how to get google store on older kindle fire

(Yep, it’s confusing!) Fire OS 5 is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, which is a little easier to remember. The latest Amazon Fire 7 tablet runs Fire OS 6, which is based on the Android 7.1 Nougat operating system. It’s fairly simple to do, but it requires just a bit of background knowledge before you get started.įirst, you’ll need to find out the software version of your Amazon Fire tablet so you can download the correct APK. Next comes the fun part: manually downloading and installing Google Play Services.

Tap “Security & Privacy,” which should be about halfway down the page.

Click on the “Settings” app in the app drawer (find it by swiping up on the home screen).

The first step is to enable installations from unknown sources (essentially, any source that isn’t Amazon). Before you install APKs, you’ll need to allow app installations from outside sources. And if you’re considering sideloading APKs that usually cost money, show your support by buying them via the Google Play Store on your browser. So proceed with caution and know that certain APKs may not work as intended. However, Amazon doesn’t offer troubleshooting support for issues that you may encounter.

Luckily, this doesn’t require rooting your Amazon Fire tablet, so there’s no immediate risk of voiding your warranty. It’s not the most straightforward process, but it’s worth the effort.Ī $50 tablet can handle the basics, but not much more In this how-to, we’re going to show you how to sideload the Google Play Store and the requisite apps that are required in order to get it running on an Amazon tablet. Once you enable this feature, you’ll be able to sideload Android packages (APKs) - in other words, manually force apps onto your device that otherwise wouldn’t be supported. Amazon allows the installation of apps from outside sources on all of its Fire tablets, which means you can install the Google Play Store. However, there is hope if you don’t mind tinkering a bit. What’s worse is that the built-in Amazon Appstore is a stand-in for Google’s Play Store, and most of the apps you know and love aren’t available. It (like Amazon’s other Fire tablets) lacks any of the standard Google apps, like Google Maps, Google Photos, or Google Drive. The worst thing is that its Android-based Fire OS 6 software lacks most of what makes Android, well, Android. The best thing about the Amazon Fire 7 tablet is its $49 price.

How to get google store on older kindle fire