape mode, you need tap "Next" to see the install button.

Tap Home button to return to home screen once the installation is done.

Step 3: Add 1Mobile Market app home screen
Once in the home screen, you cannot find the app you just installed, because none of the apps sideloaded to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX appears on the home screen by default.
So, after you sideload Android apps, you need manually add it to the home screen so that you can access them quickly next time.

In the home screen, tap Apps.

Tap “On Device”. You should find the sideloaded apps now.

Tap and hold the 1Mobile App icon until the context menu pops out.

Tap “Add to home” to add a shortcut of 1Mobile app in the home screen .
Tap Home button to return to home screen

Now, scroll down the home screen, you can now find the 1Mobile app there.

Step 4: Disable update notification and show notification. 
1Mobile app is useful, but sometimes, the notifications from 1Mobile are a bit annoying. You may want to disable them. Now, let's start.

In the home screen, launch 1Mobile market app by tapping the icon once.

Tap 1Mobile Market menu icon (the 3 vertical dots).

Tap “Settings”.

You may want to turn off “Enable update notification” and “Show notification”. Drag the On button to the left to switch to Off.
After finishing the setting, tap return (back) button to return to 1Mobile market app.

Step 5: Download and install Chrome for Android app.
After sideloading 1Mobile Market app, you can install almost all apps that are available in Google Play store. Now let’s try to sideload Chrome browser to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX.

In the search bar of 1Mobile app, type “chrome”. You will find out Chrome browser is there.
Tap Chrome Browser-Google to download the app.

Once the download is finished, it will prompt you to install. Alternatively, there is a notification in the notification bar, you can tap it to begin the installation.

Before the installation, the permissions of this app are listed. You need scroll down to find the install button. Tap this “Install” button to install Chrome browser in your Kindle Fire tablets

Once installation of Google Chrome for Android is done, tap Home button to return to home screen.

Step 6: Add Chrome for Android app to the home screen
As mentioned before, after you sideload Android apps to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX, they are not shown on the home screen by default. You need add the sideloaded app to home screen manually.

In the home screen, tap "Apps".

Tap “On Device”. You should find Chrome for Android is listed there. Tap and hold Chrome app icon, until the context menu pops out.

Tap “Add to Home”. This will add a shortcut of Chrome for Android app in the home screen. Tap Home button to return to home screen.

In the home screen, scroll down (swipe up). You can find Chrome now is listed in the home screen

Step 7: Test Chrome for Android app on your tablet
Now you can test the sideloaded Chrome for Android on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX. Normally, after you sideload Android apps in your tablet, it is a good practice to test it.

In the home screen, tap Chrome App icon. Chrome browser should launch in Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX now. In the address bar, type: kindlefireforkid.com

And, it works!

Congratulations, Now you've sideloaded two apps. Next time, if you find the apps that are not available in Amazon's Appstore, you can try to search it in 1Mobile market.

You can find more tutorials and guides on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HDX, at kindle Fire For Kid dot com.

If you have any questions, please ask us in our website.

Thank you for watching this tutorial.

Can you sideload Android apps to Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX now?

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