How to Add Google Chrome to an Amazon Fire Tablet

Article updated March 3rd, 2023

Amazon’s Fire Tablets are affordable devices perfect for browsing the web, watching Netflix or Amazon Prime exclusives, and playing light games on the go.

Customized software is the most significant difference between the Fire tablet and all Android devices. Fire OS is designed to push Amazon’s lineup of products and services. You’ll find similar apps that aren’t official Google ones, but that is not the same thing, and they lack all the same functionality.

Unfortunately, it also leads to a significant problem: the device does not offer Chrome or the Google Play Store. That means you are limited to apps available in the Amazon AppStore, which DOES NOT include Chrome.

If you’re ready to get Chrome on your Amazon Fire Tablet, this definitive guide will get you both the Google Play Store and Chrome. Why not get the interface you’re used to? Work with all your customized extensions, bookmarks, and settings. You’ll also get to sync your data from and to other devices with Chrome.

1. What You’ll Need

First, let’s start by saying this guide can be done on your Amazon Fire tablet alone. Earlier Fire models required the Play Store to be pushed to your device from a Windows computer using ADB, something that no longer has to be done. Instead, you’ll need some rudimentary knowledge of how Android installs apps outside the standard app store and some patience as you download and install all four required packages.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • Obtain four separate APK files from APKMirror (linked below).
  • Use a Google account for the Play Store.
  • Ensure you have an updated Fire tablet running Fire OS 5.1 or above. For devices running 5.6.0.0, see Troubleshooting and Tips.
  • Get a file manager. We recommend File Commander as a file manager from the Amazon AppStore (may be optional, see Troubleshooting and Tips).

Things You Need to Know about Your Tablet

Aside from the prerequisites above, you need to know information about your Fire tablet, including the following:

  • Identify your tablet’s release year.
  • Know which generation it is, such as 10th Gen. or 9th Gen.
  • Identify which Android version it was based on.
  • Know whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Depending on the age of your tablet, you may need to download different apps than a device running older software with older hardware.

Check your Amazon order history or wherever you purchased the item to identify the Fire tablet version, release year, and generation. You can also search your email for an order confirmation.

You can also view Amazon Fire tablet specs to get the Android variant used for Fire OS in addition to the model year, generation, and version.

If you received a used Fire tablet as a gift or purchased one second-hand, such as on eBay or Mercari, you can find your Fire tablet based on the model number. This page provides everything you need about your used or new Amazon Fire/Fire HD tablet. To get your model number, check the back of the tablet or access “Settings -> Device Options” and look at the bottom section.

2. Enable Apps From Unknown Sources

The first thing to do on your Amazon Fire tablet is to dive into the settings menu and enable installations from unknown sources. Although Amazon modified Android to create Fire OS, the operating system is incredibly similar to Google’s own, including how third-party apps are installed outside of Amazon AppStore.

To open settings on your device,

  1. Slide down from the top of your device to open the notifications tray and quick actions, then slide down some more and tap on the “Settings” icon.
  2. Scroll down and select “Security & Privacy.”
  3. Select “Apps from Unknown Sources” under the “Privacy” section.
  4. Choose “Silk Browser.” On older Fire OS versions, you may not see an app list. Go ahead and turn the option on directly, and you’re done.
  5. Under the “Silk Browser” setting, move the “Allow from this source” slider to the “On” position. This allows Silk to install from unknown sources. You’re done.

3. Download Four Google APKs

Next up is the big part. Because Google Play isn’t installed on your device, all apps sold through the Play Store won’t run on your device without Google Play Services. Apps like Gmail or Google Maps check for authentication through that app.

For starters, you need to install the entire Google Play Store suite of services onto your device, which amounts to four different applications: three utilities and the Play Store itself. Ensure you download all four APKs, then install them in the order listed below. All these files are downloadable using the Amazon Silk browser on your device. The APK files you need depend on your Fire HD tablet and the Fire OS version.

The site you’ll use to download these APKs is called APKMirror. It’s a trusted source for free APKs from developers and Google Play, and it acts as a utility for any Android user looking to download or install apps manually.

File 1. Google Account Manager

Note: Download the correct app below, but DO NOT install it yet.

You need Google Account Manager 7.1.2 for the following devices:

  • Fire 7 (9th/12th Gen.)
  • Fire HD 8 (8th/10th Gen.)
  • Fire HD 10 (9th/11th Gen.)

You have an Android 6.0 or higher variant for the above devices. Once installed and running, Google will automatically update as needed for the above app.

Here’s how to get it:

  1. For ‘Fire HD 8 (8th/10th Gen.)’ after Oct. 2018, ‘Fire 7 (8th/9th/12th Gen.) after Jun. 2019, or ‘Fire HD 10 (9th/11th Gen.)’ after Nov. 2019, download Google Account Manager 7.1.2 using the “Silk Browser.”
  2. DO NOT open the file. Leave the notification in your tray for easy access, and write it down to keep the apps in the correct installation order.

Note: Don’t forget that all Fire tablets must have Fire 5.1 or above. For Fire OS 5.6.0.0, see Troubleshooting and Tips.

You need Google Account Manager 5.1 for the following devices:

  • Fire HD 6
  • Fire 7 (7th Gen. and older)
  • Fire HD 8 (7th Gen. and older)
  • Fire HD 10 (7th Gen. and older)

You have an Android 5.1 or higher variant for the above devices. Google will automatically update as needed for the app once it is installed and running.

  1. For Fire HD 6, Fire 7 (7th Gen. and older), Fire HD 8 (7th Gen. and older), and Fire HD 10 (7th Gen. and older), you have the Android 5.1 or higher variant. Download Google Account Manager 5.1-1743759.
  2. DO NOT open the file. Leave the notification in your tray for easy access, and write it down (the filename, not the app name) to keep the apps in the correct installation order.

File 2. Google Services Framework

Note: Download the correct app below, but DO NOT install it yet.

The next app is Google Services Framework. As with Account Manager, the version you need depends on the device you’re running. However, because Google’s framework app targets various versions of Android, it is recommended that you download a version compatible with Android 5.1.

Note: Don’t forget that all Fire tablets must have Fire 5.1 or above. For Fire OS 5.6.0.0, see Troubleshooting and Tips.

  1. Download Google Services Framework 5.1-1743759 using the “Silk Browser.”
  2. DO NOT open the file. Leave the notification in your tray for easy access, and write the filename (not the app name) down to keep the apps in the correct installation order.

File 3. Google Play Services

Note: Download the correct app below, but DO NOT install it yet.

Next up is Google Play Services. This app will allow other apps like YouTube, which you can’t find in Fire OS, to be authenticated and used on your device. Installing this app is more complicated than installing the other three APKs because some models are 32-bit while the rest are 64-bit.

For the Google Play Services app, you should avoid the beta releases by looking for the most recent, stable version on the list (beta versions are marked as such).

Note: Don’t forget that all Fire tablets must have Fire 5.1 or above. For Fire OS 5.6.0.0, see Troubleshooting and Tips.

64-Bit Fire Tablets

32-Bit Fire Tablets

  • Fire HD 10 (7th Gen 2017 and older (Android 5.1- variant)
  • , Fire HD 8 (7th Gen and older), Fire 7 (7th Gen and older), Fire HD 6, Fire HDX 8.9

You need Google Play services 19.6.68 (020300-281397792) (020300) for the following devices:

  • Fire 7 (9th/12th Gen.)
  • Fire HD 8 (8th/10th Gen.)
  • Fire HD 10 (9th/11th Gen.)

If you just bought your Fire 7, Fire HD 8, or Fire HD 10, you can download this APK here. Anyone who owns a Fire HD 8 or Fire HD 10 from 2016 or later can also download this version.

  1. If you have ‘Fire HD 8‘ after Oct. 2018, ‘Fire 7‘ after Jun. 2019, or ‘Fire HD 10‘ after Nov. 2019, you have the Android 6+ variant. Download Google Account Manager 7.1.2 using the “Silk Browser.”

If you own a Fire 7 tablet purchased before June 2019—in other words, an 8th-generation device or older—you should download this version here.

Both iterations of Google Play Services are identical in every way except for which type of processor they’re created for. If you download the wrong one, don’t stress too much. We’ll cover what to do in a moment below.

File 4. Google Play Store

Note: Download the correct app below, but DO NOT install it yet.

The final of the four apps is the Google Play Store itself. This is the easiest of the four downloads, as all file versions work on Android 4.1 and above.

Note: Don’t forget that all Fire tablets must have Fire 5.1 or above. For Fire OS 5.6.0.0, see Troubleshooting and Tips.

Download the most recent version here.

For the Google Play Store, you should try to use the newest app version available for your hardware. APKMirror will alert you when there is a more recent version, which will be listed on the webpage below the information.

If you don’t feel comfortable figuring out which version listed on the APKMirror page is the correct version for your tablet, download the linked versions, and Google Play will update the apps for you following a full install.

Installing the APK Files

Once you’ve downloaded the four files listed above onto your Fire tablet using the Silk browser, swipe down from the top of the screen to open your notifications. You should see a complete list of the APKs you downloaded in the last step, each with its notification, sorted by newest to oldest. If you followed the steps above and downloaded each in the proper order, the fourth download should be on the top of the list (as the newest) and the first download on the bottom (as the oldest) so that the order appears as such:

  • Google Play Store
  • Google Play Services
  • Google Services Framework
  • Google Account Manager

Note: DO NOT choose “Open” on the four apps once installed—select “Done” instead.

How you install these apps is very important. Start by tapping the Google Account Manager (oldest download) at the bottom of that list. The installation process will begin; hit Next at the bottom of the screen, or scroll to the bottom to hit Install. The Account Manager will start to install it on your device. You’ll be alerted of the failure if anything goes wrong during the installation. Ensure you’ve downloaded the correct Android 5.0 version of Account Manager, and the file should install. Newer versions will not install on the device.

Repeat this process for all three remaining apps in oldest to newest order, beginning with Google Services Framework, then Google Play Services, and then Google Play Store.

If you wrote down the filenames as previously suggested, installing all four in the correct order should be easy—in case the downloads got shuffled or the wrong one got downloaded at some point.

Note: DO NOT choose “Open” on the four apps once installed—select “Done” instead.

When each app finishes downloading, a display will appear, citing the installation is complete. On both the Google Play Services and Google Play Store listings, there will be an option to open the app (on the Services Framework and the Account Manager apps, that option will be grayed out). Do not open these apps; instead, hit Done and continue following through on all four applications.

As a final note, both Play Services and the Play Store take some time to install, as they’re large applications. Allow the apps to install, and don’t try to cancel the installation or turn off your tablet. The entire installation process for all four apps should take no longer than about five minutes.

If your version of Google Play Services fails to install correctly, you may have downloaded the wrong version for your processor. Try downloading the other version before continuing with the guide.

4. Reboot and Log Into Google Play

Once all four applications have been downloaded onto your tablet, complete the process by restarting your Fire tablet. Press and hold your device’s power button until a prompt asks if you wish to turn off your tablet. After your device is powered off, press and hold the power button again. When the tablet has booted back to your lock screen, you can finish the process by setting up Google Play.

Head into your list of apps and select the Google Play Store from the list (do not select Google Play Services). Instead of opening the store, it will open Google Account Manager to obtain your credentials. You’ll see the tablet getting set up for use, and then Google will ask for your Gmail address and password. Finally, the device will ask if you wish to back up your account’s apps and data to Google Drive.

Whether you wish to do so is up to you, but it’s not necessary for this step. All told, Google Play should take about two minutes to install. Once logged in and you completed the setup process, you’ll be dropped into the Google Play Store, the same app used on most Android devices.

5. Install Google Chrome (and Other Apps)

Now that Google Play is installed on your tablet, it works just as it would for any Android device. So, to install Google Chrome, all you have to do is open up the Play Store, search for Chrome in the search bar at the top of the display, then select Install from the app’s listing. That’s it—no complex workarounds, no plugging your tablet into a computer. As far as Google Play is concerned, your tablet is just another standard Android device.

Once the app has been downloaded and installed onto your tablet, you can use it like any other application. It will show up in your app drawer and the list of recent apps on your device, making it easy to access.

Any application not available on Amazon’s Appstore can be downloaded through this method, just as you would on any other tablet. You can even install third-party launchers to change the look and feel of your software or download the official Gmail and YouTube apps to watch content on your Fire tablet easily.

Troubleshooting and Tips

For most users, the above steps should be good enough for getting the Play Store on your brand-new Fire Tablet. Some users may experience issues, especially on older devices or devices running older software. If that sounds like you, check out these optional guides for getting the Play Store working on your tablet.

Installing a File Browser from the Amazon App Store

This should be an optional step for most users. Still, specific Amazon devices have had trouble installing the necessary APKs onto their tablets without installing a file manager onto your Fire tablet from the Amazon App Store first. If you’re having an issue getting the files above to install on your device, we recommend installing File Commander, a free app that makes it easy to view files. It’s nothing special, but for this process, we don’t need anything too powerful to finish installing the Play Store.

Alternatively, you can also use the Docs application on your device, which comes pre-installed and includes the ability to browse local files instead of using an application like File Commander. Docs will allow you to browse your Downloads folder and select the app installation files one at a time if you accidentally swiped them away from your notification tray or if you’re having difficulties installing the apps on Fire OS 5.6.0.0.

Installation Problems on Fire OS 5.6.0.0

If you’re still on Fire OS 5.6.0.0, the following instructions apply to you. However, since newer versions of Fire OS do not have this issue, we recommend ensuring your software is up to date rather than dealing with these issues. If you cannot upgrade your operating system, look through the guide below for assistance.

Several readers have commented that the installation buttons on these displays have been repeatedly grayed out during installation on Amazon’s newest tablets (the 7th generation Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10) and, more specifically, on Fire OS version 5.6.0.0. If you installed the Play Store before this update, we’ve seen no issues using the apps as established above. Indeed, we also saw installation difficulties on a brand-new Fire HD 10 running Fire OS 5.6.0.0, which is how we began testing this update to look for a workaround.

There’s good news and bad news on this front. First, there are several reported workarounds, both that we’ve seen when testing the installation process and from readers online. You can find these workarounds on the XDA forums. The bad news is that all of the potential fixes don’t seem to be reliable. Still, we got the Play Store up and running on a Fire tablet that had never had it installed before; it just took some patience and a little luck.

The problem with Fire OS 5.6.0.0 is that Amazon has disabled the installation button on their devices with this new update. This means that no matter where you click on the screen, you won’t be able to install the app, forcing you to cancel the installation and return to your locked-down Amazon ecosystem.

All four apps listed above seem to have this issue on Fire OS 5.6.0.0. Thankfully, there’s an easy workaround to this. Once you’re on the installation screen with the grayed-out icon, turn your device’s screen off, back on again, and unlock your device. Scroll to the bottom of the app installation page again, and you’ll see that the Install button is working on your device again.

An alternate workaround involves tapping the multitasking/recent apps icon once, then re-selecting the app installation page from your “Recent apps” list. Then you should see the “Install” button lit up in orange.

This isn’t a perfect workaround, however. Though we did get this to work on our device using both of the methods described above, and several users on the XDA forums have reported the same solution, a minority of users have reported that both the screen lock workaround and the recent apps button method did not work for them. Once again, the fine users at the XDA forums have found a few workarounds to this, too:

  • Reboot your tablet.
  • Turn the “Install Apps from Outside Sources” setting off and on again.
  • Ensure the Blue Shade filter in settings is disabled.
  • Use a Bluetooth keyboard to navigate to the Install button (make sure the Install key is selected, then hit Enter).

Again, we didn’t have a problem installing the apps on a new device using the above method of turning the display off and on, but if you do run into difficulty, try using those select methods to get the apps running on your device. And thanks again to the folks at XDA for figuring out how to get these methods working again.

Finally, we tested installing all four APK files on Fire OS 5.6.1.0 and above. Newer versions have no issues installing, and the Install icon was never grayed out. If you’re looking to install these four applications and are still running Fire OS 5.6.0.0, try updating your Fire OS software to 5.6.0.1, then to 5.6.1.0. The updates take a while, each taking about fifteen minutes, so make sure you have time to update your tablet.

***

With Chrome installed, you can log into your account and sync your bookmarks, recent tabs, and more right to your Fire Tablet. This method isn’t just excellent for installing Chrome. It’s a great way to add a lot of new functionality to your tablet, whether in the form of new apps previously unavailable on the Appstore or by changing how your tablet works through third-party launchers and new customization options only available through Google.

30 thoughts on “How to Add Google Chrome to an Amazon Fire Tablet”

Steve says:
Excellent instructions! It is rare to follow such a complex process like this and be successful, so you deserve a lot of credit for spelling everything out clearly. This makes the tablet so much more familiar, being able to use it like our Android phones. Thank you!
Jim says:
16 pages. Clear. As. Mud.
Steve Larner says:
The article has been updated as of March 03, 2023, with the latest processes, fewer paragraphs, better organization, clearer headings, and more lists for easier viewing. Thank you for the feedback!
Scott from Fort Worth TX says:
Billy, thank you for writing this article. Step by step was on point. Like others, I thought I had made a mistake ordering an Amazon tablet with all of the restrictions. Google play is loaded and working flawlessly. Thank you again. ?
Joe says:
I was recently purchased the latest Kindle Fire 10 and quickly grew frustrated with the limited number of apps available in the App Store. You can no longer download apps like DuckDuckGo search engine, or the MLB app to watch baseball games! Anyway, I found this article and was able to launch the Google PlayStore in about 20 minutes. I immediately installed the MLB app and DuckDuckGo. Now I can really enjoy my Kindle! I can’t wait to search through the PlayStore for other apps. Thank you very much for posting this article. It was easy to follow, and did not contain any mistakes. Great job!
Smilla says:
Thank you for this! I was regretting getting a Fire tablet over a Samsung, because so few of the apps that I wanted were available in the Amazon appstore. Your step-by-step instructions and links made the downloading process easy and made my regrets go away!
Stephen Maag says:
OUTSTANDING! Followed the instructions, rebooted and I am able to log into a number of dashboards I need to keep my eye on. The only issue I have found is there is no way to zoom on a page. There is nothing in settings and two fingers doesn’t adjust the zoom size on a window. Any suggestions?
Brian says:
Thank you, installed Chrome successfully on the latest HD Fire model. This is a good guide.
Crystal says:
Amazing, thank you! Worked perfectly on my Fire HD 10.
Leela says:
Omg you’re an angel! Worked perfectly for me, I’m so exciTed to finally get full use out of this thing.
Nicky says:
Thank you so much for this amazing free resource. Very easy and quick.
Kenny says:
I just bought a refurbished Fire 7 (9th Gen) from Amazon. Running FireOS 7.3.1.9.

First problem: Install Apps From Unknown Sources there is no option to turn it that on. There is only an icon for the Silk browser and option to allow that. Nothing else at all.

Second problem: Bringing up this web site in the Silk Browser, when I try to click on any of the links, nothing happens.

And advice or help or guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Steve Larner says:
The newer Android versions changed how installing from unknown sources works. Instead of a basic approval, it is now app-related. So, allowing the “Silk Browser” to install apps from unknown sources is what you need because you’ll use silk to download them.

As for the browser not downloading the files, it is because of the setting mentioned above.

David Eck says:
Thank you! I don’t dislike Amazon. I just really like Chrome. I followed the instructions, perfection!!! Works great.
lori says:
worked perfectly on my fire tablet, thank you!
Nargle says:
Doesn’t work in Kindle Fire 10 (2021) the OS is 9 and the framwork requires OS 11
Woodruff K Hall says:
yep, doesn’t work I am returning mine for a refund and buying an android tablet instead!
Steve Larner says:
I know this is an old comment, but the article has been updated several times. The latest update was on March 03, 2023.
rose says:
Thanks it worked after third attempt. I was a bit overwhelmed not knowing what updates to download but got there in the end.;) Maybe you should do an updated version.
Steve Larner says:
Yup! We did. Thanks.
Izon says:
Bought my Firer late last year and followed these instructions no problem. Turned on my tablet yesterday (2nd April 2021) – Chrome had been removed from the launch screen including on the Lawnchair customised view, Google Play Store shows it as ‘installed’ but if you try and run it the screen simply refreshes.

Have tried to uninstall and reinstall, reboot etc… but in addition to all this Silk Browser has come back and is default again (previously I had it hidden) so I can only conclude the party is over and Amazon in an update have specifically gone out to block Chrome from their devices 🙁

Steve Larner says:
Anything is possible. Perhaps an update messed everything up when you experienced this issue in April 2023. The article has undergone several updates since you posted this comment. Try checking it out. You may need to factory reset your Fire tablet to ensure a successful outcome. The biggest thing is to allow the “Silk Browser” to install unknown apps.
Ember says:
Amazing now I can have my tablet work better
peter parket says:
Now its google’s
Darren Jones says:
OK. This is brilliant unboxed new Fire HD 10 and followed these instructions and everything worked first time. My tablet is now mine not Amazon’s
Ginny says:
I love that its very easy to follow and it reall works!
Louise says:
Complex process made easy. Thanks!
Maria F says:
Thanks, this work perfect for my fire 10
Kenny says:
Very good explanation of a complex process. Send to work fine.
Gerry says:
I tried to follow all instructions carefully and everything seemed to go well but the final part of the process logging into my Google account just sent me round and round repeatedly and I eventually have up.
Jay says:
Thanks, for the directions. Download and installation of the files were successful. Play store and Chrome working perfectly on my new Fire HD 10 tablet.
Alice Lee says:
Just bought new Fire tablet for mom to use during Covid. Thanks so much for these helpful step by step instructions. There’s no way Silk could stay when Google Play is available.
Marlene says:
I just installed the 4 google apps on my Kindle Fire HD Gen 7. Everything appears to be working fine so far. Thanks for the great instructions & embedded links.
Sue Dawe says:
Thank you so much. I’m a technophobe oldie who was bought an Amazon Fire to replace my aging Hudl at Christmas a year ago. So as you can imagine, the change was quite dramatic, and I’ve put off using it until now.

The trusty Hudl is getting a bit too old and I decided I had to bite the bullet and start setting up my apps and accounts on the new Fire, in case the other meets its end. All I wanted to do was get things to look familiar. Your instructions are ideal for anyone to follow. They are written in a language I can understand, and having the links made it super easy. Followed it to the letter and low and behold, I have my best mate Chrome back again, along with Playstore. You’ve given me the confidence to see what else you’ve given instructions for. Perhaps with your help. I can disable some of the less desirable bits on the Fire and restore other favourites.

Robert says:
Hi. Will this work with Fire OS 6.3.1.4?
Harry Geist says:
I downloaded and installed Chrome as per your instructions; all appeared to go well (using a Fire 10; Fire OS 5.6.4.0). All looks good, except … I have downloaded several PDFs; when I try to open them (from File Manager), I get the options to Open, Open in Browser, or Delete. If I chose Open in Browser, the message “There is no browser installed.” How can I get this to work? Alternatively, is there a way to specify the file location in Chrome so I can open the files that way? Thanks in advance; if possible, please reply to my email address below.
George Copsey says:
It looks like I may have downloaded & installed 2 of the same file (and NOT the Google Services Framework file).

So, I dl’d the correct file, installed it and now when I click on “Play Store”, the screen blanks out momentarily and then stays white.

Would you suggest I delete all the Google APK’s & reinstall them sequentially?

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