[Fire HD 6 and 7 General] DoLooper:
This guide is for never-rooted 2014 Fire HDs. Don't use it on any 2015 (5th gen) Fire. If your Fire has an sd card slot, go here.

Mar 3 Update: This guide is out of date. It could brick you! Don't use it!

Instead, follow one of these guides:

http://xdaforums.com/fire-hd/general/root-os-5-1-2-kingroot-tools-play-store-t3371824

http://xdaforums.com/fire-hd/general/how-to-upgrade-to-lollipop-root-gapps-t3163950

Ignore these hidden text boxes

Feb. 5, 2016 Update: Don't use this to root OS 5.1.1 yet. It needs to be updated!!

Jan. 18, 2016 Update: Don't use this guide if you are running OS 4.5.5.1.

Look at Settings->Device->System Updates. If it says 4.5.5.1, installing the Developer Preview will brick your device.

Before You Begin:

OS 4.5.4, 4.5.5 (NOT 4.5.5.1) - Follow these steps to install the Developers Preview (OS 5):

Here are 2 methods. If you request it from Amazon it could take 24 hours, but if it causes problems you have proof that it downloaded to device. If you don't care about that and want it right now, use method 2.

1/23/16 UPDATE: Developers Preview is no longer available from Amazon. Method 2 is the only option.

Keep in mind, this is your choice. We can no longer blame Amazon for downloading "bad" firmware to device.

1/22/16 UPDATE: Use only method 2 until the risk of OTA updating to 4.5.5.1 is over.

METHOD 1 - From Amazon

Go here and request the developers preview: https://developer.amazon.com/public...campaign=FireOSPreview&sc_ detail=GetPreview]

It could take 24 hours but usually doesn't.

Goto Settings->Device->System Updates and press "Update Now"

If it doesn't download, wait an hour and try again.

METHOD 2 - From device

Turn OFF wifi.

Get update-kindle-devpreview_ariel-20.5.2.2_user_522041550.bin from here.

Copy/move the update file to device

Goto Settings->Device->System Updates and press "Update Now"

The file will install. [long startup.]

If you haven't installed adb drivers, do that now and you're ready to go! Be sure to keep wifi off.

Note: If it hasn't booted after 20 minutes--it's stuck at "Fire" logo--hold down Power and Volume-up buttons to get to recovery menu. In recovery, factory reset, wipe cache and then boot to system.

OS 4.5.3 - Keep wifi OFF. Put the tablet into airplane mode immediately.

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OS below 4.5.3 - Follow these steps to install OS 4.5.3:

Turn OFF wifi.

Download the 4.5.3 update to pc and copy/move it to device.

Go to Settings->Device->System Updates and press "Update Now."

The file will install. [long startup.]

If you haven't installed adb drivers, do that now and you're ready to go!

Install adb device drivers. Here's an illustrated guide for Windows.

* OS 5.0.n: Install driver for both OS mode and sideload mode.

* OS 4.5.3: Install driver for OS mode only.)

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If you don't know how to drag & drop or copy/paste into the terminal/CMD window, read this.

This guide simply pulls together existing material, almost none of which is original to me. All thanks go to Powerpoint45, who discovered how to downgrade to rootable OS 4.5.3; bibikalka for the ingenious recovery-swap update method that preserves root; seigesoldier, hawkazn and hariiiii for file captures and fearless testing.​

A - Root!

Make sure ADB drivers are installed and adb is enabled in Developer Options.

Turn OFF wifi (airplane mode)

OS 4.5.3 - Download Kingroot (link below), open a terminal/CMD window from the folder you put it in, and go to step 6.

OS 5.0.n - Download to computer:

- 4.5.3 update bin: https://kindle-fire-updates.s3.amazonaws.com/update-kindle-20.4.5.3_user_453011120.bin

- Kingroot: http://www.kingroot.net/

Downgrade to 4.5.3 (thanks to @powerpoint45):

a. Connect to computer and open terminal/CMD window from folder containing bin file and kingroot.

b. Enter: adb reboot recovery

c. On tablet, use volume buttons to select “apply update from ADB” and then press power.

d. If you KNOW you have working adb driver for sideload mode, go to step e. Otherwise, see here:

To see if sideload-mode driver is installed, open Device Manager and see if your adb driver is listed under Android Device.

- If it is, close this text box and continue the steps.

- If it IS NOT and you're on Windows, do the following:

(1) Find KFARWI under "Other devices." NOTE: If you don't see KFARWI under "Other," disconnect/reconnect and look again.

(2) Right-click KFARWI and select "Update Driver Software." [see Update Driver Software screen].

(3) Click "Browse my computer" and then "Let me pick from a list . . ." [see Select your device type . . ."]

(4) Click Android Device. [see "Select the device driver you want . . .]

(5) Select your usual adb driver from the list, press Next, and say yes at warning screen. [see "Windows has successfully updated your driver software"]

(6) In CMD window, run adb devices and confirm you see your device ID and "sideload," like this:

List of devices attached

SERIALNUMBER sideload​

If you don't see serial number, reboot tablet and computer and repeat "adb reboot recovery" and "Apply update from ADB" steps. Device should now be recognized.

e. From computer, enter: adb sideload update-kindle-20.4.5.3_user_453011120.bin

f. On tablet select "wipe data/factory reset" and then "reboot system" [long startup]​

Enter language in Amazon setup, but skip registration and keep wifi OFF.

On computer, enter commands to block OTA:

adb shell pm block com.amazon.dcp

adb shell pm block com.amazon.otaverifier

Install Kingroot from computer: adb install app_filename.apk

Turn on wifi, run Kingroot on Fire and press "root." If you don't get success (100%), keep trying.

Kingroot works over wifi, so do this where signal strength is best.

If the latest Kingroot from the link just won't work, try version 4.0.0 or 4.0.1 downloaded from any safe site.​

On computer, give commands to confirm su access, granting root access on tablet when prompted:

adb shell

su

(In Windows, a # prompt indicates root.)

Type exit two times to get out of su.

B - Install TWRP and Get Files for the Upgrade

Download JMZ's ariel TWRP image to the Fire's download folder (or to computer and move to tablet).

Download Flashify v 1.9.1 to computer folder where you opened CMD window.

Install Flashify from computer: adb install app_filename.apk

Run Flashify on Fire and install the ariel TWRP.

If you have any question, follow the steps here. You must select Recovery image and Choose a File, and navigate to the ariel image.

Boot to recovery and confirm you're in TWRP:

adb command = adb reboot recovery; manual = power off, hold power & volume-up buttons until Amazon logo appears and then let go.

Tap Reboot, then System to boot back to OS.

Delete anything in tablet Download folder and get files for the upgrade.

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Files for the Upgrade

Please hit Thanks when you pick up a file from an XDA site :)

Download apks to computer for later install.

- SuperSU: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/chainfire/supersu/supersu-2-52-android-apk-download/

- ES File Explorer: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/es-glo...file-explorer-4-0-2-3-3-android-apk-download/

Download to tablet (or to computer and move to tablet Download folder):

➜ Take care here: Be sure to get the right files and that they all download completely.

- 5.2.2u2 UPDATE BIN (linked in the post) This is update-kindle-full_ariel-20.5.2.2_user_522053520.bin

Confirm downloaded filename matches the above and then rename the extension from .bin to .zip.

- 5.2.0 STOCK RECOVERY ONLY (5.2.0_stock_recovery_only.zip - attached to post) AND . . .

- MAKE_SPACE (make_space_v01.zip - attached to post)

- Latest PICO-uni GAPPS: Get "tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1(uni)-5.1.1-*-signed.zip"

C - Upgrade to OS 5.0.1 and Install Gapps

Bibikalka's Lollipop guide has info about the upgrade (and a Thanks button we all ought to hit!)

The boots into recovery and the OS can take a long time; don't interrupt them (by trying to manually reboot, e.g.)

Turn OFF wifi and connect to computer.

Boot to recovery. (Manually or "adb reboot recovery" from pc).

[TWRP screen displayed on tablet.]

In TWRP, do following exactly and if you have any problem, post immediately and wait for reply :

a. Factory reset (Tap Wipe and swipe "Swipe to Factory Reset." At "Successful," tap TWRP home icon at bottom-left)

b. Install the update-kindle-full_ariel-20.5.2.2 UPDATE zip

. . (Tap Install button, navigate to Downloads folder and tap the UPDATE zip. Repeat for the following zips.)

c. Install the 5.2.0 STOCK RECOVERY ONLY zip

d. Install the MAKE_SPACE zip

e. Install the GAPPS zip

f. Tap Reboot > Recovery and when prompted (top of screen) "install SuperSU?," swipe the slider to install it!

[long startup]

➜ You're now running rooted OS 5.0.1 and TWRP is gone. If you need it again, see here. Do not try to reinstall TWRP with Flashify. (Brick!)

Confirm you see stock 5.2.0 recovery.

If tablet doesn't boot to recovery or is still booting after 30 minutes, post in bibikalka's Lollipop thread

Reboot to system [takes at least 10 minutes] and when prompted on tablet to allow USB debugging, say "yes"

- If you miss "Allow USB debugging" prompt, unplug/replug to see it

- If tablet bootloops or is still booting after 40 minutes, see step 4 in bibikalka's Lollipop thread

At Setup screen, press Exit (or choose language if required). Do not connect to wifi; tap COMPLETE SETUP LATER.

D - Install the Apps, Block OTA and Open Play Store

On computer, open terminal/CMD window from folder containing ES File Explorer and SuperSU apks and install each with this command:

adb install -r app_filename.apk

On tablet:

a. Enable apps from unknown sources in Settings > Security.

b. Run File Explorer and enable Root Explorer (in menu under Tools), granting root access when prompted.

c. Run SuperSU to update binaries and reboot when prompted.

. . [If SuperSU gives choice of "CWM/TWRP" or "Normal," choose Normal]

Block OTA:

a. In the terminal/CMD window, enter these commands granting root access on tablet after the su command:

adb shell

su

pm disable com.amazon.otaverifier

pm enable com.amazon.dcp <--(renables dcp from Section A. This block is not needed after you do the next step.)​

b. Use File Explorer on tablet to navigate to /system/priv-app/DeviceSoftwareOTA and rename extension of DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk to .apk_

Turn on wifi, open Play Store and sign in.

Register the Fire HD with Amazon.

Whew! Yay! :victory: