Mike Brawley Exploring the World!

Easiest way to Root your Kindle Fire

First off you may wonder why you would want to root your Kindle Fire?  Well here are some reasons.

• User Interface more like an Android Phone
• Ability to install applications that are not on the amazon Market.
• Android Play(the new market) so you have full access to any application
• The real Facebook application and not just a link to the mobile web version.
• The list goes on but do you really need any other reasons.

You may be asking yourself how this is possible? Well the Kindle Fire actually runs Google Android 2.3 in the background.  Amazon simply made an application loader to run on top of Android and created their own user interface.  They also created the Amazon Market which is kinda like the Android market but only has applications that Amazon has approved.

Before you begin you may be wondering what the risk behind rooting your Kindle is.   Well there is really only 1 drawback.  You will no longer be able to stream Amazon instant movies/TV. Although this is only because you have to turn on "Allow Installation of Applications from Unknown Source" to root your Kindle. Once your Kindle is rooted and all applications installed you can turn this feature back off to deny installing applications from an unknown source and your Amazon Instant Streaming will work again and your Kindle will still be rooted.

What you will need:

• The only thing you need is a Micro USB cable.  If you do not have one you can purchase one from NewEgg.com

Instructions:

1. First you must turn on "Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources"
1. From your Kindle drop down the settings menu and click More...
2. Click on Device
3. Under the Device menu you will see the "Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources"  turn this on. It will prompt you that this is less secure.. blah blah blah..  Click Ok.
2. Rooting your Kindle
1. Thanks to some generous programmers the rooting process is very easy as there is now an application to do everything for you.  Go to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1399889 and download the Current Release of the rooting software
2. Once you download has completed you need to extract the files from the ZIP file.
3. Once your ZIP file is extracted open the Kindle Fire Utility folder.  Inside here you will see a list of files such as the ones on the right.
   

   Kindle File Utility Folder

4. First we need to install the drivers for the Utility to see your Kindle once you plug your Kindle into your computer. "Be sure your Kindle is not pluged into your computer."
1. Inside the Kindle Fire Utility folder double click on install_drivers.
2. When the Application Launches Click Next
3. The drivers will install and you should see a green check mark next to Google, Inc.
5. Now its time to plug in your Kindle with the USB Cable. Your computer should detect and setup the drivers for your kindle.
6. In the Kindle Fire Utility folder click on Run. You will be prompted with a windows security warning. Click Run.

   

7. Once the application is launched you should see an ADB Status: Online "see the screenshot where the blue arrow is pointing"  If you do not see a status of Online.  Close the Kindle Fire Utility and make sure your phone is plugged into your computer. If it is unplug it and plug it back in and wait 2 minutes before launching the Kindle Fire Utility.  If this does not work try rebooting your computer.
8. Press 2 for "Install Permanent Root with Superuser".  (Make sure 2 is "Install Permanent Root with Superuser" as the menu might change with new releases.) DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR KINDLE DURING THIS PROCESS AS IT IS WRITING TO THE KINDLES MEMORY!!!!  The kindle will reboot and disconnect and reconnect to your computer.
   
   
   

   Once you see "Press any key to continue..." You can press any key.

9.  Now that your Kindle is rooted you will want to install a few optional programs to make it use full.  Still with your kindle plugged in and the Kindle Fire Utility Running press 6 for "Extras <Requires Root>"
   

   Extras Menu

10. On the Extras Menu press 1 for "Install Google Apps / Go Launcher EX"   AGAIN DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR KINDLE DURING THIS PROCESS!!  Note that some install packages may fail to download and install. This is ok, you can try to run the installer again to install the failed apps.
    
    

    Extras Installation Screen

11. After the process has completed your Kindle should be rebooting. You can hit enter to return back to the main menu of the Kindle Fire Utility.  At the main menu press Enter twice to exit the utility. DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR KINDLE TILL IT IS FULLY REBOOTED AND BACK TO THE SWIPE/UNLOCK SCREEN.
12. Congratulations your Kindle is now Rooted and has Google Apps/Go Launcher EX Installed.
13. When you unlock your Kindle you will be prompted with a screen that asks what Launcher you want to start with.  You can select the Kindle launcher for your normal Kindle Experience or Selected the Go Launcher EX for an experience more like an Android phone.  You can move in between the two launchers by selecting the launcher under applications.
    

    After First Boot