How to Get Google Play Store on a Fire Tablet
Fire tablets run Fire OS — a forked version of Android that uses the Amazon Appstore instead of Google Play. That's the single most common complaint in Fire tablet reviews: some apps just aren't available. The good news is you don't have to choose one or the other — Google Play can be added on top of the Amazon Appstore, not instead of it. Here's the real method, and what to know before you start.
Before You Start
This method is widely used and well-documented, but it's not something Amazon officially supports or builds in. It requires enabling installs from outside the Amazon Appstore and downloading a handful of installer files from a source other than Amazon. Only use a well-known, reputable source for those files — and know that this is fully reversible with a factory reset if you ever want to go back to the original, Amazon-only setup.
⚙️ Step 1: Allow Installs From Outside the Amazon Appstore
- Open Settings on your Fire tablet.
- Go to Security & Privacy.
- Find Apps from Unknown Sources (the exact wording varies slightly by Fire OS version) and turn it on.
- Confirm the warning prompt — this just means the tablet will allow installing apps from outside the Amazon Appstore, which is required for the next steps.
📦 Step 2: Install the Google Apps, in the Right Order
Getting Google Play working requires installing four separate files, and the order matters because each one depends on the last: Google Account Manager, then Google Services Framework, then Google Play Services, and finally Google Play Store itself.
- Open the web browser on your Fire tablet.
- Search for and download each of the four files above, from a well-known, reputable source — in that exact order.
- After each download, open it from your Downloads or notifications to install it before moving to the next file.
- Once all four are installed, restart the tablet.
- Open the newly installed Play Store and sign in with your Google account.
After this, both the Amazon Appstore and Google Play Store work side by side — you're not giving anything up, just adding the option.
↩️ How to Undo It
If you ever want to remove Google Play and return to the original setup, a factory reset wipes it back to exactly how the tablet shipped — Amazon Appstore only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you install Google Play Store on a Fire tablet?
Yes — Fire tablets run a forked version of Android, so Google Play can be installed on top of the existing Amazon Appstore without removing anything. It's an unofficial, widely-documented method, not something Amazon builds in or officially supports.
Is installing Google Play on a Fire tablet safe?
It's a well-established, widely-used method, but it involves enabling installs from outside the Amazon Appstore and downloading files from a source other than Amazon. Only use a well-known, reputable source for the installer files, and understand this isn't officially supported by Amazon.
Will installing Google Play void my Fire tablet's warranty?
It doesn't physically alter the hardware, but it is outside Amazon's officially supported configuration. It's reversible through a factory reset if you want to return the tablet to its original, Amazon-only setup.
📲 Shopping for a Fire tablet? See Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 8 reviews →