Hello all!
Do you want TWRP, a 2nd bootloader, and custom roms at your fingertips for your Kindle Fire HD? Well you have come to the right place! Over the past months, through trial and error, I've managed a full-proof, easy method to unlock the Kindle Fire HD's true potential. While this is aimed at 7" devices, it should work no problem on the 8.9 either - however you will have to use your head. These instructions are geared towards the 7", and you will have to realize what changes to this blueprint you personally will need to make with the 8.9.
Also, I would like to point everyone to seokhun's thread on this matter, which came before my own: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2271909
BIG thanks to LinearEquation for helping maintain this thread. Trust any advice he gives; it WILL help! :thumbup:
Although our posts on this process are essentially similar, he goes far more in depth on the process, and has an excellent troubleshooting section if something here goes wrong for you and I cannot respond to your question soon enough (although if done right, that won't happen
)
Ok. Lets begin!
Do you want TWRP, a 2nd bootloader, and custom roms at your fingertips for your Kindle Fire HD? Well you have come to the right place! Over the past months, through trial and error, I've managed a full-proof, easy method to unlock the Kindle Fire HD's true potential. While this is aimed at 7" devices, it should work no problem on the 8.9 either - however you will have to use your head. These instructions are geared towards the 7", and you will have to realize what changes to this blueprint you personally will need to make with the 8.9.
!WARNING! WHILE THIS HAS WORKED FOR ME ON MULTIPLE DEVICES, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY. I PERSONALLY SUGGEST YOU FIRST BUY A SkOrPn FACTORY CABLE IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG. (Although using this guide, it almost certainly will not. Still, those cables come in handy!! :good:
Also, I would like to point everyone to seokhun's thread on this matter, which came before my own: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2271909
BIG thanks to LinearEquation for helping maintain this thread. Trust any advice he gives; it WILL help! :thumbup:
Although our posts on this process are essentially similar, he goes far more in depth on the process, and has an excellent troubleshooting section if something here goes wrong for you and I cannot respond to your question soon enough (although if done right, that won't happen
)Ok. Lets begin!
Step One: Download Kindle Fire First Aide, an amazing tool which is only getting better: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2096888
This is probably the most work-intensive step, although once you have it you'll be glad you do. You are to follow the directions on this thread and install the necessary files, and adb drivers. This is necessary for your KFHD7 to communicate with your computer properly. When finished, make sure your Kindle has ADB enabled under its device settings.
lets see if you're ready for step 2. Plug your kindle in and check your device manager. If your kindle fire shows up as "android adb interface" then you sir/ madam are ready. If not, please use the Kindle Fire First Aide (hereafter referred to as KFFA) thread to find out where you went wrong. The answer you seek will be there, I promise you.
Step Two: BACK UP ANY FILES/FOLDERS/MOVIES/ETC YOU WANT TO KEEP. STEP THREE WILL WIPE YOUR DEVICE!
Step Three: Here, we are going to use KFFA to reset our device to 7.2.3. Make sure you have transferred any backups you have made to your computer. Run KFFA and select the option that reads "Reboot the Kindle into Fastboot Mode". At the time of this posting, there are two options to do this. Try the preferred option first, and if that doesn't work, try the alternative method. Alternatively, just plug your kindle in with a fastboot/factory cable to get it into fastboot. YOUR DEVICE MUST BE IN FASTBOOT MODE FOR THE NEXT STEP
Step Four: while in fastboot mode, in KFFA, use the option "COMPLETELY RESTORE THE KFHD7 7.2.3. This will take a while, and you will be prompted at certain points to continue. I usually chose not to wipe user data at the end, as for me at least it takes forever and shouldn't be necessary.
Step Five: While still in KFFA, Disable Amazon's OTA updates with the option provided. This is important - If an update sneaks by, you will have to start from scratch!
Once KFFA says it's finished, unplug your device and hold the power button to hard-reset it. Now boot it back on. Your kindle will now be stock 7.2.3, with google play and superuser installed, along with root permissions.
Step Six: Here we go! Download the provided FireFlash11.apk, kfhd7-Freedom-boot-7.3.0.img, and kfhd7-twrp 2.4.4.0-recovery.img to your computer. Connect your KFHD7, make sure you check "allow installations of unknown applications" on your kindle's options (they will have reset thanks to KFFA, don't forget), and go to either the amazon or google play marketplace and find a file browser you can use to navigate to your download folder. Find where you placed the FireFlash11.apk, open it, and install.
Step Seven: Almost there guys! Open up your new FireFlash app. The first thing you (should) notice is that there is a warning that you have the incorrect bootloader at this moment. Check the box that says "Flash kfhd7-u-boot-prod-7.2.3.bin. scroll to the bottom of the app, where it says "execute", and press "flash, install script". Exit the program and reboot your device.
Step Eight: Now that your kindle has rebooted, open up the FireFlash app again. This time, you should see no warnings at the bootloader. If for some reason you do, STOP and retrace your steps. If you see no warnings, we're ready to install the 2nd bootloader and TWRP!! While still in FireFlash, under "boot partition" it should say "not flashed". Click on the "not flashed", and navigate to the "kfhd7-Freedom-boot-7.3.0.img" that we downloaded earlier. Check the box next to "apply stack override".
Now, under "recovery partition", again select the "not flashed" box and navigate this time to the "kfhd7-twrp 2.4.4.0-recovery.img". Once in place, check the "disable recovery auto update" box to the right. Now scroll to the bottom, to where it says "execute", and tap "Flash, install script" just like we did before with the bootloader.
Thats it! Select "reboot into recovery" from the Fireflash app if you're still in it, and if you followed the instructions and put everything where it belongs, you should wind up in TWRP after your kindle reboot (dont worry if you see the blue kindle fire logo for a minute before it enters TWRP - it's completely normal. From here you can install custom roms, wipe your cache, and most importantly MAKE BACKUPS! :laugh:
ATM I am using Hashcode's CM10.1 with the 1.5 ghz kernal, with Nova Launcher Prime and LMT launcher. It's simply amazing the difference in both speed and functionality. Hopefully, this guide got you there and now you too can enjoy a fully unlocked Amazon Kindle Fire HD!
Here is a link to the page for Hashcode's CM10.1, If you want to give it a shot I highly recommend it!! http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2245335
One last note. I want to make it clear that I have not personally developed any of these tools, I've just organized them for you. The real ones you want to be thanking if this works are the developers. Thanks Devs!! :good:
This is probably the most work-intensive step, although once you have it you'll be glad you do. You are to follow the directions on this thread and install the necessary files, and adb drivers. This is necessary for your KFHD7 to communicate with your computer properly. When finished, make sure your Kindle has ADB enabled under its device settings.
lets see if you're ready for step 2. Plug your kindle in and check your device manager. If your kindle fire shows up as "android adb interface" then you sir/ madam are ready. If not, please use the Kindle Fire First Aide (hereafter referred to as KFFA) thread to find out where you went wrong. The answer you seek will be there, I promise you.
Step Two: BACK UP ANY FILES/FOLDERS/MOVIES/ETC YOU WANT TO KEEP. STEP THREE WILL WIPE YOUR DEVICE!
Step Three: Here, we are going to use KFFA to reset our device to 7.2.3. Make sure you have transferred any backups you have made to your computer. Run KFFA and select the option that reads "Reboot the Kindle into Fastboot Mode". At the time of this posting, there are two options to do this. Try the preferred option first, and if that doesn't work, try the alternative method. Alternatively, just plug your kindle in with a fastboot/factory cable to get it into fastboot. YOUR DEVICE MUST BE IN FASTBOOT MODE FOR THE NEXT STEP
Step Four: while in fastboot mode, in KFFA, use the option "COMPLETELY RESTORE THE KFHD7 7.2.3. This will take a while, and you will be prompted at certain points to continue. I usually chose not to wipe user data at the end, as for me at least it takes forever and shouldn't be necessary.
Step Five: While still in KFFA, Disable Amazon's OTA updates with the option provided. This is important - If an update sneaks by, you will have to start from scratch!
Once KFFA says it's finished, unplug your device and hold the power button to hard-reset it. Now boot it back on. Your kindle will now be stock 7.2.3, with google play and superuser installed, along with root permissions.
Step Six: Here we go! Download the provided FireFlash11.apk, kfhd7-Freedom-boot-7.3.0.img, and kfhd7-twrp 2.4.4.0-recovery.img to your computer. Connect your KFHD7, make sure you check "allow installations of unknown applications" on your kindle's options (they will have reset thanks to KFFA, don't forget), and go to either the amazon or google play marketplace and find a file browser you can use to navigate to your download folder. Find where you placed the FireFlash11.apk, open it, and install.
Step Seven: Almost there guys! Open up your new FireFlash app. The first thing you (should) notice is that there is a warning that you have the incorrect bootloader at this moment. Check the box that says "Flash kfhd7-u-boot-prod-7.2.3.bin. scroll to the bottom of the app, where it says "execute", and press "flash, install script". Exit the program and reboot your device.
Step Eight: Now that your kindle has rebooted, open up the FireFlash app again. This time, you should see no warnings at the bootloader. If for some reason you do, STOP and retrace your steps. If you see no warnings, we're ready to install the 2nd bootloader and TWRP!! While still in FireFlash, under "boot partition" it should say "not flashed". Click on the "not flashed", and navigate to the "kfhd7-Freedom-boot-7.3.0.img" that we downloaded earlier. Check the box next to "apply stack override".
Now, under "recovery partition", again select the "not flashed" box and navigate this time to the "kfhd7-twrp 2.4.4.0-recovery.img". Once in place, check the "disable recovery auto update" box to the right. Now scroll to the bottom, to where it says "execute", and tap "Flash, install script" just like we did before with the bootloader.
Thats it! Select "reboot into recovery" from the Fireflash app if you're still in it, and if you followed the instructions and put everything where it belongs, you should wind up in TWRP after your kindle reboot (dont worry if you see the blue kindle fire logo for a minute before it enters TWRP - it's completely normal. From here you can install custom roms, wipe your cache, and most importantly MAKE BACKUPS! :laugh:
ATM I am using Hashcode's CM10.1 with the 1.5 ghz kernal, with Nova Launcher Prime and LMT launcher. It's simply amazing the difference in both speed and functionality. Hopefully, this guide got you there and now you too can enjoy a fully unlocked Amazon Kindle Fire HD!
Here is a link to the page for Hashcode's CM10.1, If you want to give it a shot I highly recommend it!! http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2245335
One last note. I want to make it clear that I have not personally developed any of these tools, I've just organized them for you. The real ones you want to be thanking if this works are the developers. Thanks Devs!! :good:
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