yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Bought unlocked $199 firephone - got Play store without rooting

I have Amazon Prime, which needed to be extended, so instead I bought the unlocked phone with free same day in the Phoenix area yesterday. got my phone last evening (11/26). After unboxing, I didn't want to root it, so I followed the kindle fire forums to install (sideload) google play.

and Voila I have Google services, Play store, Gmail, youtube, maps, drive and Google now launcher -

Without rooting and without any problems - Just follow the steps on the kindle forum or how-to-install-google-play-on-kindle-fire - on epubor site / gizmag

Guide 1: http://www.epubor.com/how-to-install-google-play-on-kindle-fire.html

Guide 2: http://www.gizmag.com/how-to-install-google-apps-kindle-fire-hd-hdx/30736/

First and foremost - don't upgrade/downgrade the OS (I got the phone with Fire 3.6.8 - which corresponds to Jellybean)

Make sure the Play store version matches the Kernel version for the Jellybean 4.2.2 - remaining services can be latest I think

Temporarily Disable 2 factor authentication on Google login via browser (where Google asks you your phone etc)

Steps:

1) Enable Non Amazon app installation from Settings -> Applications

2) Install ES2 file explorer or any file viewer from Amazon App store (you can also install some batch APK installer apps)

3) Copy the Apks from the link above (see my attachment)

------ Google Service Framework

------ Google Login Service

------ Google Play Service

------ Google Play Store

(Skip Vending .apk as it has been superseded by play store)

4) Reboot after each apk above - allow Fire OS to acknowledge google login if prompted

5) You should see Google Play properly logged in to your google account - install gmail, youtube, drive, google search etc.

(Optional) If you hate the Amazon Carousel, Install Google Now launcher) - See last screenshot. There is another forum post where you can upgrade the carousel icons on sideloaded apps so that they appear large.

Once you have Googlify or Androidify the Fire phone, it actually runs pretty nice.

Fire Phone shortcuts:

Android Back button -> Swipe anywhere from bottom edge of visible screen

Android Home Button -> Single press main button

Android Task Switch -> Double press main button (I miss the close all apps shortcut here)

Voice Search -> long press main button (I wish this could be made to Google Voice search in 1 step)

Device Search -> Swipe down and use the search icon there

Android Menu -> Swipe from Left edge (in supported apps)

I ran Antutu benchmark and the phone performs pretty decently - compares to 1st gen Moto X, Nexus 5, HTC one M7, Galaxy S4.

For $199 unlocked this is unbeatable for a decent android phone - with 1 year prime.

Attached: ANTUTU benchmark shows this phone better than Galaxy S4 but not as good as S5/HTC

I have AT&T so I will be getting my free upgrade next spring, which I can sell unopened for 600$ keeping this fire phone.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Took me 30 minutes to get Google Play no need of rooting

See my post in the subsection - You only need to sideload google play store, google login framework and match the version of the Fireos to the android kernel version and download the matching play store - 4 apks and one setting change to get Play store. Pretty slick for $199 IMHO.
[Amazon Fire Phone] B1ackByte:
Yeah but you have an black background...

Framework working well?
[Amazon Fire Phone] ONYXis:
Please try to download anything from PlayStore. Thank you.

Pretty sure it doesn't works.
[Amazon Fire Phone] webculb:
Works fine for me. I'm using all the google apps. The Google now launcher was kinda wonky so I'm sticking with the fire OS launcher with the Google apps installed.
[Amazon Fire Phone] cyborgx37:
Obviously that's exactly what they did (how very prescient of you).

That said, with such a severely locked down OS (can't even get Google Maps), I don't think it's worth the price. Maybe if someone figures out how to root it and install Cyanogenmod it'd be a good deal. My Kindle Fire was basically useless until I got a proper Android OS on it. Now it's a very decent tablet.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Yeah, framework is fine, all apps work except for the labels on Google maps (somehow the hardware rendering on the firephone is incapabale of aggregating the labels of streetnames and city names in google maps)

I am debugging that now ... I have black background if I use Google now launcher that is another issue which I dont care about.

So far the phone seems fine - it is running the early Jelly bean (4.2.2 version kernel) which isnt bad but not great. I will try to get custom bootloader next - didnt have time on long weekend as I was on call for work - AMZN :(
[Amazon Fire Phone] id4398:
Followed the steps, and now i have google play store working on Fire phone. Thanks so much.

Now waiting for root, & custom rom.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Daegalus:
I hope you achieve some progress. Bootloader is currently the main thing stopping Fire Phone custom roms and such. Its locked down tight, and we either need to find an exploit for it, or somehow replace it entirely, but that sounds just as difficult to do as exploiting it.
[Amazon Fire Phone] adityagadre:
How to change the Launcher

Hi,

This works great.

Can you please explain me how to change the default launcher?

Thanks
[Amazon Fire Phone] RGNDI:
Could you upload the apks!?!??!
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Download Google Now (or any other launcher) - Complete installation from app store - Then Press the home button (bottom main button) - you should see complete action using - popup with Fire and new launcher as 2 options.

Then choose new launcher and choose always option. To undo the new launcher - uninstall the custom launcher and the homebutton will automatically revert to default fire launcher
[Amazon Fire Phone] Chazzum:
Would this method of sideloading enable the Fire Phone to work with Chromecast?

Nice post Aztecwarrior25. I'm close to pulling the trigger to get one....just like to know if Chromecast will work with the Fire Phone using your method of sideloading.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
I dont have chromecast, but youtube connection to my Roku works fine - I dont see why chromecast wont work - it only uses the URL from phone and pulls the video from the internet directly on TV... doesnt use your phone for anything other than getting URL/ip address of the video
[Amazon Fire Phone] clsA:
Is your phone on the 3.6.8 fireOS .. you never mentioned it and none of this worked for me. Google Service Framework and Google Play Service failed to sideload or install from SD. Play Store Installed but had no connection error and never loaded an account
[Amazon Fire Phone] snapplefish:
I'm on 3.6.8 (got my phone yesterday), and the steps to install play services worked from the link AztecWarrior gave, http://www.epubor.com/how-to-install-google-play-on-kindle-fire.html

I sideloaded everything (including the Vending APK) via ADB on Windows 8, but not the launcher.

I wasn't able to sideload the PlayStore apk, as ADB told me that it existed already on the device.

EDIT: I ran `adb install -r <playstore APK>` and was able to get the play store APK loaded up.

However, I don't have the Play Store on my device now, but the old "Google Market", which looks like it came from Android 2.2. I can still get apps that use Google services, e.g. Drive, Gmail, Snapchat, Chrome2Phone, Chrome, are running on my device right now. Maps runs, but has issues with labels as was brought up elsewhere.

I haven't tried a third-party launcher yet, and I don't think I will for a few months, as I want to give the Amazon design a good try. It's nice to have all of the essentials and Google apps integration that I'm used to.
[Amazon Fire Phone] my95slvrblt:
Google voice connection issues

All of the Google apps work well for me, aside from google voice. Google voice will not connect, it sticks in the signing in portion. Anyone having this issue, or know a fix?
[Amazon Fire Phone] my95slvrblt:
Nevermind, was able to download google login services apk again and that seemed to resolve the issue.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Chazzum:
Nano Sim Question

Appreciate the update. I went and ordered one. Now on 1-3 week backorder.

Question for the forum. I have t-mobile prepaid. How hard/easy is it to get a my account transferred to a nano sim card?
[Amazon Fire Phone] dimex:
Buy a Noosy SIM cutter and punch yours down to a nano SIM. They cost $10 on Amazon and work great. Keep the extra piece of plastic you punch out as an adapter to go back to micro or standard SIM.
[Amazon Fire Phone] SirAndroid:
AztecWarrior25 - So use the APKs found here if you have the latest version of Fire OS Installed?

http://www.epubor.com/how-to-install-google-play-on-kindle-fire.html

Also, if you install the Google Now Launcher, will the Amazon features (like that 3D thing, and Prime services, etc) all stop working? Or will they work but just have to be launched from the apps?

Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait to have google play on this phone. :)
[Amazon Fire Phone] my95slvrblt:
Should not have to do anything, I just cut my micro sim down with a razor blade per the template that is found online. Works perfect and the APN set itself up(same setting as lest phone).
[Amazon Fire Phone] alrgeez:
I just went to t-mobile yesterday and they cut my sim card micro to nano free of charge.

and [MENTION=6197097]Aztecwarrior25[/MENTION] do I need the Vending.apk? Didn't see it in your list of steps but i did see the file in the download list of your screenshot, it's also mentioned in the guide that you referenced.
[Amazon Fire Phone] laidbackcloud:
where are the apks for google? can you provide link for fire os 3.5.2?
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Where's the link?

---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 PM ----------

The link [MENTION=2928469]snapplefish[/MENTION] posted did the trick for me. I downloaded those exact files (skipped vending), installed them on FireOS 3.6.8, rebooting between each install. I can confirm that Hangouts and Gmail appear to be working. Thanks guys, this should be enough to keep me from returning it immediately at least ;)
[Amazon Fire Phone] DanielMena9:
I might keep this phone and not buy the Moto X but I'm really missing my back button. I was stuck for a bit until I had to completely close the app to get out of settings.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tigeryang1:
i can not see the link
[Amazon Fire Phone] snapplefish:
All of the "3 menu buttons" actually work on this phone... the 'app list' is the button doubleclick, home is the button single click, and the back button is a swipe from the bottom of the screen upwards (I find that it helps to start off the screen, a little above the height where the button is). I'm actually liking this functionality compared to the discrete 3 buttons at the bottom of the screen that I had on my old phone.

[MENTION=6210939]tigeryang1[/MENTION] here's the link: http://www.epubor.com/how-to-install-google-play-on-kindle-fire.html
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Yup

Android Back button -> Swipe anywhere from bottom edge of visible screen

Android Home Button -> Single press main button

Android Task Switch -> Double press main button (I miss the close all apps shortcut here)

Voice Search -> long press main button (I wish this could be made to Google Voice search in 1 step)

Android Menu -> Swipe from Left edge (in supported apps)
[Amazon Fire Phone] DanielMena9:
Omygah THANK YOUUUUUUU !!! Elegant solution L=
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Since it took me forever to track down this info, I made a summary blog post that hopefully others will have an easier time finding. I linked back to this thread:

http://anderspitman.com/blog/2014/12/01/how-to-install-the-play-store-on-your-fire-phone/

EDIT: Posted link
[Amazon Fire Phone] eksasol:
I bought the phone, but I'm not going to bother sideloading Google services because I actually prefer Amazon appstore, for a variety of reasons. I don't really root or hack my phone anymore, so almost all apps I need are on Amazon store and I don't mind my apps being a version behind the Playstore version.
[Amazon Fire Phone] hichair:
195

Anyone know if there is any way to put the apps in alphabetical order instead of the the order they were downloaded. I know you can do it manually. When you have 4 pages of apps it is tough to find the one you want sometimes. I even tried Amazon's Mayday live help and they couldn't tell me.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
I hear ya. Other than hangouts I don't think there's anything critical I need from the play store.
[Amazon Fire Phone] cmatbmed:
To go back on the Fire phone just swipe up from the bottom.
[Amazon Fire Phone] my95slvrblt:
Spotify compatibility

Bluetooth functionality is good, but the spotify metadata does not display on my pioneer AVH-X4600BT. The nexus 5 which I previously had did, and the spotify versions are the same. Have tried a few different versions of the spotify app to no avail. Anyone experiencing something similar? The fixify app also did not resolve this.
[Amazon Fire Phone] virx14:
Some of us have apps purchased in google market and would hate to lose them, especially since many of them are not available in amazon appstore. I was pleasantly surprised to see Civilization Revolution 2 listed as compatible with Fire phone, I could not install it on any of my android devices other than Note 3. Seems to work fine on fire phone too. Final Fantasy series from google market seems to work fine too.
[Amazon Fire Phone] rekerdguy:
Did your phone come with Fire OS version 3.6.8?
[Amazon Fire Phone] iTelegraph:
Without rooting?

Thanks for this great advice...because of it I've just ordered a Fire phone for my wife, after promising her that I could install the Play store for her without risk and without voiding the warranty.

Because I'm new to this and nervous about it I read the epubor instructions as you suggested, but they say the phone has to be rooted. I searched the kindle fire forums (there is one for each kindle fire model) and got pages of hits, and the first 20 or so that I read all required rooting.

Could you please clear this up for me? Can you give a precise link to the kindle forum post that you referred to? Or should I just ignore the rooting part of those instructions?

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.
[Amazon Fire Phone] virx14:
My 2 phones came with 3.6.8 and I installed google market, hangouts and a bunch of other apps on both following the steps above.

---------- Post added at 04:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 AM ----------

Just ignore the rooting part.
[Amazon Fire Phone] swati770:
+1

I also just purchased the fire phone, I've never rooted a phone before, afraid I'd not be able to figure out how to put it back to the way it was running b4.

I've read the instructions on epubor just got one question how do I return it to the way it is now? i.e. Delete all Google Apps in case I make a mistake in setting it up or for what ever reason it starts acting up.

Thanks a ton.
[Amazon Fire Phone] virx14:
If something goes wrong, all you have to do it factory reset and restore the last backup, it will restore all the configuration and all the amazon apps you had and will not restore anything that did not come from amazon appstore, then you can try to install google apps again.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Chazzum:
As I understand what Aztecwarrior25 states is phones with Fire OS 3.6.8 DO NOT require rooting or taking the phone back to an earlier OS version to install all the Google goodies. ..just proceed with sideloading the Google stuff.

My phone is on backorder so I cannot verify this personally but there are posts from others confirming it works.
[Amazon Fire Phone] swati770:
I'd like to thank [MENTION=6197097]Aztecwarrior25[/MENTION] for his help Google services are working just fine.

Does anyone know how to install 3rd party keyboards like swiftkey?
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Yep, no root necessary on 3.6.8.

As for the versions of the file, just use the ones in the link. They work fine.
[Amazon Fire Phone] swati770:
How can you switch Google accounts, by clicking on manage acct i.e. In gmail it doesn't take you anywhere... Basically I set up the phone for someone, downloading all the apps for them but now I'd like to log out of my own account.

Thanks
[Amazon Fire Phone] iTelegraph:
Thank you, virx14. You have saved my marriage!:D

---------- Post added at 11:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 PM ----------

Great ... thanks for your help.:D
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
So far I haven't figured out how to remove an account. To add one just go to Menu > Settings > Add Account. If you don't want your friend reading your emails the only thing I can think of so far is changing your Gmail password. There must be a google app to manage accounts but I don't know what it's called.
[Amazon Fire Phone] bmbriefs:
Just out of curiosity, are there any theories on why this stuff is available on the new update? I wonder if amazon wants to open it up to increase sales or if it is going to be corrected later.
[Amazon Fire Phone] snapplefish:
Since the phone wasn't made with Google's ecosystem in mind, the settings panel reflects that and there's no granular Google account management like you might expect. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try sideloading some sort of Jellybean settings APK and seeing if that will give you the control you need.

I have no free time right now (finals), but I was considering how to sideload a Jellybean settings apk without overwriting the Amazon settings apk and I might work on that when I have the time.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Some very good points.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Aztecwarrior25:
Dynamic perspective doesnt work (the google now launcher will override it) - everything else works as they are simply apps - Firefly, Amazon shopping and amazon app store, Amazon Kindle stuff, Silk browser, etc.

the 3D within apps will also work - but since it was draining battery - I just turned it off using the LowMotion setting (copied from Apple iOS 7 - lol)

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 PM ----------

If one good thing comes out of the continued Amazon Fire phone firesale (super cheap unlocked) - it might cut down Samsung/HTC/Moto/LG pricing to a large extent (at least for last year models) This is good news for all buyers of unlocked phones world wide will start dropping.

What it does to quality and support is what old people worry about - younger folk know how to get things fixed :)

I think the race to the bottom has begun http://www.cnet.com/au/news/walmart-selling-prepaid-samsung-galaxy-s4-for-249/
[Amazon Fire Phone] gale2000:
Next Fire Phone update

Thanks to this forum I have installed Play Store, and everything is working great. Will an OTA Fire Phone update screw this up?
[Amazon Fire Phone] DanielMena9:
Does anybody know how to get Google Photos on the device?
[Amazon Fire Phone] normsan:
As far as the price of the phone is concerned, liscencing and testing are not imaginary costs, they are real costs, and technology companies invest billions every year into research and development. You can't look at a phone and compare it in raw materials to something like a shovel. For example, nokia spent millions to invent the capacitive touch screen, and internal long range antennas. And they make a percentage on every smartphone sold, or else the company gets sued to all hell. You may not like that but unfortunately, there would be no incentive to develop technology if companies could not own that technology for a bit.

-----------------------------

Also to add to the discussion, I just ordered a firephone and its telling me it will be 2-3 weeks. They are making these phones now, and are as far as I can tell, no longer unloading there massive overstock. They then extended the sale. I think that this phone isnt on fire sale, this is just their new marketing strategy, borrowing the same system from their tablets.

I'm very interested to see where the price goes from here. Because the big question is, have they abandoned firephone or not? Will the price even go up? It certainly wont go down... they ran out and continue with the "sale" price.

They came out guns blazing trying to compete with samsung and apple- Because who woulnt want to be apple or samsung? But that failed- and I doubt amazons plan was just to call it quits and go home because they couldnt beat mother****ing apple. After all I'm sure they would prefer to not sell kindle tablets at a loss. My bet was this was plan b all along. Which is great because damn look at that price. 20 dollars more than a moto g with a processor twice as fast, a brighter screen, nicer camera, better gpu. FINALLY a subsidized phone that requires no service fee! All for some amzon real-estate in my pocket!

Overall I wouldnt be surprised if they made a firephone 2. And hopefully they do so I keep getting what paltry updates and improvements they can provide.

If anyone has heard of any rumors or statements of cancellation I would be very interested.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Interesting. Not gonna lie, I'm tempted to send my Fire phone back and jump on this, but I really love the hardware of the Fire. Samsung phones feel much cheaper. I'm really hoping someone figures out a way to get CM on this thing.
[Amazon Fire Phone] DanielMena9:
Do you know how easy it is to unlock the S4 if it is locked to AT&T/Straight Talk. I wanna use it on T-Mobile. Tired of seeing apps on Google Play Store not compatible with my Fire Phone.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
No idea about unlocking. What play apps aren't working?
[Amazon Fire Phone] DanielMena9:
Three examples are Progressive app, Google Plus app, and Flipboard.
[Amazon Fire Phone] tanders12:
Just tried flipboard. It crashes :/
[Amazon Fire Phone] sipank:
Google+ marked as not compatible

Any ideas how to make it compatible with FirePhone?
[Amazon Fire Phone] swati770:
Before updating visit XDA and see what other users are reporting. That might be your best bet.
[Amazon Fire Phone] userxfda:
There's a version of flipboard on the Amazon app store. It's the not latest, but it doesn't crash.
[Amazon Fire Phone] sipank:
Google+ is working after sideloading.

Answering to myself :) Though Google+ is not available right after installing Google Play Store, it's possible to sideload Google+ apk, and it's working just fine. I've used the latest Google+ apk from apk4fun.
[Amazon Fire Phone] Chazzum:
Thanks for the update. This is what these forums are all about: sharing information.
[Amazon Fire Phone] ankitaroramba:
Hi,

Any update on the known Google maps issue of superimposing street names?

Has anybody tried this. This is about custom ROM to Android Lollipop.

rom-lollipop.org/mp3-0...-6453.html
[Amazon Fire Phone] aramansell:
setting apk?

I am running fire os 3.6.8, followed the steps here to sideload all the google apps, everything works great. I can confirm that chromecast, square reader, hangouts all work brilliant from this phone. The OS takes a day to get used to coming from my moto x but it is nice after a few tweaks.

Two problems though.

I installed GMAIL, added an account, then added a second account, then decided I wanted to delete the first account from gmail.

The app sends you to the global settings to remove an account but the global settings will only change the fire mail client.

Does anyone know of a playstore app or some other apk that can be loaded that allows me to use the android settings app instead of the fire os settings app? (or any work around?)

Second problem, if you install apps that are in both the amazon appstore and the playstore such as facebook, twitter, pandora fire OS will try to update the app and then it won't work. You just have to uninstall the app from the cloud (toggle from device to cloud) and then you are back to using the newer playstore app. Or you could just use the appstore version of the app.
[Amazon Fire Phone] gale2000:
Have you found a way to put the apps in alphabetical using using the Fire launcher?
[Amazon Fire Phone] casualt:
Phones @ $229

GSM UNLOCKED fire phones selling for $229 on amazon. For a limited time...