[7" Kindle Fire HD Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dylan_k:
This is a guide for users of the Kindle Fire HD 7" who wish to root the device and install a custom android operating system, or ROM.

This guide is only for the Kindle Fire HD 7", released in 2012, with the codename "Tate." This process will not work on any other device.

First, you may want to familiarize yourself with some of the technical jargon. You'll also want to learn...

How to boot Kindle Fire into Recovery Mode:

Power off your mobile with Power key.

Hold down Volume Up + Power key together.

When soon as Amazon logo appears, release Power key but continue holding the Volume Up key for another 3 seconds.

Then, and this important, you should know that there is some risk involved, here. This process, while generally safe, does have the potential to turn your Kindle into a useless brick if you screw it up. If this happens, don't blame anybody and seek help on a forum. You've been warned. If you brick your device during the process described here you have my sympathy but not my support.

Here are the basic steps:

Install updated drivers for conencting Kindle to PC

Root the Kindle

Flash a Second Bootloader and TWRP Recovery

Install (or upgrade) the ROM file that contains the operating system

(optional) add components for Google apps

Using Titanium Backup Pro

Step 0. Drivers

You may be able to skip this step. Connect your Kindle to your PC with a USB cable like the one that came with it. In Device Manager, under Kindle Fire, verify that the device appears with the name "Android Composite ADB Interface". If so, you can skip this step. If it appears with any other name...

Take the following steps to remove the previous USB device driver and force re-installation of the driver.

Connect your Kindle Fire tablet to the USB port on your computer.

On the computer, open the Device Manager and find the Kindle listed there

Right-click "Kindle" and then click "Properties".

In the Kindle Properties window, on the Driver tab, click Uninstall

Confirm

Unplug your Kindle Fire tablet from your computer.

Next, we need to turn on ADB support on our actual Kindle Fire device. Follow these steps:

On your Kindle Fire tablet, go to Settings.

tap "Device" or "Security"

Find "Enable ADB" and switch it to "On"

Accept

Next, while the Kindle is still UNplugged from the computer, install an updated driver.

download the drivers from Amazon at http://kindle-sdk.s3.amazonaws.com/2ba63011a73a0a0d0f35e001696677ec92a825cb.zip

Unzip the installer

Run the installer

You should now be able to connect the Kindle to the PC, and in Device Manager, under Kindle Fire, verify that the device appears as "Android Composite ADB Interface".

Step 1. Root the Kindle

Do this: http://www.tekify.co.uk/kindle-fire-hd/root/method-1/ newest version of tools: https://androidmtk.com/download-binary-toolkit

Step 2. Flash a Second Bootloader and TWRP Recovery

Download the latest version of TWRP Recovery for Kindle Fire HD 7. It has to be one made for this device. The latest one I could find is at https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=94712

do this: http://www.tekify.co.uk/kindle-fire-hd/recovery/ see also: https://rubenalamina.mx/2014/02/26/how-to-root-the-kindle-fire-hd-to-install-a-custom-rom/

Notes: Use the better "Amaze file browser app" instead of ES browser Use the newset available TWRP, which is 3.0.2 right now

an older, more technical method that does still work may be useful if the simpler process above is tricky. https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2128848

Step 3. Install a ROM file with a new operating system

There are many ROMS to choose from, depending on your preferences. Some are more experimental than others. Here are some of the newer/stable ones.

Kinology (Amazon OS base + ICS modifications)

crDroid (unofficial) for Kindle Tate

Once you have chosen the ROM to install:

Download necessary zip file(s). Do not unzip them.

save the zip file(S) somewhere on the Kindle. (/ Sdcard / kinology etc.)

Simultaneously press the power button and the volume plus button to activate TWRP

Tap Install

Open the directory where you saved the file and select your file(s)

(you can select "Add More Zips" if you need to)

wipe the slider at the bottom of the screen to the right

Be patient

When it is displayed as Successful, restart it with Reboot System

boot it up first, then install gapps using this process, on a second pass.

Step 3.1. Updgrade the ROM file

There may come a time when there's a new version of the ROM you use for your device. There are two ways to perform an upgrade, "clean" and "dirty". As the name implies, the "clean" method is the safest, with the least risk of error. The "dirty" method has the advantage of being quick.

Clean flash:

Install Titanium Backup.

Open Titanium Backup > Go to menu > Batch actions > Backup apps + system data. This will backup all your user apps, app data and settings.

Download necessary zip file(s). Do not unzip them.

Save the zip file(S) somewhere on the Kindle. (/ Sdcard / kinology etc.)

Boot the device to TWRP recovery (Hold Volume Up + Power key together).

Choose Wipe > Factory Reset. Personal data (images, movies, music, etc.) remains intact.

In the TWRP recovery, flash the new ROM files in the following sequence: - Firmware update (if any) - Custom ROM - GAPPS - Custom Kernel (if any) - Wipe Dalvik/Cache.

Reboot system.

Do initial system setup (skip restoring your apps via Google account).

Install Titanium backup. Restore user apps + data.

Dirty Flash:

Go to TWRP. Clear cache/Dalvik.

In the TWRP recovery, flash the new ROM files in the following sequence: Firmware update (if any) > Custom ROM > GAPPS > Custom Kernel (if any).

Reboot system.

Step 4. (optional) Add components for Google apps

Depending on the version of android used in the ROM you have installed, there's a different version of the Google Apps to use.

go to https://opengapps.org/

choose ARM for the Architecture

Choose the appropriate version number for your version of Android

Choose "pico" for the smallest functional set of options

Download the Zip file

Transfer that zip file to the Kindle

Boot the Kindle in recovery mode

in TWRP choose "Install"

Navigate to the folder where you transfered the zip file

Install

Restart the Kindle

Step 5. Backup and Restore Backup

Titanium Backup has lets you backup all the apps and data on your device and restore from that backup — even after switching from a stock ROM to CyanogenMod, AOKP, or other custom firmware. It only works on rooted devices.

To make a backup:

Install Titanium Backup

Open the Titanium Backup app

Via Menu > PREFERENCES > Backup Settings, select a backup folder location, preferably on external storage.

Select Backup > "Backup all user apps + system data." Depending on how many apps you have, this could take some time.

Now create the update.zip. Hit the batch backup icon again. Scroll down to the Recovery mode section and select Run.

Once the operation is completed, verify that the update.zip made it in to your backup folder. Again, this should be located on your external SD just to be safe.

To restore a backup:

If you're restoring your update.zip after flashing a new ROM:

Flash ROM.

reboot to recovery.

optional: Flash Gapps. reboot to recovery again.

Now flash the update.zip

Clear the cache and the dalvik cache.

Reboot normally. This boot may take a while.

see also:

http://www.titaniumtrack.com/kb

http://www.s3forums.com/forum/galax...backup-pros-update-zip-restore-your-apps.html

https://liliputing.com/2012/11/tita...ke-a-flashable-zip-with-all-of-your-apps.html

APPENDIX

Here be dragons.

ROMS for Kindle Fire HD 7"

This is a list of operating system ROMs that can be installed on the Kindle Fire HD 7". This is the device that was released in 2012, with the codename "Tate." These ROMs will not work on any other device.

Instructions: Download the ROM Download GApps Copy those to the root of the SDcard Boot into TWRP Recovery Wipe/Factory Reset Install ROM & GApps Wipe Dalvik Cache Reboot

This list contains (mostly) stable releases

crDroid (unofficial) for Kindle Tate

This is the one I use.

download:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/u7sb7p10ik7v0/tate

http://www.mediafire.com/file/lc2cd98rdh8o1ma/crDroidAndroid-7.1.2-20180620-tate-v3.8.8.zip/file details:

https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/rom-crdroid-unofficial-n-v3-4-t3632720/page7

Carbon ROM

can't run kindle app. https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/rom-carbonrom-kitkat-t3239681

somebody said on the forum that OmniROM was just as stable but that it allows the kindle app to work. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BygHN9aKfhqtaGRRaXZuYW8tYVE

Kinology

Status: Stable ROM OS Version: 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich Based On: Amazon OS 7.4.8

download:

http://android.jupath.me/custom-roms/kinology/installation-download/ details:

https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2373292

issues:

constant google services crashing. possible fix at https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=76573427&postcount=327 says to... remove updates to the Google Play Services app (Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Services > three dots menu > Uninstall updates).

CyanogenMod 12.1

Status: Alpha ROM OS Version: 5.1.x Lollipop ROM Kernel: Linux 3.0.x Based On: CyanogenMod

download:

https://androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=168195 details:

https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/r

Status: Beta ROM OS Version: 4.4.x KitKat ROM Kernel: Linux 3.0.x Based On: CyanogenMod

download:

https://archive.org/download/cmarchi...T-M12-tate.zip details:

https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2543455

CyanogenMod 10.2

better? https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2388341

details: https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2480812 download: https://app.box.com/s/b1ki7trxy87vzvpwkq3m

OmniRom - android 5.1

Status: Beta ROM OS Version: 5.1 Lollipop ROM Kernel: Linux 3.0.x Based On: OmniRom

download:

https://xdaforums.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=11619 details:

https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/rom-omnirom-android-5-1-t3052050

[rom] [resurrection remix 5.8 and 5.7] [tate] [N and M] unofficial

download:

https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/rom-t3297272 https://www.dropbox.com/s/mirvtf17a666j87/ResurrectionRemix-M-v5.6.1-20160121-tate.zip?dl=0

Vanir

Status: Beta ROM OS Version: 5.0.x Lollipop ROM Kernel: Linux 3.0.x Based On: Vanir (unofficial)

download:

https://xdaforums.com/devdb/project/?id=8512#downloads details:

https://xdaforums.com/kindle-fire-hd/7-development/rom-vaniraosp-t3045916

[ROM] Candy5 v4.0 Unofficial | 5.1.1 | 10.15.15

https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347837958