Root Fire 7"- 5th Gen-2015 FireOS 5.1.3, 5.1.4 (New Shipments Summer, Fall 2016)

[bardell3600]

Root Fire 7"- 5th Gen-2015 FireOS 5.1.3, 5.1.4 (New Shipments Summer, Fall 2016)

I bought my Fire 7" shortly after it came out. Not too many weeks went by and folks had posted instructions to get rid of the ads, load Google Play Store, get rid of Amazon's horrible home screen(s) (a.k.a Launcher) and a month or so later how to root it.

A friend of mine just ordered one on my recommendation. And boy have things changed! It would appear that as folks came up with ways to do the things mentioned above, Amazon simply issues OS updates to stop them. Everything I am about to write about is, I'm sure, found somewhere else here on XDA. My intent is to save you the time it took me to figure this out this past afternoon.

FIRST - DON'T LET YOUR NEW FIRE TABLET UPDATE! What I'm going to explain applies to FireOS 5.1.3, 5.1.4 (and 5.1.2.1)

Right now today, early Oct 2016, it appears that there isn't a root tool for FireOS numbered above 5.1.2. But you easily downgrade the ones shipping today (FireOS 5.1.3, 5.1.4 and 5.1.2.1) to FireOS 5.1.2. And then existing tools work.

You'll need to download and extract:
AmazonFire5thGenSuperTool.zip
Firmware-Downgrade-to-Fire-OS-5.1.2-Supertool.zip

Steps:

1. Run the Firmware-Downgrade-Supertool, you don't need to start adb or anything first, just double-click the "1-Start-Firmware-Downgrade-to-5.1.2.bat"
   NOTE1: You'll need to allow unknown sources (In the Security Settings) and allow adb (In Developer Options. You add Developer Options by tapping Serial Number 7 times (In Device Options) see Developer Options
   NOTE2: Watch the Fire Screen closely. There will be multiple popup screens/boxes. You'll need to approve adb several times. Just tap "OK"
   NOTE3: When I ran it the text in the Windows cmd.exe box said it failed. But wait and a menu will appear on the fire's screen. Use the volume keys to select the 2nd item listed "from ADB" and the on/off/power button to select it. Go back to the Windows cmd.exe box and hit any key. Then the bin file for the downgrade will start transfering
2. When it completes, run the AmazonFire5thGenSupertool. It has a menu that will let you do everything I listed in my opening paragraph

In the AmazonFire5thGenSupertool menu pay attention to those selections that require root first. In FireOS 5.1.2 it will intall a rooting app. PAY ATTENTION to the NOTE in the cmd.exe screen that says if it fails to root you may need to shut the Fire all the way down and run tha app again. For me it was running it again after a full shutdown that completed the root.

You've just spent a good amount of time downgrading to 5.1.2 so you could get rid of the Amazon crud. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, but I'll say it anyway. In the AmazonFire5thGenSupertool be sure to shut off updates!

MANY, MANY THANKS to RootJunky for the tools!!!

 

[danietepa]

I used this method, but when you restart the tablet does not appear among the options to update the firmware, it appears only option (I forget the name) and select not let.

 

[mstrakt]

Got myself a Fire tablet 16gb, which came with ver 5.1.3 and auto updated to 5.1.4 (which i didn't want it to), used this guide and followed the steps. Kingroot took maybe 6-7 tries, but it finally worked. Achieved root, got rid of of lockscreen ads, uninstalled FireOS launcher, and installed nova launcher. Now it feels like stock android (also got playstore) while keeping the FireOS features (useful for my 2 yr old son who loves the shows on the Amazon firestick). Win-Win. Thank you OP

 

[DB126]

Got myself a Fire tablet 16gb, which came with ver 5.1.3 and auto updated to 5.1.4 (which i didn't want it to), used this guide and followed the steps. Kingroot took maybe 6-7 tries, but it finally worked. Achieved root, got rid of of lockscreen ads, uninstalled FireOS launcher, and installed nova launcher. Now it feels like stock android (also got playstore) while keeping the FireOS features (useful for my 2 yr old son who loves the shows on the Amazon firestick). Win-Win. Thank you OP

Don't forget to disable OTA updates. If you used an automated method make sure system\priv-app\DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk got renamed.

 

[mstrakt]

Don't forget to disable OTA updates. If you used an automated method make sure system\priv-app\DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk got renamed.

Yup did that too. It hasn't bugged me to update since, so I'm guessing it worked! Thanks.

 

[AkDano]

Got myself a Fire tablet 16gb, which came with ver 5.1.3 and auto updated to 5.1.4 (which i didn't want it to), used this guide and followed the steps. Kingroot took maybe 6-7 tries, but it finally worked. Achieved root, got rid of of lockscreen ads, uninstalled FireOS launcher, and installed nova launcher. Now it feels like stock android (also got playstore) while keeping the FireOS features (useful for my 2 yr old son who loves the shows on the Amazon firestick). Win-Win. Thank you OP

I had rooted my kindle out of the box and turned off auto updates. However overnight it updated..... I am having a heck of a time getting access to the kindle again even after authorizing USB debugging. I have tried the downgrade supertool, I've tried command window method, the main supertool and everything else I can think of.

When I get to the point to load the firmware via adb sideload <filename> it says it cannot find the device. I have authorized debugging and allowed unknown source app downloading.

Please tell me how you were able to get back out of 5.1.4. Thank you in advance.

Dano

 

[siftekhar]

So ... received a 5.1.3 device (5th gen, with special offers) yesterday. Successfully downgraded to 5.1.2 using the method on this thread. Before even connecting to Wifi - downgraded straight out of the box.

However, the kingroot method from this thread just fails (using 4.9.2 apk version) with the supertool method. Tried several times, even reflashing 5.1.2. gets stuck at Verify Root Status (left it there for several hours).

Decided to manually install kingroot 3.5 to PC (from XDA thread). That fails too. Says Failed to Root. Root request recieved. KFFOWI Android 5.1.1.

So now, I got a 5.1.2 device that cannot be rooted using the methods at my disposal.


Hope something comes up soon.

 

[DB126]

So ... received a 5.1.3 device (5th gen, with special offers) yesterday. Successfully downgraded to 5.1.2 using the method on this thread. Before even connecting to Wifi - downgraded straight out of the box.

However, the kingroot method from this thread just fails (using 4.9.2 apk version) with the supertool method. Tried several times, even reflashing 5.1.2. gets stuck at Verify Root Status (left it there for several hours).

Decided to manually install kingroot 3.5 to PC (from XDA thread). That fails too. Says Failed to Root. Root request recieved. KFFOWI Android 5.1.1.

So now, I got a 5.1.2 device that cannot be rooted using the methods at my disposal.


Hope something comes up soon.

Keep trying; KingRoot can be stubborn as countless others before you have learned. Try a factory reset; don't register device w/Amazon on restart. WiFi must be enabled during first 30-60 sec of KingRoot run; otherwise failure is certain.

---------- Post added at 04:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------

I had rooted my kindle out of the box and turned off auto updates. However overnight it updated..... I am having a heck of a time getting access to the kindle again even after authorizing USB debugging. I have tried the downgrade supertool, I've tried command window method, the main supertool and everything else I can think of.

When I get to the point to load the firmware via adb sideload <filename> it says it cannot find the device. I have authorized debugging and allowed unknown source app downloading.

Please tell me how you were able to get back out of 5.1.4. Thank you in advance.

Dano

Updated to what? KingRoot is now capable of rooting all builds of FireOS 5.1.x. No downgrade needed if on 5.1.4.