yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Hi, and welcome to XDA!

You can restore the lockscreen adds app with Toolbox by going to Manage Amazon Apps > Manual tab > Advanced. Allow it a minute or so to populate the list of apps and a second dialog will pop up saying "Toolbox has finished reading the packages". Click "OK". Now select the "Restore Apps" tab near the top. scroll down until you find "Special Offers" and select the box there. Click on "Restore Selected" in the lower-right. That should do it. (y)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Once you have crossed the 8.3.1.5 threshold there is no real advantage to holding back. If you seek Google Play Services and associated app stability allow update to 8.3.2.x
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] bibikalka:
So I am still confused. Is it possible to fully disable fire launcher on 8.3.1.8 like this:

sunstone:/ $ pm disable-user --user 0 com.amazon.firelauncher

Or does one have to use Launcher Highjack?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] teatimecrumpet:
I'll hold off I guess just so i don't break anything further by accident. Everything is working fine for now.

Do you happen to know if the beta "fix" for OTA updates throttles anything? I guess it forces my wifi to be considered a metered connection.

And since automatic updates is disabled anyway does OTA do anything? I still have to manually download and hit update right?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] teatimecrumpet:
I'm not sure what this means.

I have microsoft launcher on right now so don't see the amazon UI.

I did see "fire os" running in the list of things using RAM. But is that not always supposed to be running anyway?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Try typing it into an ADB shell (without the "sunstone:/ $" part) to see, but as far as I know, once you've updated past 8.3.1.5, you can no longer disable the Fire launcher. If Toolbox reports it as being disabled, I think that's an error. Launcher Highjacker should not work either, and should not be offered. The only working replacement method should be Custom Navbar Key.

Edit: If you use the ADB shell in Toolbox, just type in

pm disable-user --user 0 com.amazon.firelauncher
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] bibikalka:
This is strange. On my 8.3.1.5 the latest toolbox installed Launcher Highjack, and I was experiencing a 5 sec delay after pressing the central dot to get to Home. First I'd see the Fire Launcher, then in a few sec it'd get to Nova.

Is this Custom Navbar Key fast? Does Fire Launcher show up at all?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
Launcher Hijack has that 5 second delay problem on everything, but in some cases it's the best option. I don't own a tablet with FireOS 8 on it, so what I know of it is only based on running Toolbox on FireOS 7 and reading here about other's experiences.

Custom Navbar Key is a workaround that began as a way of not calling the Fire launcher when you pressed the home key. Fire launcher still gets loaded in memory (consuming resources), but is never called. The Home key is replaced with a custom key that calls a different launcher instead of the original. It's sort of a kludge method of doing things, but Amazon can't prevent it so it remains as a last resort when they locked out disabling Fire launcher. It works more smoothly on the Plus model tablets because they have more memory, but was implemented before the Plus models were made. The speed of this workaround is fine with no Fire launcher appearance, at the expense of overall system sluggishness on tablets with resource intensive background apps running.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] teatimecrumpet:
So is this showing fire eating resources?

So when I was still on 8.1.3.5 then fire os didn't launch any services? And now that I have my tablet is running two OS at the same time? And using something like double the memory?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
No, that looks about normal. All firmware versions have various services running at all times, even 8.3.1.5. Your tablet is only running one Operating System (OS). What your pictures show is not a realtime memory summary. That screen shows the average memory used by all the apps in a day, not the amount of memory in use at the time of that screenshot. Most OS'es increase their demands on a system as they progress through newer versions (firmware updates in this case). As newer features are added the operating system has to do more so your computer or tablet begins to get slower with each OS update. The manufacturers know this and are more than willing to sell you a newer, faster model every couple years.

Just look at Windows. I started on Windows 3.11 and it was much smaller and simpler than Windows 11. I think Win 3.11 used 7 - 3.5" floppys to install - about 10 MB. Win 7 install media is about 3,300 MB. Win 11 is about 5,800 MB.

You don't need to be so concerned about memory usage. Unused memory is wasted memory because it isn't being used to speed things up. A lot of what is shown as 'free memory' is actually in use for things like cache RAM and can be taken for use by another app when needed.

(sorry 'bout the rant) 🤭
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] teatimecrumpet:
Rant appreciated!

I know unused ram is useless but also don't want something using up ram if I really don't need it. I'd like to keep this tablet going forever. I absolutely hate seing perfectly good elctronics that get killed with os updates and requirements. Just spent a lot of time just trying to make a 2012 tf101 and ipad 4 to be usable at least as picture frames.

So by messing up and upgrading did i only lose blocking OTA updates? And since I need to click update manually then that's all I lost? Thanks
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
You lost nothing other than the ability to block OTA updates and permanently disable a few Amazon apps (arguably use an alternative launcher in a more convenient manner).

Apps with dependencies on Google Play Services will likely run better on 8.3.2.x. Memory management & utilization is also improved in later builds as 3rd party apps/services tend to remain stable and not crash/restart.

Never make the mistake of thinking you can fully control a contemporary Amazon gizmo. Nope, nada, ain't a gonna happen. If you want absolute control go with a rootable device sporting an AOSP option. That said, partially locked down Amazon devices are quite servicable given the price point if you opt to (largely) go with the grain.

Time is precious and not renewable. Pick your poison wisely :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Nope. Nor do you want to...at least until whatever alternative launcher you are using is fully vetted on the device in question. If the alternative launcher fails you're in a bit of a jam w/o Amazon's native launcher as a fall back.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] bibikalka:
Have not had any issues with disabled Fire Launcher for many years now.

Back in time (2016?) sometimes I'd upgrade FireOS via root, and it'd lose Nova which i copied to /system partition. So the device would be stuck with "Fire" text. So to fix it one could still adb into the device, and either enable FireLauncher or re-install Nova. So the key is to have a computer or 2 authorized for adb, this way there are more options to fix issues if those appear.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
Yep - experience and known fallback options feeds into "vetted". Took the same approach in the HDX days (lol). Comfort with ADB is increasingly uncommon. That's ok; sporting a large egghead coefficient is not part of the FTB vibe. I lean conservative; to each his own.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
I'm happy to report that V32.4 works on a Fire HD 10 13th generation running Fire OS 8.3.2.1. I did an update after receiving the tablet from Amazon. I also see I have some pending updates. No idea if that will break what I did.

Fire Toolbox sees this as an older model from 2018 but it all worked, even if it was a bit slow. The app tour was annoying. At some points I couldn't get the damn thing to go forward or close on my Windows 11 PC. I did have to turn on all the relevant developer options, mostly just USB debugging.

Now some of these were already included with Amazon App store, but I was able to load

* Microsoft Outlook

* One Drive

* Microsoft Edge browser

* Google Chrome

* Google Drive

* NY Times app

Unfortunately for me I didn't do my homework and something I really wanted (Vanity Fair magazine) was not available in the Play store. So I may return this. Just wanted to share my results.

I did have one add glitch, application really not an error exactly. When adding Gmail account to MS Outlook, Google would not authenticate with MS Edge being the default browser. I had to change default browser to Chrome then it seemed I could authenticate and add my Gmail account into MS Outlook.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Mudc:
Hey there,

absolutely awesome stuff that is done here. Thanks!

I do have a problem with installing stuff from the Google Play Store and sideloading it with the newest gen (13th). It works fine after installing, but after sideloading I only get an error when launching the app, even on the original profile it worked with before sideloading.

I hope after waiting two weeks its okay to post here, maybe I should have done so in the first place. I posted the details here: https://xdaforums.com/t/kids-fire-1...in-so-when-launching-sideloaded-apps.4643331/

Any hints appreciated!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Welcome to the FTB community ... hope we can help.

Sideloading apps to a Kids Profile on newer models of Fire tablets is a bit of an art with no fully vetted procedure. Apparently, you need to install another copy of the Google Play infrasttucure to the Kids Profile (among other processes) for everything to work well. This would put a lot of additional load on your tablet's already limited system resources.

Here's a link to a recent attempt (succesful ?) from a Reddit poster .YMMV.

https://www.reddit.com/r/kindlefire/comments/18cf753

What we won't do to keep our kids happy!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Vanity Fair app is not available on neither Amazon AppStore nor Google Play Store, but can be sideloaded from a reputable APK aggregator. YMMV.

Note that the Vanity Fair app requires a digital subscription to the mag for full access.

Alternatively, you may be able to get access from your local library's digital magazine collection through their app or website.

Also access available via the Libby library app . Great general source for e-mags.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
it doesn’t show in Play Store. If I search Google and install it says NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I’m in USA. Can you change country on a Fire tablet??? I noticed when I got it time was on auto but set to Central. I’m in Eastern.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Try:

https://m.apkpure.com/vanity-fair-magazine/uk.co.condenast.vanityfair.magazine

V1.1 should install in North America. There's also Vanity Fair Italia app which is different.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
When I try to go into

Account and device permissions.

I get

Something went wrong. Try again.

Any other way to check my country setting for Play store?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Time, date and location are set automatically by FireOS from your WiFi data.

Did you "debloat" any Amazon system apps with FTB ?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
All I did is install Google play store.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Lokks like Google Play Store and/or Google Play Services settings may be corrupted.

Try clearing Data and User Caches in storage for both apps and rebooting your device. Standard SOP procedures for Play Store problems.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
You don’t think that will interfere with the install? Amazon won’t get butt hurt?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
The install is probably ok , just the app settings are corrupted. Clearing the storage allows the apps to "re-populate" the configurations properly. The Amazon way of life. btw Amazon customer service would probably tell you to do a factory reset ; that always solves all your problems LOL .
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] bibikalka:
Yeah, the XDA community ain't what it used to be :)

"Everything that can go wrong will go wrong!"
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
I still can’t show or change country. Same error. I may just give up but I’m so close. Will google more tomorrow.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] zitsky:
Fire Toolbox does not install Google Play store and other services correctly on a Fire HD 10 (2023). I had to follow a thread on Reddit, following links to files for generation 12 devices OS 8.

https://www.androidpolice.com/insta...let/#enable-installation-from-unknown-sources

https://www.reddit.com/r/kindlefire/comments/18h6niu/_/kd6b739

Since following the advice on Reddit everything works including country setting etc that didn’t work before.

I may not keep this tablet as I haven’t been able to load Vanity Fair magazine app. Latest app seems like UK and does not recognize my login / subscription. I will try older APK’s.

I am aware of Amazon policy change to end support for periodicals, magazines and newspapers but I thought that only applied to Kindle e-ink devices and not Fire tablets. There is a link on VF.com that links to Amazon website but the app has been removed. (Bad link. Link not found.)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Hey @Datastream33

Could you check the Google Play file links for Fire HD10 Gen13, 2023 ? ... there seems to be a recent glitch in the file downloads per @zitsky's post immediately above.

Thx always.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
I have this device (along with other models) and experienced no issues with FTB 32.4, including the installation of Google Play components. Others have reported similar experiences.

I do not doubt your experience was unfavorable. Single user, single device, one data point. Not to be dismissed, but does not rise to the level of implied systemic 'flaws' with the FTB.

My most recent data point dates back 2 weeks. Things may have changed since then.

FWIW - Installation of Google Play Services and related components has always been dicy on Amazon gizmos. With any given tool or technique, one can expect an uncomfortable failure rate on successive attempts to jam in stuff that was never intended to reside on FireOS. What worked yesterday may fail tomorrow and be immediately successful on the next try. It's a FML magnet for developers who strive for 100% reliability.

Do the dudes/dudettes in the Reddit post stand behind their work?
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] leif2:
My gen11 10 " fire is on 7.3.2.1. I understand this is the last fire software version that lets me root and such. Wondering if I should apply fire tool instructions on current fire firmware or if I should upgrade to version 8 before using fire tools since I'm reading here that version 8 is more stable? Does toolbox kit here work just as well Windows 10 vs Windows 11? I have both. Thanks!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
11th gen devices can't/won't run FireOS 8 (Android 11). You are limited to FireOS 7 (Android 9). v7 is stable and largely compatible with Google Play and related apps. Whether to advance beyond 7.3.2.1 is a personal decision. I don't believe there's a huge difference in compatibility/stability updating to later FireOS 7 builds. Recognize you can't go back once you cross the threshold. Queue "paradise by the dashboard light" if uncertain :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
What DB126 said with a further comment. Your tablet will not update beyond it's current FireOS version, just to a later revision of the same version. I don't see any reason to update the firmware on my tablet (v7.3.1.2) because the people at Amazon don't give me anything, they only take away things that I like.

The only issue with staying below v7.3.2.2 is that you have to manually update certain apps like Prime Video and Shop Amazon to versions beyond the ones that come with pre-7.3.2.2 f/w in order to use them. I have a few apps in my signature that can be sideloaded to update, but the more complete solution is to use braveheartleo's saved apps in his post about this. It's much more up to date and complete than my list. Once you've updated those apps, you've pretty much got an up to date tablet. :)
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] xFaultx:
Trying to install the KOA Campground app onto my wifes tablet. Play store says the app is incompatbile and when trying to side load it doesnt work. When using the toolbox I get the following error:

INSTALLATION FAILURE:

adb: failed to install ...apk:Failure

[INSTALL_FAILED_MISSING_SHARED_LIBRARY: Package couldn't be installed in /data/app/com.koa.mobileapp-ngvb4phe4AzA3-6aT0uVOg==:

Package com.koa.mobileapp requires unavailable shared library com.google.android.maps; failing!]

For what its worth, I do have google maps installed, but I figure thats not actually what its referring to
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] ahsiong:
I've a new Fire HD 10 (2023) and I followed the instruction to use FTB to disable automatic updates (no connection to internet yet at this stage). However, after I connect the device to internet, I found out that the device had updated itself to 8.3.2.1 from the original 8.3.1.9. Google play store seems to work properly after this update.

Anyone has the same experience? I'm wondering why the disable automatic updates function didn't work. Also I can't disable OTA updates as stated by the guide. I'm just afraid future updates might mess up Google play store and the apps I've installed from it.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] DB126:
OTA updates cannot be directly disabled on FireOS 8.3.2.x. However, there is an indirect method that involves setting specific (or all) network connections to 'metered' which effectively disables most OTA updates. FTB can assist with this.

I seriously doubt Amazon would intentionally introduce an incompatiblility with Google Play Services/Store/Apps in future FireOS 8.x builds. Amazon is investing in an alternative foundation for FireOS that is not based on Android. That will take care of the Google Play Store 'headache' for good and allow Amazon to further cultivate a closed ecosystem. Expect new devices to be released when that happens. Older gen devices should be safe.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] _Tille_:
Hello,

I have a Fire 7 (12. Generation) running Fire OS 8.3.2.1.

Currently I have not yet used the Fire Toolbox, but rather sideloaded everything I needed - which is not much anyhow. I'm running the Nova Launcher and using Launcher Hijack to ensure it runs on top of the Fire OS.

But, I just noticed an important feature missing. I cannot add URLs to the Home Screen. Chrome, also sideloaded, does not offer the menu option to add or install something at all. I tried a separate app "Website Shortcuts" to create such a shortcut and at least this app provides me with an error "Launcher does not support pin shortcuts".

I guess this is because under the hood the original Fire OS Launcher is still doing its magic and Nova is rather running on top of it.

Can Fire Toolbox help me in this regard? Does it provide a proper way to replace the original launcher with Nova (or others) so that I'm in the end again able to place URL shortcuts on the home screen?

If Fire Toolbox can also not solve my problem with URL shortcuts, what other hacks could I try?

Thank You
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
That is a problem with FireOS. Nova can't make shortcuts just as Website Shortcuts can't, probably because FireOS has stripped out the needed Google API's to do that. Not all launchers are the same and you might have better luck with Microsoft Launcher or Lawnchair or one of the others included with Toolbox. You can also sideload any launcher from a reputable appstore. Try loading a different launcher, setting it as default, and making shortcuts before removing Nova. One of the others might do what you want, then you can remove the extra launchers.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Jumbo100:
Hail Mary / Longshot Hack FWIW.

You're right ... FireOS/Fire Launcher does not support shortcuts natively.

But I believe that Nova Launcher can support "widgets" on FireOS.

If you use a utility like Shortcut Maker app, you might be able to deploy a URL website link as a widget (instead of a shortcut) on Nova homepage. Similarly, shortcuts made by Shortcut Maker don't work on FireOS/Nova Launcher, just widgets. Must be a widget coding "thing".

I haven't used Nova Launcher recently, but this used to work on f/w 7.3.2.6 and later; not sure if Nova widgets still work or if it works with FireOS 8. Worth a try.

The last Shrtcut Maker I used was v.4.2.1 which was compatible FireOS 7/Android 9.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Datastream33:
Greetings!

Launchers out of the box may not be able to create widgets until they're granted access using the appwidget binary. Once granted you should be able to make shortcuts as normal.

The Toolbox is able to grant widget access automatically through the Custom Launcher tool. Just select the launcher you're using, and ensure the Launcher Hijack activation method is checked, and execute.

Or if you prefer the command line route...

Using the ADB Shell tool in Fire Toolbox:

appwidget grantbind --package com.teslacoilsw.launcher --user 0

Using adb.exe:

adb shell appwidget grantbind --package com.teslacoilsw.launcher --user 0

Once the Toolbox is finished or the command is executed, reboot the device and try creating a widget or shortcut.

Let us know how it goes and best of luck!
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] blaacksheep:
I forgot about appwidget!:rolleyes:
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] Datastream33:
Yeah, it's not documented very well.

But thank goodness it exists! :D
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] ahsiong:
Is OTA updates always automatic? I was on 8.3.1.9 and it was update automatically although I've already disabled automatic update through FTB.
[Fire HD 8 and HD 10 Android Development] _Tille_:
Hello,

thanks for all the suggestions.

Nova Launcher via Hijack is able to create Widgets already, but it seems for "Shortcuts" there is some limitation from the Fire OS Launcher. Quite interesting overall.

I do miss the "Add to Homescreen" option from Chrome, that added a nice benefit when it came to PWAs providing them with some more native feeling.

So I tried the following suggestions (Datastream33)

1. adb shell appwidget grantbind --package com.teslacoilsw.launcher --user 0

- This unfortunately didn't change anything in regards to the ability to create shortcuts

2. Shortcut Maker App (Jumbo100)

- The app tells me on start that my current launcher does not support shortcuts and suggests I use Nova Launcher, which seems to mean that under the hood it does recognize the Fire OS Launcher and Nova on top is just adding cosmetics.

- But, the Shortcut Maker Widget does work. With it I can place icons on the home screen that do link to a desired website. Very nice!

3. Microsoft Launcher / Lawnchair (blaacksheep)

- Interesting, with any of these two launchers Chrome does again offer the "Add to Homescreen" option, but unfortunately even so it states it was added it is not appearing.

=> Update: Checked on my regular Android phone and there should be two dialogs appearing when "Add to Homescreen" is used from Chrome, one specifying the name and the second dialog for placing the icon. I only get the first dialog on the Fire, which is perhaps the reason nothing is placed then.

Lawnchair actually looks quite clean and nice, I may stay with it and use the Shortcut Maker Widget to place icons hotlinking URLs.

The PWA feature, well, I'll miss it, but seems nothing can be done. I'll experiment some more with it.

Thanks!