How to Add a Kindle Fire to Google Play

Evan Gower October 30, 2019

Since Kindle Fire is an Amazon product running a Fire OS, it doesn’t have a built-in Google Play Store (designed for Android). Instead, the device has an Amazon Appstore.

Although the Appstore has all the necessary apps to enhance your Kindle Fire experience, you may want to add some apps from Google Play too. To do so, you’ll need to manually install the Play Store app on your Amazon tablet.

This process is possible since the two devices have similar operating systems. However, it isn’t that simple. This article will explain the process thoroughly.

First: Check Your Kindle Fire Version

You can install Google Play on your Kindle Fire by using one of the two available methods – either you’ll manually root the device, or you’ll install the necessary APK files.

The method you’ll use depends only on the version of your Kindle Fire. The older versions require rooting, which is a more difficult process.

If you don’t know the version of your Kindle Fire, you can check it from the Settings menu. Follow these instructions:

Open the app menu from the home screen of your Kindle Fire.
Tap the ‘Settings’ menu (gear icon).
Go to the ‘Device Options’.
Select ‘System Updates’.

If you have a Fire OS 5.3 or lower, you should follow the instructions for the older Kindle Fire versions. For the later versions, you can refer to the ‘Installing APK Files’ section of this article.

For Older Kindle Fire Versions: Rooting the Device

If you’ve ever rooted an Android device, you shouldn’t have plenty of issues, as the operating systems are fairly similar.

On the other hand, if this is the first time you’re rooting a device, follow the steps thoroughly. This isn’t a simple process, and you’ll need both USB cable and a PC to successfully perform it.

Go to the ‘Settings’ app from the app menu on your Kindle Fire.
Tap the ‘Device Options.’
Tap the serial number multiple times until the ‘Developer Options’ displays under it.
Go to ‘Developer Options’.
Toggle the ‘Enable ADB’ under the ‘Debugging’ section.
Confirm the command when prompted.
Plug the USB cable to your Kindle Fire and the empty port on your computer. The PC should get the necessary drivers automatically.
Tap the ‘OK’ from the ‘Allow USB debugging?’ dialog box.
Open the browser on your PC.
Download the Super-Tool-Old.zip.
Unpack the .zip file and launch the 1-Install-Play-Store.bat. This should open the Command Prompt.
Type ‘2’ to innate the installation command.
Hit ‘Enter’.
Wait for the tablet to install the app.

Once the process is finished, restart the Kindle Fire (turn it off and on) and go to the app screen. You should see the Google Play Store icon on the list of apps or on the home screen.

You can use the app the same way that you would use it on your Android device. However, you should keep in mind that some apps won’t work so well on the Fire OS.

For Newer Kindle Fire Versions: Installing APK Files

If your Kindle Fire is 3.5.1 or above, you can use the easier way to install the necessary data. Follow these instructions, or check out our full guide here.

Go to the Settings menu on your Kindle Fire.
Tap ‘Security & Privacy’.
Toggle the ‘Apps from Unknown Sources’ to allow the installation of third-party apps outside the Appstore.
Open the web browser on your tablet and download these four files: Google Account Manager, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services 11.5.0.9 (230) or Google Play Services APK 11.5.0.9 (240) if you have Kindle Fire HD 8 (2017), and Google Play Store You just have to go to the bottom of the page and select the ‘Download’ button for all of these links.
Return to the Home Screen.
Launch the ‘Docs’ app.
Find the ‘Local Storage’.
Select ‘Downloads’.
Tap on each APK file to download it. Install the files in the same order you downloaded them – Google Account Manager, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services, Google Play app.

When you install all the required APK files, you should see the Google Play app on your home screen. Make sure that you followed the exact order of installation or the app will fail to install.

Careful with Rooting and APK Files

Although the above methods will allow you to enjoy the Google Play services, they’re still not completely secure. For example, once you root your device you will lose the warranty and there’s also a chance the system may malfunction.

Furthermore, installing apps outside of the Appstore (such as APK files above) always carry some risk of malware or other malicious data. Make sure that you have appropriate security measures (such as anti-malware software) and follow the steps thoroughly.

Did the above methods work for you? Why do you need a Google Play app on your Kindle Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.