Install the Google Play Store
The good news is you can actually just install the Play Store on your Fire Tablet. The process is fairly straightforward and mostly requires downloading a few files for your specific model. We have an in-depth walkthrough to installing the Google Play Store on your Fire Tablet.
Sideload Apps
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of getting the Play Store up and running, you can bypass it and simply sideload apps. Sideloading is the process of installing apps from outside a central app store.
It’s very easy to do this on a Fire Tablet. The most difficult part is finding the APK file for the app you’d like to install. We recommend APKMirror.com. If you don’t need a lot of apps, this is a good method to use.
Grab an SD Card
After you insert the MicroSD card, you’ll see a prompt asking to format it for the tablet. One benefit of an SD card is the ability to put apps on it and free up the built-in storage space. You can do that from Settings > Storage.
Change the Keyboard
Turn it Into an Echo Show
if you have a supported Fire Tablet, you can switch it to “Show Mode” simply from the Quick Settings panel or by saying “Alexa, switch to Show Mode.” Just like that, you have a smart display!
RELATED: How to Turn a PC or Tablet into an Echo Show
Uninstall Pre-Loaded Apps
When you first power on your new Fire Tablet, you may notice a handful of apps that have already been installed. There’s a good chance you don’t want all of these apps, so let’s remove them.
The easiest way to do this is to tap and hold an icon on the home screen and select “Uninstall App.” You can also choose “Edit Home Screen” from the menu to remove more than one app at a time. Sadly, you won’t be able to uninstall every app.
Remove Suggestions from the Home Screen
Another thing you may want to remove from the home screen is suggestions and recommendations. These live at the top of the “Home” tab in two sections—“Continue” and “Discover.”
Get Rid of Lock Screen Ads
This last feature is going to cost you—literally. If you were given a Fire Tablet as a gift, it may have ads on the lock screen. These models are popular since they are slightly cheaper. You can remove the ads for a small fee.
RELATED: How to Turn an Old Android Tablet Into an Auto-Updating Digital Photo Frame
