Guides for Fire Tablet

quick settings

How to use Writing Assist on Fire Tablet?

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How to use Writing Assist on Fire Tablet?

Writing Assist is the most practical tool among the three generative AI features currently available on Fire tablets.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains what Writing Assist is, the available features of Writing Assist, and how to access and use these features to help your writing. The guide also explains how to use Writing Assist with a Bluetooth keyboard and the limitations of this AI tool.

You may check the other two AI features on Fire tablet in these two guides: Webpage Summaries and Wallpaper Creator.

What is the Writing Assist on Fire Tablet?

Amazon announced three generative AI features when Fire HD 8 2024 was released: Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator.

Writing Assist on Fire tablet is simply an AI-powered writing tool. It uses generative AI to help you improve your writing and offers various suggestions, including grammar, spelling, style, and even the tone of your writing. You can even get suggestions for making your writing tone more casual or professional. The feature is similar to Samsung's Writing Assistant (powered by Grammarly) but not comparable to Galaxy AI's Writing Assist, which offers many advanced features like Composer and auto-reply.

Writing Assist is integrated into the Fire tablet's keyboard in Fire OS 8. So, it works across all apps that require text input and you can access it whenever you use the keyboard.

You can even use it when you use a Bluetooth keyboard with your Fire tablet (read on).

List of Fire tablet models with Writing Assist

Currently, Writing Assist is available on Fire tablets with Fire OS 8 (excluding Fire 7 2022).

Here is the list of suppirted Fire tablets:

… Read the rest

How to use Wallpaper Creator on your Fire tablet?

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Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet for AI image generation

Wallpaper Creator is one of the three AI features Amazon offers to their recent Fire tablets, together with Webpage Summaries and Writing Assist.

This Fire tablet guide explains Wallpaper Creator, how to access and use Wallpaper Creator on your Fire tablet to create your unique wallpapers, how to manage and edit these AI-generated images on Fire tablet, the limitations of this feature, and its availability for Fire tablets.

For other generative AI features, you may check this guide for Webpage Summaries and this guide for Writing Assist for your Fire tablet.

What is Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet?

Wallpaper Creator for Fire Tablet is essentially an AI image generator. It was announced with Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) and was also offered to the latest generation of Fire HD 10 (Fire HD 10 2023) and Fire Max 11 with a Fire OS update in late October.

With Wallpaper Creator, you can describe what you want (i.e., prompt) to dictate the wallpaper generation. The actual image generation is done on Amazon servers, not on the tablet, which is not capable of running such a generative AI model locally.

In addition to the prompt (text description), you need to also specify one of the following styles to generate substantially different wallpapers:

  • Suggested.
  • Photorealistic.
  • Fantasy.
  • Oil painting.
  • Starry night.
  • Wtercolor.
  • Pop up paper art.
  • Color pencil.
  • Cartoon.

The image generated will be in a fixed resolution of 2048px by 2048px. The generated image will be saved on the phone Gallery automatically. You can also apply it as the wallpaper directly in the Wallpaper Creator.

Two common ways to access Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet

There are at least two frequently used ways to access the Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet:

  1. From Wallpaper Creator app.
… Read the rest

How to use the fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11?

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fingerprint ID on Fire Max 1

Fire Max 11 is the first Amazon tablet with a fingerprint reader (embedded in the power button). You use the corresponding fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11 to unlock the tablet quickly. Some apps may also opt to use it in the future.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains what the fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11 is, its limitations, how to register your fingerprints for the fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11, and how to use it on Fire Max 11.

Fire Max 11 is also the first Fire tablet with active pen support. Please check this guide for using the active stylus on Fire Max 11 and this guide for using the Fire Max 11 keyboard case. The limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11 are discussed here.

What is fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11?

To save costs, Amazon did not add a fingerprint reader on all previous Fire tablets. Fire Max 11 is the first Fire tablet that comes with it, and Amazon simply named it Fingerprint ID in Fire OS 8.

The fingerprint reader (sensor) on Fire Max 11 is embedded into the power button. This means you can use the fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11 by simply putting your finger on the power button.

The capacitive fingerprint sensor is actually way better (user-friendly and faster) than the fancy under-display fingerprint reader found in many “flagship” devices like Galaxy S23 or Google Pixel 7 Pro. Very likely, it is also cheaper.

Theoretically, you can use fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11 to:

  1. Unlock the tablet.
  2. Authenticate yourself in apps that support fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11.

For the latter, it seems there are no apps supporting the fingerprint ID on Fire Max 11.… Read the rest

How to Use Dark Theme on Fire Tablets with Fire OS 8?

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Use Dark Theme on Fire Tablets with Fire OS 8

With the release of Fire OS 8 on the 12th Gen Fire 7 (Fire 7 2022), Fire HD 8 (Fire HD 8 2022), and Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen), Dark theme on Fire tablets is now available in these devices, and the Fire Max 11 (13th Gen).

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains the advantages of the Dark Theme on Fire tablets, the difference between the Night Mode, Blue Shed, and Dark Theme, how to turn on/off the Dark Theme on Fire tablets with Fire OS 8, and how to schedule Dark theme on Fire tablets.

Dark Theme was introduced in Fire OS 8. So, this guide applies to Amazon Fire tablets with Fire OS 8.

Why do you need the Dark Theme on Fire tablets?

Dark Theme, aka system-wide dark theme, was officially introduced in Android 10. It allows you to show content in a dark background on the screen.

Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 10, implemented the Dark Theme on Fire tablets without messing it up.

The advantages of using the Dark Theme include the following:

  • Reduce eye strain, especially in a low-light environment.
  • Make the screen more comfortable (arguable) for most users in most situations.
  • Improve visibility for users with low vision and those who are sensitive to bright light.
  • Reduce battery usage (therefore, increase battery life) if adaptive brightness is available and enabled.

Fire 7 (all generations) does not have a light sensor. Therefore, it will not benefit from the longer battery life when enabling the Dark Theme. Fire HD 8 (including Fire HD 8 Plus) and Fire HD 10 (including Fire HD 10 Plus) support adaptable brightness.… Read the rest

How to use Quick Settings on Fire tablets?

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use Quick Settings on Fire tablets

Quick Settings on Fire tablets lets you enable or disable some features instantly without going through the Settings app.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains what the Quick Settings on Fire tablets is, how to access the Quick Settings panel on a Fire tablet, the differences in Quick Settings among Fire OS 5, Fire OS 7, and Fire OS 8, and how to use and customize the Quick Setting buttons.

Although the illustration and screenshots are based on Fire OS 8, this guide applies to most Fire tablets, including Fire 7 (12th Gen), Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8+ (12th Gen), Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen)Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen), and Fire Max 11(13th Gen).

What is Quick Settings on Fire tablets?

Quick Settings on Fire tablets is simply a special panel that lets you turn on/off some frequently used features without fiddling around the Settings.

For example, if you want to turn on (or off) Bluetooth on a Fire tablet without Quick Settings, you need 5 steps.

  1. Navigate to the Home screen (you may have to leave the app you are using).
  2. Locate the Settings app.
  3. Open the Settings app.
  4. Tap Connected devices.
  5. Tap Bluetooth

With Quick Settings on Fire tablets, it will take you two steps to turn on/off Bluetooth:

  1. Without leaving the app you are using, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers.
  2. Tap the Bluetooth button.

So, it is a matter of “efficiency” if you can use Quick Settings on Fire tablets. The Quick Settings is even available when you are on the lock screen.

Like all other Android devices (although Amazon tried hard to hide “Android” in Fire tablets), all Fire tablets offer the Quick Settings feature.… Read the rest

Everything about Fire OS 8

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Everything about Fire OS 8

Fire OS 8 is the latest (2022) Operating System (OS) for Fire tablets. It was announced on May 18, 2022.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains everything you need to know about Fire OS 8: relation to Android versions, new features (and how to use them), supported devices, and about sideloading Google Play Store.

This guide applies to all models (standard, Kids, Kids Pro, Plus) of Fire 7 2022 (12th Gen), Fire HD 8 2022 (12th Gen), Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen), Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen), and Fire Max 11 (2023, 13th Gen).

Relation to Android versions

Fire OS is essentially a fork of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). And each version of Fire OS has parity with a specific version of Android. So, you can run most Android apps on Fire tablets even if they are not available in the Amazon App Store.

Of course, Amazon removed almost all Google services, including Google Play Store, and replaced them with their own offering. Therefore, technically speaking, Google services are NOT supported on Fire tablets. Even worse, Amazon tightened the controls of the Fire OS. It is easy to make Google Play Store and other Google services work on Fire OS 8 (read on).

Unlike previous versions of Fire OS, Fire OS 8 is based on two versions of Android: Android 10 and Android 11. It is unclear why Amazon did not move the whole code base to Android 11. FYI, Fire OS 7 is based on Android 9 (Android Pie).

As the current Android version is Andriod 13, apps that require Android 12 or higher generally cannot run on Fire OS 8. You must be aware of this limitation when sideloading Android apps to Fire tablets.… Read the rest

Fire 7 2022 vs Fire 7 2019: top 10 new features and improvements

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Fire 7 2022 vs Fire 7 2019: top 10 new features and improvements

After about 3 years, Amazon finally refreshed the most affordable Android tablet on the planet, Fire 7. The 12th Gen Fire 7 (2022) was announced in May and released in June. Many Fire tablet owners wonder about the difference between Fire 7 2022 and Fire 7 2019.

As a successor to the 9th Gen Fire 7 (2019), Fire 7 2022 offers some valuable upgrades and changes.

This Fire tablet guide explains the top 10 new features and improvements of Fire 7 2022 vs Fire 7 2019, including.

  1. Fire OS 8
  2. Faster CPU and GPU
  3. More (double) RAM
  4. USB-C
  5. WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
  6. Bluetooth 5.0
  7. Longer battery life
  8. VP9 codecs
  9. Widevine DRM L1 support
  10. Inflation tax (just to make it 10)

Some comparison was also extended to the current Fire HD 8 (10th Gen) and Fire HD 10 (11th Gen) to help you decide whether Fire 7 2022 is the right tablet for you.

Fire OS 8

Fire 7 2022 is the first Amazon device that ships with Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 11.

As a comparison, Fire 7 2019 (9th Gen) was updated to Fire OS 7, which is based on Android 9. The latest Fire HD 8 (2020, 10th gen) and Fire HD 10 (2021, 11th gen) are also running on Fire OS 7.

Although the latest version of Android is Android 12, Android 11 is still a major leap from Android 9 (Android Pie).

Some of the Android 10 and Android 11 features will benefit all users. For example,

You may check this guide on using new features in Fire OS 8.… Read the rest

How to use the 15 special keys and 11 keyboard shortcuts on the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus)?

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use the 15 special keys and 11 keyboard shortcuts on the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus)

The official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus) is one of the most useful accessories if you need to type a lot on the Fire HD 10 tablet. But some owners are confused about the 15 special keys and are not aware of the keyboard shortcuts that can improve their productivity greatly.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains the meaning and usage of the 15 special keys on the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus). The available keyboard shortcuts are also explained to help you improve your productivity.

If you want to know how to pair or configure the keyboard, please check this guide.

You may check Fire Tablet Buyers' Guide to see whether you should buy the Bluetooth keyboard as a productivity bundle.

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) also has a similar official keyboard cover, which works identically to the one for Fire HD 10 2021. However, due to the differences in dimensions, you cannot fit the keyboard case for Fire HD 10 2021 with Fire HD 10 2023. And vice versa. So, this guide also works for Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen). The Fire Max 11 keyboard case also share the same 15 special keys (shortcut keys).

What are the 15 special keys on the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus)?

There are 15 special keys on the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (and Fire HD 10 Plus). 13 of them are located in the top row, and the other two are left to the space bar, as illustrated below.… Read the rest

How to enable and access developer options on Amazon Fire tablet (Fire, Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX), and how to hide developer options again?

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Android developer options give app developers a lot of options to test the app under various simulated conditions. You can also enable developer options on Amazon Fire tablets.

But for normal users, sometimes, you may also need some features that are under developer options. For example, when you need to 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, Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD, Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX.

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

Fire tablet settings to enable developer options

Step 2: Tap Serial Number Field  7 times

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