[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 General] TheJaHa5:
Hello there folks, my name is James Hamilton, and I am from Trinidad and Tobago. I have been the owner of an Amazon Fire Tab HD8 (5th Generation) for the past year and a half, and many times I used to be pissed off with the fact that my 'Tablet' did have the Google Play Store, and apps like Facebook and Twitter never updated to the most recent one because of Amazon's backward behavior.

It wasn't until I stumbled across a video on YouTube that allows you to operate your Fire without the use of an Amazon account. Not only did this save you from the restrictions of having to go to Amazon's Appstore, but it disabled the ads on your lock screen too! So, with these experimental hands of mine, a wild imagination and much tinkering around, I managed to get my Amazon Fire Tab to look and act like a normal Android Tablet, and if I haven't bored you with this (somewhat) lengthy introduction, I'd like to show you how to do the same with yours.

Now, I am a nice person, and I would have liked to post links with these little goodies, but seeing that I am new to the page, I can't post external links... SMH!

DISCLAIMER:

I have tried this on my own, and it did work. If, however, you manage to corrupt your device, or something happens, causing it to go loco, I will not be held responsible for any damages caused.

Now that that's out of the way, let's 'Google-ize' your Amazon Fire Tablet.

THINGS YOU WILL NEED.

. Of course, your fully charged Amazon Fire Tab. (Could be any one from any generation...)

. A back up copy of your data on your Fire tab. (You will need this!)

. A fully functional WiFi network.

. Google Installer (apk file) on your memory card. This will download and install the latest version of Google Apps for your device.

Get it here...

---- You can also use RootJunky's Supertool to install the Google Play Store, but I will be using the Google Installer.

. Launcher Hijack (apk file) on your memory card.

. Google Now Launcher (apk file). This is optional, in the sense that you can download it from the Google Play Store after. Your choice!

Get it here...

Now let's do this!

STEP 1: FACTORY RESET YOUR FIRE TAB.

You can either do a hard or a soft reset on your tab. The following video gives a full demonstration on how to successfully reset your tab...

This is also the reason why a back up of your data is required, because, by doing this, you will be kissing your personal accounts and data... GOODBYE!!!

Note: Your Fire Tab will take a pretty long while before it starts back up, so please, be patient with this!

STEP 2: LOG INTO THE TAB WITHOUT AN AMAZON ACCOUNT.

By doing this, you'll be disabling system offers and killing (most of) Amazon's functionality on this tablet to the core. This here requires special attention and detail. You may have to go into a wifi network, and come back out to get that 'NOT NOW' option, but whatever you do, DO NOT SIGN INTO A WIFI NETWORK, or else you may have to start over from step 1. The following YouTube video gives a demo on how to do this successfully.

STEP 3: SET YOUR FIRE TO INSTALL REQUIRED APPS.

Go to 'Settings', then into 'Security'. Tap on the 'Apps from Unknown Sources' option, tap OK on the pop-up window, and you're all set to install exterior apps.

STEP 4: INSTALLING GOOGLE APPS.

NOW, you can sign into your WiFi Network... (You know you wanted to... lol)

Using the Silk Browser, download the ES File Explorer .apk file, and install it as soon as it is downloaded. If you don't install it immediately after it's downloaded, it'll be impossible to find it, and you may have to do it again, so, let's do it correctly the first time.

After installing the ES File Explorer, at this point, you have many options. You can use the above step to install the Google installer, or you can use the ES File explorer to install it if you had it pre-downloaded to your memory card.

After you installed Google Installer, run it, tap on 'Install', and it will download and install the latest versions of Google Play Store, Google Services Framework, Google Account Manager, Google Play Service, and the Google Calendar Synchronization Service.

If you prefer to use RootJunky's Supertool, a PC and a data cable will be required to follow this option though....

STEP 5: MAKING GOOGLE NOW YOUR DEFAULT LAUNCHER

Using your available options now (Silk Browser or ES File Explorer), you can use either options to install Launcher Hijack. This will override the Fire Launcher, and give you the many available options of customizing the home screen of your Fire.

After installing Launcher Hijack, it's best to install Google Now Launcher. Now you have 3 options in which to install this. Via a browser of your choice (Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Silk, because the Play Store should be installed and running by now), via ES File explorer if you have it pre-downloaded on your memory card, or via the Google Play Store, which, of course, is the easier option.

Open Launcher Hijack, and if Google doesn't show up, click on the three descending dots on the top right hand corner, and select 'Launchers Only.' If it still doesn't, disselect 'Hide System Apps'. It should show up now. When it does, a pop up will appear. Select OK. Next, Go to Settings, go to Accessability, scroll all the way down and tap on 'To detect home button press,' and tap on the switch to turn it on. Now, tap on the home screen, and there you have it, your new Amazon Fire 'Android' Tablet.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

-You can use any launcher you want, but I prefer the Google Now Launcher because of the ability to install widgets without problems, the file size, and the real stock Android look.

- You may want to install other apps from Google like Gmail, YouTube, Google+, Drive, Photos, Chrome, Contacts, etc. to get a better android user experience.

- All of Amazon's apps will still be there..., TRY TO AVOID THEM! They're the bloatware now! lol

I hope this helps, and if you have any questions, feel free to comment a question, and I will answer. It may not be immediately, but I will answer.

God bless y'all!