[WINDOWS][TOOL]Fire Toolbox V30.2

Search This thread

blaacksheep

Senior Member
Jun 20, 2020
1,641
1,034
Buffalo
I can answer your first question.

1) Yeah, you can use a replacement power supply that's up to 10% higher or lower than the requested power supply (4.5v-5.5v), but at the extremes, it's more likely to cause problems. 5.2v isn't a problem in my estimation. (I'm an electronics technician who regularly works with microprocessors and logic circuits).

edit: Overvoltage isn't a problem unless heat is a factor, or capacitors are running too close to their limits. I don't think that Fire tablets are in danger of overheating and the capacitors are probably higher than 6.3v, so it shouldn't be a concern.

2) I'm not an Android programmer, so I can't answer this one.

3) That's something you should take up with the developer, @Datastream33.

4) This is again something that Datastream33 should be consulted about.

(I told you I could only answer the first question!) Hope it helps somewhat.

edit2: I hope this auto-translated correctly. I don't know what you're native language is.
------------------------------

Hi,
the fact is that I connected the charger from the old tablet to the new one and it seemed to me that the charging was faster than from the original (new). Just in case, I decided to consult whether it is dangerous.
Thanks for the answer!

I, here recently and do not yet know all the rules, thought that I am writing, and whoever knows / wants / can answer - write answers.

That is, the developer should be contacted separately / personally?
By the way, how to do this, otherwise I have more questions)).

edit2: I hope this auto-translated correctly. I don't know what you're native language is.
Yes, everything is clear.
Thanks again!

It appears you are responding to me, although you might use the "Reply" button at the end of my post next time so it's more clear. (y)

As far as a replacement power supply goes, the one that comes with the tablet is only rated for 10W and the tablet will use up to 15W to charge, so you can definitely speed up charging with a replacement.

Anyone can answer questions here, but if you want to address the developer directly, that would be Datastream33. You can either write a post with @Datastream33 in it and he will see it, or you can try sending him a direct message. He would probably prefer the first choice. ;)

If you need to send a direct message, go to a post by him (the first post in this thread works if there isn't one on the current page), and hover over his name and a box will appear. Select "Start Conversation" and your message will go to him alone.
 

Klevers

Member
Jan 6, 2023
7
7
It appears you are responding to me, although you might use the "Reply" button at the end of my post next time so it's more clear. (y)

As far as a replacement power supply goes, the one that comes with the tablet is only rated for 10W and the tablet will use up to 15W to charge, so you can definitely speed up charging with a replacement.

Anyone can answer questions here, but if you want to address the developer directly, that would be Datastream33. You can either write a post with @Datastream33 in it and he will see it, or you can try sending him a direct message. He would probably prefer the first choice. ;)

If you need to send a direct message, go to a post by him (the first post in this thread works if there isn't one on the current page), and hover over his name and a box will appear. Select "Start Conversation" and your message will go to him alone.
Understood thanks!
 

Eiion

Senior Member
I ran into an issue that I hope someone was able to solve it before:
Today I bought a 25€ Netflix card (the cheapest one) so I can watch a new show they have. And since I don't have a big budget (why else would I toolbox the fire tablet) I got the basic subscription with advertising (4,99€/month).
When registering I was asked for the devises I would watch on and selected PC and phone/tablet. So far so good - nothing foreshadowing that there would be problems.

While I can watch on PC in the browser (the windows app doesn't work with this subscription for whatever reason) and with the Android app on my phone, I cannot get anything to play on the toolboxed Fire HD 10 plus.

The Netflix app I still had on the tablet from months ago, when I could watch with a friend's premium account, now says that I should "upgrade" the app or the type of subscription when logging in with my own account. (Back then I got popups when opening Netflix as well letting me know about a newer version but whenever I used the Toolbox to try and get a newer version, there was none available.)
'No problem' I thought, I'll just drop the app and watch in the browser like on PC.

Wrong, that also doesn't work. I'm told by another popup that I cannot watch with the basic subscription with ads.
Can this really be? We cannot watch on an android tablet in Chrome browser?
So I thought I'd simply set the browser to request the desktop website - but got an error code saying that the device isn't compatible.

So I thought let's try the 1DM+ Browser, set that to desktop - but again I'm getting an error code instead of the video playing.
I feel scammed.

Has anyone found a way to watch Netflix on a toolboxed fire tablet with the cheap (affordable) basic subscription with ads?
PLEASE someone tell me you've got it to work...

Edit: Now when trying to access Netflix via Chrome im even getting an http error 403 saying that access was denied. No matter if in desktop mode or not. 1DM+ doesn't even show that big just a blank page... I really hope someone can help.
 
Last edited:

Jumbo100

Senior Member
Jul 21, 2022
470
362
I ran into an issue that I hope someone was able to solve it before:
Today I bought a 25€ Netflix card (the cheapest one) so I can watch a new show they have. And since I don't have a big budget (why else would I toolbox the fire tablet) I got the basic subscription with advertising (4,99€/month).
When registering I was asked for the devises I would watch on and selected PC and phone/tablet. So far so good - nothing foreshadowing that there would be problems.

While I can watch on PC in the browser (the windows app doesn't work with this subscription for whatever reason) and with the Android app on my phone, I cannot get anything to play on the toolboxed Fire HD 10 plus.

The Netflix app I still had on the tablet from months ago, when I could watch with a friend's premium account, now says that I should "upgrade" the app or the type of subscription when logging in with my own account. (Back then I got popups when opening Netflix as well letting me know about a newer version but whenever I used the Toolbox to try and get a newer version, there was none available.)
'No problem' I thought, I'll just drop the app and watch in the browser like on PC.

Wrong, that also doesn't work. I'm told by another popup that I cannot watch with the basic subscription with ads.
Can this really be? We cannot watch on an android tablet in Chrome browser?
So I thought I'd simply set the browser to request the desktop website - but got an error code saying that the device isn't compatible.

So I thought let's try the 1DM+ Browser, set that to desktop - but again I'm getting an error code instead of the video playing.
I feel scammed.

Has anyone found a way to watch Netflix on a toolboxed fire tablet with the cheap (affordable) basic subscription with ads?
PLEASE someone tell me you've got it to work...

Edit: Now when trying to access Netflix via Chrome im even getting an http error 403 saying that access was denied. No matter if in desktop mode or not. 1DM+ doesn't even show that big just a blank page... I really hope someone can help.
Looks like Netflix has been making major changes to it's subscription services, especially password sharing and modes of access. See latest:

Also Netflix app on Fire tablets runs best from Amazon AppStore. Try uninstalling whatever version to you're using and reinstalling from AppStore. Google Play version definitely now incompatible.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Datastream33

Eiion

Senior Member
Looks like Netflix is making major changes to it's subscription services, especially password sharing. See latest:

Also Netflix app on Fire tablets runs best from Amazon AppStore. Try uninstalling whatever version to you're using and reinstalling from AppStore.
1. I am not password sharing - read again what I wrote.
2. I was using the Netflix app installed via Toolbox. Also, I'm on an old firmware that was still fully toolboxable. I should avoid any amazon app like fire to avoid triggering an update.

EDIT:
I've just updated fire toolbox to the newest version and re-installed the Netflix app - so I assume I have the newest version of it.
After logging in to the app I still get the same (somewhat confusing) error message though:
Screenshot_20230125-172056_1.png

Translated to English that says "The basic plan with ads is not supported. Update the Netflix app on this device to start watching. You also can change your subscription via your account.".
What is it, the app isn't up to date or the subscription doesn't allow to watch on andoid - despite saying you can watch on all devices when signing up for the plan. Considering ignoring the message and trying to start a show a popup appears saying again the subscription isn't supported on this device and asks to upgrade the app OR change the subscription, I'm believing that there's an issue with the app. I cannot imagine that we cannot watch Netflix on the tablet when watching on the phone works perfectly fine.
So I guess I'm back to square one asking: Has anyone gotten the basic plan to work on our toolboxed Fire tablet?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Datastream33

Datastream33

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2017
2,463
2,156
1. I am not password sharing - read again what I wrote.
2. I was using the Netflix app installed via Toolbox. Also, I'm on an old firmware that was still fully toolboxable. I should avoid any amazon app like fire to avoid triggering an update.

EDIT:
I've just updated fire toolbox to the newest version and re-installed the Netflix app - so I assume I have the newest version of it.
After logging in to the app I still get the same (somewhat confusing) error message though:
View attachment 5819627
Translated to English that says "The basic plan with ads is not supported. Update the Netflix app on this device to start watching. You also can change your subscription via your account.".
What is it, the app isn't up to date or the subscription doesn't allow to watch on andoid - despite saying you can watch on all devices when signing up for the plan. Considering ignoring the message and trying to start a show a popup appears saying again the subscription isn't supported on this device and asks to upgrade the app OR change the subscription, I'm believing that there's an issue with the app. I cannot imagine that we cannot watch Netflix on the tablet when watching on the phone works perfectly fine.
So I guess I'm back to square one asking: Has anyone gotten the basic plan to work on our toolboxed Fire tablet?
Yeah, the Netflix app the Toolbox downloads is probably outdated.

It needs to be updated manually and I keep forgetting to do so. Please give me some time and ill be sure to check and see if there are any updates, and if so push them to download server.

If outdated, an update could be what your tablet needs.
 

Datastream33

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2017
2,463
2,156
I ran into an issue that I hope someone was able to solve it before:
Today I bought a 25€ Netflix card (the cheapest one) so I can watch a new show they have. And since I don't have a big budget (why else would I toolbox the fire tablet) I got the basic subscription with advertising (4,99€/month).
When registering I was asked for the devises I would watch on and selected PC and phone/tablet. So far so good - nothing foreshadowing that there would be problems.

While I can watch on PC in the browser (the windows app doesn't work with this subscription for whatever reason) and with the Android app on my phone, I cannot get anything to play on the toolboxed Fire HD 10 plus.

The Netflix app I still had on the tablet from months ago, when I could watch with a friend's premium account, now says that I should "upgrade" the app or the type of subscription when logging in with my own account. (Back then I got popups when opening Netflix as well letting me know about a newer version but whenever I used the Toolbox to try and get a newer version, there was none available.)
'No problem' I thought, I'll just drop the app and watch in the browser like on PC.

Wrong, that also doesn't work. I'm told by another popup that I cannot watch with the basic subscription with ads.
Can this really be? We cannot watch on an android tablet in Chrome browser?
So I thought I'd simply set the browser to request the desktop website - but got an error code saying that the device isn't compatible.

So I thought let's try the 1DM+ Browser, set that to desktop - but again I'm getting an error code instead of the video playing.
I feel scammed.

Has anyone found a way to watch Netflix on a toolboxed fire tablet with the cheap (affordable) basic subscription with ads?
PLEASE someone tell me you've got it to work...

Edit: Now when trying to access Netflix via Chrome im even getting an http error 403 saying that access was denied. No matter if in desktop mode or not. 1DM+ doesn't even show that big just a blank page... I really hope someone can help.
I suppose you could try a browser like Kiwi, and change the user agent string (using this extension) to trick the website into thinking your on a Windows desktop. Not 100% sure it would work, but perhaps its worth a try.
 

Jumbo100

Senior Member
Jul 21, 2022
470
362
1. I am not password sharing - read again what I wrote.
2. I was using the Netflix app installed via Toolbox. Also, I'm on an old firmware that was still fully toolboxable. I should avoid any amazon app like fire to avoid triggering an update.

EDIT:
I've just updated fire toolbox to the newest version and re-installed the Netflix app - so I assume I have the newest version of it.
After logging in to the app I still get the same (somewhat confusing) error message though:
View attachment 5819627
Translated to English that says "The basic plan with ads is not supported. Update the Netflix app on this device to start watching. You also can change your subscription via your account.".
What is it, the app isn't up to date or the subscription doesn't allow to watch on andoid - despite saying you can watch on all devices when signing up for the plan. Considering ignoring the message and trying to start a show a popup appears saying again the subscription isn't supported on this device and asks to upgrade the app OR change the subscription, I'm believing that there's an issue with the app. I cannot imagine that we cannot watch Netflix on the tablet when watching on the phone works perfectly fine.
So I guess I'm back to square one asking: Has anyone gotten the basic plan to work on our toolboxed Fire tabletYou're Right ... it's most likely the Nerflix app, but there my be more to it.

** SEE END OF POST **

You're Right ... It's most likey the Netflix app, but there may be more to it.

It may be a multi-factor problem involving the Fire tablet and/or the Netflix app ans/or Netflix Germany and/or your particular subscription.

To start, generally the Netflix app does not run well outside of the Amazon ecosystem on Fire tablets. Google specificaaly states that Fire tablets are not "certified devices" and Amazon states the Google Play is not supported. In fact, the Netflix listing on Google Play Store installed on Fire Tablets says "This app won't work on your device" and won't even allow a download. The problems we have seen come from Netflix sideloaded onto Fire tablets. The AppStore versiosn have been ported and re-codoed to run on the Amazon infrastructure and generally runs well; the Google version may have problems.

Next, Netflix Germany has it's own more limited media catalogue and service, ostensible for licensing reasons. German IP address are geo-blocked from accessing US Netflix servers. That's the source of the 403 network connect error message. Chrome browser can easily connect to www.netflix.com, just not from Germany. Is there a re-direct to Netflix Germany servers? Possbile workaround is to use a VPN to "spoof" a US IP address.

Next, is there a specific Netfix Germany version of the app?, or is the app not responding because it's installed on a Fire tablet? or will the app only work on Netflix Germany servers?

Next, will your subscription work on Netflix Germany?

I can see how reluctant you are to make any changes to your FTB setup; understandable to protect your tablet from Amazon, at any cost.

However, once your FTB setup is adequately protected from OTA Updates, you are not precluded from using your Amazon account and downloading apps from the Amazon AppsStore. That's the general approach for getting Google incompatible apps to run on FTB modded Fire tablets. But you have to be vigilant that OTA Updates won't occur.

Do not install same apps from both Play Store and AppStore together.


Edit: alternative version of Netflix app may be available for "non-compliant" devices :

** Edit 2: Nerflix Basic with Ads plan available in Germany but maybe not on Fire tablets. See "NOTE" and "Why Basic with ads plan is not available" in description of Plan:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Datastream33

jerryasher

Senior Member
Aug 30, 2010
55
4
9th Generation Fire HD 10 that I applied Toolbox v 6.5 to a year or two ago and it has worked just fine, except...

After a day of use, and having put the device down while I work or sleep, the device invariably becomes far too sluggish to use.

I don't know the cause of this slow down, I don't know if memory has been totally allocated, or if some process has run amuck.

Is there any android or amazon fire app that provides system information like a top or ps would?

Is top or ps something I can run via an adb shell if I have the tablet connected to my windows laptop? But not run without being connected?

I have no reason to think this sluggishness is due to the Toolbox mods, but is it possible this sluggishness is due to the Toolbox mods? (Automate?)

What do you think my best course of action is to diagnose this, and to fix this?

Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Datastream33

Eiion

Senior Member
If outdated, an update could be what your tablet needs.
I took the risk, enabled the Amazon App store and updated the Netflix app before disabling the Amazon App again. That indeed did the trick - now it's working. 🎉😊
I suppose you could try a browser like Kiwi, and change the user agent string (using this extension) to trick the website into thinking your on a Windows desktop. Not 100% sure it would work, but perhaps its worth a try.
I did try that with Dolphin Browser using a current Win10 with Chrome Browser user agent but while the autoplay trailers worked I couldn't play the episode of the show I wanted to watch due to missind DRM capabilities of the browser. At least that's how I uderstood the error message I had gotten.
Unless Kiwi can deal with DRM secured content streams, possibly even Silverlight I don't think Kiwi would've worked either. But luckily the newest App from the Amazon App Store worked.

Talking of that: How about implementing a feature (possibly app) that allows us to update hybrid apps (Netflix/Disney+) from the tablet without the Amazon App store i.e. just downloading it from there making it available to be installed from the downloads folder? Is that even something that's possible? I'd think it would be, considering it's not much different from what you have to do manually.
[...]
Next, Netflix Germany has it's own more limited media catalogue and service, ostensible for licensing reasons. German IP address are geo-blocked from accessing US Netflix servers. That's the source of the 403 network connect error message. Chrome browser can easily connect to www.netflix.com, just not from Germany. Is there a re-direct to Netflix Germany servers? Possbile workaround is to use a VPN to "spoof" a US IP address.
[...]
Next, will your subscription work on Netflix Germany?

I can see how reluctant you are to make any changes to your FTB setup; understandable to protect your tablet from Amazon, at any cost.

However, once your FTB setup is adequately protected from OTA Updates, you are not precluded from using your Amazon account and downloading apps from the Amazon AppsStore. That's the general approach for getting Google incompatible apps to run on FTB modded Fire tablets. But you have to be vigilant that OTA Updates won't occur.
[...]

Edit:
alternative version of Netflix app may be available for "non-compliant" devices :

** Edit 2: Nerflix Basic with Ads plan available in Germany but maybe not on Fire tablets. See "NOTE" and "Why Basic with ads plan is not available" in description of Plan:
Actually www.netflix.com is the only way to surf to Netflix from Germany as well. There is no specific German Netflix domain. So no, there's no re-redirect.
And as said, I was able to even login on the Netflix page - only after that the site didn't load anymore and showed the error. But only on the phone - there were no issues whatsoever on the PC for the same URL. And just like for people accessing Netflix form the US the page to browse available content on Netflix in Germany also is www.netflix.com/browse.

Sure the subscription works in Germany - which was implied by telling how it worked on PC. And as told before as well, the account/subscription was created from Germany, after buying the gift card in Germany. So none of that is an issue.

Yes, considering I got one of the last HD 10 plus models with "old" firmware that allowed full customization, that really is the last I'd wont to be gone.

Thanks for the more detailed info about the Amazon App store/OTA update. That makes me a bit more confident using it in future cases.

Reg. Edit 1: Thanks for the Netflix link regarding a direct app download from their server. That really could come in handy at some point.


In summary it can be said that the "Netflix Basic with ads plan" works on our Fire Tablets, even from Germany (and likely any other country where that plan is offered) - as long as an up to date Netflix app is used on the tablet to watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jumbo100

Eiion

Senior Member
[...] What do you think my best course of action is to diagnose this, and to fix this?
I doubt that any of this is caused by any of the standard toolbox features/changes.

My approach to solve the issue would be to first make a backup, then uninstall all the apps you've installed since "toolboxing" your tablet and then try one by one of your wanted apps to see which of them causes issues as described.
Since that might be a rather lengthy process you might just do a factory reset and start over as well.
A good idea is to make a backup right after setting the tablet up originally so you can always just go back to that instead of going through it manually when issues occur.

Also, have you checked your storage? Could it be that almost all available storage is used? In my experience this is what makes devices "sluggish" as you describe it.
 

smashnwasted

New member
Jan 26, 2023
1
1
Question: device is constantly disconnecting when running Tool Box V30.3 Fire HD 8 (7th gen) TB runs for about 10 secs then i get this:
1674758609995.png


Event View doesnt show anything of worth and device isnt on long enought to get logs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blaacksheep

smartass1379

Member
Jan 31, 2009
16
6
I have a question, what are component updates that are sent to the fire Tablet. Also, I still have OTA updates enabled so will let you know what happens when Fire OS 8 gets sent to Fire HD 10 plus :)
 

blaacksheep

Senior Member
Jun 20, 2020
1,641
1,034
Buffalo
Question: device is constantly disconnecting when running Tool Box V30.3 Fire HD 8 (7th gen) TB runs for about 10 secs then i get this:View attachment 5820507

Event View doesnt show anything of worth and device isnt on long enought to get logs.

Hi, and welcome to XDA!

Datastream33 (the app's developer) had a possible solution to your problem a few days ago here. It may fix the problem. :)
 

jerryasher

Senior Member
Aug 30, 2010
55
4
I doubt that any of this is caused by any of the standard toolbox features/changes.

My approach to solve the issue would be to first make a backup, then uninstall all the apps you've installed since "toolboxing" your tablet and then try one by one of your wanted apps to see which of them causes issues as described.
Since that might be a rather lengthy process you might just do a factory reset and start over as well.
A good idea is to make a backup right after setting the tablet up originally so you can always just go back to that instead of going through it manually when issues occur.

Also, have you checked your storage? Could it be that almost all available storage is used? In my experience this is what makes devices "sluggish" as you describe it.

Thanks, I think storage is fine overall, I mostly use the tablet for streaming media

+ 6.6 Gb free of 26 Gb in Internal Storage
11 gb "system apps"
8 gb apps

+ 215 Gb free of 251 Gb on it's ext4 formatted sd card

I'll take a backup and go from there. I think it's either an issue with RAM or CPU, but I'll be damned if I know how to figure that out on Android... :(
 

Eiion

Senior Member
Thanks, I think storage is fine overall, I mostly use the tablet for streaming media

+ 6.6 Gb free of 26 Gb in Internal Storage
11 gb "system apps"
8 gb apps

+ 215 Gb free of 251 Gb on it's ext4 formatted sd card

I'll take a backup and go from there. I think it's either an issue with RAM or CPU, but I'll be damned if I know how to figure that out on Android... :(
You can check the play store, there's several system information apps giving you a bit more information. I cannot recommend a specific one though.

So you have the 32GB version? With 6.6GB still free I doubt it's the storage as originally suspected.
I'm pretty sure it's one of the apps rather than the hardware - though of course it could be either theoretically. You could start with those apps that you've last updated - or do as described as before. Good luck.
 

Jumbo100

Senior Member
Jul 21, 2022
470
362
I took the risk, enabled the Amazon App store and updated the Netflix app before disabling the Amazon App again. That indeed did the trick - now it's working. 🎉😊
Glad you got Netflix up and running ... many folks wouldn't have the patience to endure the process.

As a "housekeeping" matter, uninstall the Google version of the app (if you haven't already done so) to avoid any future "update clash". Similarly, check your Play Store inventory; if there's a residual listing for Netflix, make sure the auto-update is disabled.
 
Last edited:

Eiion

Senior Member
Glad you got Netflix up and running ... many folks wouldn't have the patience to endure the process.

As a "housekeeping" matter, uninstall the Google version of the app (if you haven't already done so) to avoid any future "update clash". Similarly, check your Play Store inventory; if there's a residual listing for Netflix, make sure the auto-update is disabled.
The play store version was never installed. As mentioned before, I was always using the version you can install with toolbox. It's just that that version was outdated (see Datastreams comment about that above).
 

Top Liked Posts

  • 1
    Hi all,

    Since I never updated my OS (HD10, 7.3.1.9) I still have the best version of toolbox running. I've been getting a lot of update notices recently for gmail, drive, bitwarden, etc. I assume there will be a point at which the apps no longer work with my current software version but until then is it best to update them or adopt an if it's not broken approach?
    Thanks
    John
    1
    Thanks :)


    WIN:

    OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
    Version 10.0.19044 Build 19044


    TAB:
    -----------------------------------------
    Device: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017)
    Codename: suez
    FireOS Version: 5.7.0.0 (659662020)
    Android Version: 5.1.1
    Security Patch: 2019-07-01
    Chipset: MT8173


    • Things that MIGHT be different:
    • I had to glitch this tab via the ground point to write custom recovery
    • TWRP v3.6.1_9-2
    • Stock rom with no ROOT, not sure if that matters for user creation.


    View attachment 5874275

    Can't create a user AT ALL, so ADB on new users I don't have is a non-issue lol.

    As you can see here I can enter the username but the button I would used to create the user is black, and inactive (unclickable) so no new users.



    I am using the "send text" field maybe this video will make it more clear?

    View attachment 5874295


    All I can figure is that it's an encoding issue/ and illegal charters with sending "&" over ADB. Kind like how "?" can't be in file names on NTFS file systems, or you can't have spaces in folder directories (then must be wrapped in "" quotes) when running commands or bat scripts via command prompts. Or how Spaces in URLS must be encoded as "%20". I figure it's just an ADB idiosyncrasy, but maybe there is some wrapper method to avoid it?

    I am able to just type in the & symbols manually, or use scrcpy so it's a total non-issue, but I figure if it can be fixed without much fuss might as well fix it 🤷

    ---
    And just to pre-emt any discussion on the subject I am 1000% certain scrcpy is not creating a conflict/causing/contributing to the issue, because up until writing this post I had never installed it, downloaded it, or used it, on ANY system. So it was not, and has not, been present since the issue started.

    So I was having the issues I am having now, BEOFRE scrcpy was present on any system I have ever used this tablet on :)
    ---


    > driver issues ... versions of ADB
    Doubt. IIRC, This has been an issue across multiple windows installs. I'm building a new machine again soon so I'll see if I am misremembering, I'll try again after a re-install.

    That said just out of due diligence I grabbed a fresh set of ADB drivers from Google, and tried those. Same result from ADB keyboard and the "&" symbol. Same result for creating users.

    Out of curiosity is there:
    • Stock rom with no ROOT, not sure if that matters for user creation.
    • A preferred method of removing ADB drivers and cleaning up?
    • A preferred set of ADB drivers for this Tablet, or range of devices?

    > a wild guess.
    Valid. I'm guessing it's NOT driver issues though since all the other ADB commands sent to the Fire TAB are doing their job and functioning correctly. I have seen stranger thing happen so i would not be at all surprised if this was inexplicably an issue :/
    Greetings!

    As far as ADB Input is concerned, I don't think the tool is properly escaping special characters (such as "&"). I managed to fix this in the Python port (almost ready for a beta release) but haven't gotten around to fixing it in the windows version. (Planning on fixing a bunch of bugs in the windows version after the beta Python build is released)

    I cant say if this will work or not, but try placing a \ before the & symbol, so:
    & becomes \&. That might escape it and allow it to be typed?

    If I recall, FireOS 5 doesn't really allow additional users to be added and complains about "users cannot be added in production build" or something like that. You could try manually adding a user and see if that works. Just drop the following command in an ADB Shell:
    Code:
    pm create-user <USERNAME>
    1
    Greetings!

    You should be OK to update the apps via the Play Store. However, be sure to avoid updating any Amazon related system apps (ex: Amazon Alexa, Amazon Kindle, Prime Video, etc.). If updated, the apps will start crashing, so proceed with caution. :D
    Will do. Thanks for the information!
  • 3
    Amazon just sent another refurbished Fire HD10 (2021, 11th Gen) as replacement under warranty.

    Surprise ! ... FireOS 7.3.2.1 ... the "oldies" are still out there ! 😀
    2
    The exact headache I had. One day everything disappeared, my initial worry that it some how updated was proven false obviously, tried the SD In Linux and not recognised.. Tried on my phone.. Nothing.. Only option given on the amazon tablet was to format again.

    So I chose internal storage again.. This time making sure my important apps are on internal hehe

    (perhaps if would have shown on gparted, however android was the safest route, but I did lose all the apps that we had spent ages setting up. Doh!)
    I should have mentioned that it was FireOS v7.3.1.2 on my tablet. I thought about FireOS v8.x.x.x later. They have been changing how Android deals with storage between Android 9 and later. (FiteOS 7 being based on Android 9).(y)
    2
    Warning to those who have SD card formatted as internal storage (instead of portable storage)
    Move playstore and its dependencies back to internal storage, else you lose it should your SD card become corrupt. Also worthwhile making sure your default launcher is also on Internal


    You can see which apps are on the SD card by going to
    Settings > Storage > SD Card and selecting “Apps.”
    Select the following apps one by one
    1. play store
    2. play services
    3. Google account manager
    4. Google services framework
    Select “Change,” and select “Internal Storage.”


    WARNING : The above is confirmed correct for FireOS 8.3.1.3
    However, older versions may not be able to differentiate your SD card from internal storage, once you go down the adoptable route.
    2
    I just went through this the other day because my 512GB SD card set as adoptable storage was suddenly corrupted. I pulled it and ran a couple utilities on my Linux computer but was not able to repair it. I ended up formatting and testing it again. It passed, so I threw it back in and adopted it again. It took me most of a day to refill the data and reload the software.

    Having read the above post, I thought "Great Idea"! The problem is that the card is displayed as just a bigger built in storage space when adopted, and not as a separate drive. It's treated this way too. There is no differentiation between the SD card and internal storage once adopted so there is no way to move the data between card and internal storage as they're both treated as the same place. :(

    I just thought I'd mention this before someone tries and fails at this. I think this is only possible in "portable storage" mode of the SD card.

    "Old habits die hard"

    For decades on all my computing devices, I've always tried to separate OS/apps from data using physical "drives" , or at least different drive partitions.

    Would this "best practice" still apply to modern Fire tablets ... or am I just getting old? ☹️
    2
    A 10.1" inch Linux tablet @ Fire HD10 price points !?


  • 354


    Fire Toolbox V30.2
    All-In-One Toolbox for Fire Tablets!





    Introduction.png


    The Fire Toolbox is a collection of useful ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tweaks that can be applied to Amazon's Fire Tablets. The Toolbox project aims to help users fully customize and unlock the full potential of their tablets by putting all the power into their hands.
    The Toolbox doesn't touch the system partition meaning all changes made can be reversed either through the tools/subtools themselves or through a factory reset. This means the Toolbox does NOT void your warranty.

    Compatibility.png


    IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FIREOS 7.3.2.2+ AND THE TOOLBOX (PLEASE READ)

    If your tablet is running FireOS 7.3.2.2 or above please note that some functions of the Toolbox may not work due to new restrictions in the new firmware. The following tools either do not work or have limited functionality:

    • OTA Updates - OTAs can no longer be disabled.
    • Manage Amazon Apps - Some system apps can no longer be disabled.

    We're looking into workarounds to the issues detailed above. Please keep an eye on the forum for further development.

    Device Name:
    Generation:
    Amazon Fire 7 (2022)
    12​
    Amazon Fire 10/10+ (2021)
    11​
    Amazon Fire 8/8+ (2020)
    10​
    Amazon Fire 10 (2019)
    9​
    Amazon Fire 7 (2019)
    9​
    Amazon Fire 8 (2018)
    8​
    Amazon Fire 10 (2017)
    7​
    Amazon Fire 8 (2017)
    7​
    Amazon Fire 7 (2017)
    7​
    Amazon Fire HD8 (2016)
    6​
    Amazon Fire HD10 (2015)
    5​
    Amazon Fire HD8 (2015)
    5​
    Amazon Fire HD7 (2015)
    5​
    Amazon Fire HD7 (2014)
    4​
    Amazon Fire HD6 (2014)
    4​

    In this forum, you may hear the word "generation" being used when talking about Fire Tablets. Just know that "generation" effectively means the same as "what year was the tablet manufactured?". This may seem confusing and as a result a reference table has been provided for you below.

    screenshot-2020-12-15-174539-jpg.5158661


    GettingStarted.png


    Getting the Toolbox up and running with your tablet is surprisingly a very easy procedure. The only thing required is for you to enable Developer Options and ADB on your tablet. So, without further ado, let's get started.

    At this point, please read the section below, and make sure to follow the correct guide that is made for your tablet on how to set up the device so it works with the Toolbox.

    FIRE HD 7, 8, 10 (2018 - 2022) Guide:
    Before purchasing the tablet:
    • Make sure you uncheck the "Link device to your Amazon account to simplify setup" box before Adding to Cart. (See this screenshot, credits go to @ancientrael)

      if the box remains checked, your tablet will automatically update to the latest version of FireOS the second it auto-connects to your wifi.
    Booting the tablet for the first time:
    • Wait for your tablet to fully boot up for the first time (may take a few seconds to minutes).
    • When it boots, it will ask you for the language you'd like the OS to use. Select your prefered language.
    • Tapping the blue arrow at the bottom of the screen, you'll be asked to connect to a WIFI network.
    • Select ANY network from the list (even if you don't know the password).
    • Once it asks for the password, tap the "Cancel" button and it will take you to the previous screen with the Wifi networks.
    • At the bottom of the screen, you should now see a "Skip Setup" button, go ahead and tap that.
    • It will now ask if you're sure you want to skip fire setup. Just tap "Skip" once more.
    • You should immeditely be thrown into Fire Launcher. You're now ready to enable USB/ADB Debugging.
    Enabling USB Debugging:
    • Turn on your tablet and go to Settings > Device Options > About Fire Tablet and tap on the Serial Number until you unlock Developer Options.
    • Press the back button and find the new Developer Options and toggle it on.
    • Scroll down till you find USB Debugging and enable it.
    Setting up the drivers:
    If you are on Windows 10 or Windows 11 you do NOT need to following this guide because Windows will setup the needed drivers by default automatically. All you need to do is plug your tablet in and Windows will take care of the rest. Please wait until these drivers are fully installed before laucnhing the Toolbox for the first time.
    • Download the latest version of the Toolbox from the Downloads section of this page and install it onto your PC.
    • Plug your tablet into the computer, and Windows will start installing the MTP drivers. It will also attempt to install the ADB driver but will fail. (This is normal and to be expected)
    • Launch the Toolbox, and it should detect your Windows version and inform you that further driver setup is required. It will then ask you if you'd like the Toolbox to download and install the drivers.
    • Click the "Yes" button, wait for the download to finish and follow the driver setup. If this for some reason doesn't work, please follow this guide to manually install the drivers.
    • At this point, If drivers are setup properly... the Toolbox will inform you that the "device isn't authorized. Please authorize your device now."
    • On your tablet, you should see a new prompt asking if you want to Allow USB Debugging and should show the computer's RSA key fingerprint. Tick the box that says "Always allow from the computer" and hit ok.
    That's it, the Toolbox should recognize your tablet and will take you to the main menu. Enjoy!

    FIRE HD 6, 7, 8, 10 (2014 - 2017) Guide:
    Before purchasing the tablet:
    • Make sure you uncheck the "Link device to your Amazon account to simplify setup" box before Adding to Cart. (See this screenshot, credits go to @ancientrael)

      if the box remains checked, your tablet will automatically update to the latest version of FireOS the second it auto-connects to your wifi.
    Booting the tablet for the first time:
    • Wait for your tablet to fully boot up for the first time (may take a few seconds to minutes).
    • When it boots, it will ask you for the language you'd like the OS to use. Select your prefered language.
    • Tapping the blue arrow at the bottom of the screen, you'll be asked to connect to a WIFI network.
    • Select ANY network from the list (even if you don't know the password).
    • Once it asks for the password, tap the "Cancel" button and it will take you to the previous screen with the Wifi networks.
    • At the bottom of the screen, you should now see a "Skip Setup" button, go ahead and tap that.
    • It will now ask if you're sure you want to skip fire setup. Just tap "Skip" once more.
    • You should immeditely be thrown into Fire Launcher. You're now ready to enable ADB Debugging.
    Enabling ADB Debugging:
    • Turn on your tablet and go to Settings > Device Options and tap on the Serial Number until you unlock Developer Options.
    • Find the new Developer Options and toggle it on.
    • Scroll down till you find ADB Debugging and enable it.
    Setting up the drivers:
    If you are on Windows 10 or Windows 11 you do NOT need to following this guide because Windows will setup the needed drivers by default automatically. All you need to do is plug your tablet in and Windows will take care of the rest. Please wait until these drivers are fully installed before laucnhing the Toolbox for the first time.
    • Download the latest version of the Toolbox from the Downloads section of this page and install it onto your PC.
    • Plug your tablet into the computer, and Windows will start installing the MTP drivers. It will also attempt to install the ADB driver but will fail. (This is normal and to be expected)
    • Launch the Toolbox, and it should detect your Windows version and inform you that further driver setup is required. It will then ask you if you'd like the Toolbox to download and install the drivers.
    • Click the "Yes" button, wait for the download to finish and follow the driver setup. If this for some reason doesn't work, please follow this guide to manually install the drivers.
    • At this point, If drivers are setup properly... the Toolbox will inform you that the "device isn't authorized. Please authorize your device now."
    • On your tablet, you should see a new prompt asking if you want to Allow USB Debugging and should show the computer's RSA key fingerprint. Tick the box that says "Always allow from the computer" and hit ok.
    That's it, the Toolbox should recognize your tablet and will take you to the main menu. Enjoy!

    ToolsSubtools.png


    • ADB Shell - Spawn a Unix shell that can be used to communicate with the device and execute commands.
    • Custom Launcher - Replace Fire Launcher with a custom launcher.
    • Enable Widget Support - Enable widgets on supported launchers.
    • Custom Sounds - Set custom sounds for notifications, lock/unlock events, low battery, and more!
    • Density Modifier - Change the value of pixels per inch to either decrease or increase resolution.
    • Restore Default Density - Restore the factory default density.
    • Google Assistant - Replace Amazon Alexa with Google Assistant.
    • Google Services - Install Google Services and the Play Store.
    • Google Services (Manage)
    • Add/Remove Google Accounts
    • Clear Data/Cache for Play Services
    • Uninstall Play Services
    • Hybrid Apps - Sideload Amazon Appstore apps without having the Appstore enabled.
    • Keyboard and Input - Manage other input methods and install custom keyboards.
    • Lockscreen Wallpaper - Replace the lockscreen's wallpaper with a custom one.
    • Manage Amazon Apps - Manage the Amazon apps installed on your tablet.
    • Hide/disable Amazon Apps - Hide and Disable Amazon apps through presets or manually select apps.
    • Restore Amazon Apps - Completely restore every Amazon app or manually select apps to restore.
    • Modify System Settings -
    • Power Options - Reboot, shutdown, reboot into recovery, or reboot the tablet into bootloader mode.
    • Parental Controls Hide - Installs a service that auto-dismisses messages from Parental Controls.
    • Privacy Controls - Disable telemetry collection of app usage data, interest based ads, etc.
    • Push and Pull
    • Push - Transfer files from your computer to your tablet.
    • Pull - Retrieve files from your tablet and transfer them to your computer.
    • Remove Lockscreen Ads - Remove ads from the lockscreen.
    • Screen Capturing - Record the device's screen, or capture a screenshot.
    • Sideload Apps - Install APKs from sources outside of the Amazon Appstore.
    • System Backup
    • Backup - Create a backup of the current system configuration.
    • Restore - Restore system configuration from a previously created backup.
    • User Management (8th gen and above)
    • Create a User - Create a new user.
    • Delete a User - Delete a toolbox created user.
    • Switch Users - Switch the current user to a different Toolbox created user.
    • YouTube Clients - Install third-party Youtube clients.

    Downloads.png


    Toolbox:
    Version
    Installer (.exe)
    Portable (.zip)
    Update Post
    VirusTotal
    V30.2​
    Post​
    Link​


    Other Downloads:
    Resource
    Resource Link
    Applicable Tools
    Custom Navigation Bar Icons​
    Navigation Bar Modifier​
    Toolbox Changelogs​
    N/A​

    Version
    Installer (.exe)
    Portable (.zip)
    Update Post
    VirusTotal
    V30.1​
    Post​
    Link​
    V30.0​
    Post
    Link
    V29.0​
    Post
    Link
    V28.9​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V27.0​
    Post
    Link
    V26.1​
    Post
    Link
    V25.2​
    Post
    Link​
    V24.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    *Halloween Edition​
    Download​
    Link​
    V23.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V22.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V21.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V20.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V19.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V18.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V17.0​
    Download​
    Post
    Link
    V16.0​
    Post​
    Link
    v15.0​
    Post​
    Link
    V13.0​
    Post​
    Link​
    V12.0​
    Post​
    Link​
    V11.1​
    Post​
    Link​
    V11.0​
    Post​
    Link​
    V10.2​
    Post​
    Link​
    V10.1​
    Post​
    Link​
    V10.0​
    Post​
    Link​
    V9.2​
    Post​
    Link​
    V9.1​
    Post​
    Link
    V9.0​
    Post​
    Link​
    V8.2​
    Post​
    Link
    V8.1​
    Post​
    Link​
    V7.2.1​
    Download​
    Post​
    Link
    V7.1​
    Post​
    Link
    V7.0​
    Post​
    Link
    V6.56​
    Post​
    Link
    V6.55​
    Post​
    Link
    V6.54​
    Download​
    Post​
    Link​
    Donate.png

    If you like my work and would like to support me feel free to Donate. Thank you!
    69
    FAQ.png

    How can I run the Toolbox on Linux?
    The Toolbox is currently being developed for Linux systems in the Python programming language. If you'd like to see the progress of the port, you can do so at this link.
    Please be patient with me as the Linux port is being developed in my spare time and may take some time to complete. However, as the port progresses some builds will be released to those who'd like to help test alpha builds. More information on this later down the line.
    However, at the moment, the best way to run the Toolbox on Linux is to use VMWare and emulate Windows.

    My Home Button isn't working after using the Custom Launcher Tool?
    Due to the way the process works, it alters your navigation bar's home key to send a key event that can be picked up by Automate. Once Automate reads this event, it launches your custom launcher automatically.
    However, if the flow in Automate isn't running, the navbar key will not work, and nothing will happen when it's tapped. To fix this, either open Automate and start the "Launcher Invoker" flow again, or execute the Custom Launcher tool in the Toolbox, click the ":" icon (upper-right) to show the Tool Options panel, and click the "Restore Navigation Bar" button to restore the stock layout.

    Google Family Link won't work on my tablet?
    Unfortuently, no matter how hard we try, we still haven't been able to get Family Link to work correctly on the tablets. The Family Link app fails to install, and the Child account refuses to login. No matter what we tried, we couldn't get a Child account to work on the tablets.
    We believe this has to do with missing dependecies, and the tablets not being certified through Google's Play Protect platform. We're still activly looking into getting the issue resolved. Until then, it's recommended that you use an alternative such as Amazon's FreeTime, Eyezy, or another third-party family managing software.

    How can I remove a Google Account from my tablet?
    Because of the missing accounts section in the Settings app it will be a little more difficult to remove Google Accounts directly from the tablet. The easiest way that I've found is to visit this page: https://myaccount.google.com/security, sign-in to your Google Account, scroll down to "Your Devices" and click the "Manage devices" button. From the list of devices find your tablet and in the upper right-corner click the 3-dot icon and from the list select "Sign out".

    Can the Toolbox be used to root my tablet?
    Primarly, rooting a Fire Tablet requires the user to open the back of the device and short out a certain point on the motherboard. The Toolbox has been designed for folks who'd rather not bark down this alley. It uses the power of ADB to make changes, and is meant to be an alternative to rooting. In summery, the Toolbox isn't designed to root.

    The Toolbox is being marked as a virus?
    This is likely because the Toolbox (and it's installer) aren't signed with a software license. This freaks Windows out because it sees that there is no publisher, and as a result it displays a warning (smartscreen). In addition, some anti-viruses might also flag the Toolbox as a virus simply because the build is relatively new and there is no record of it in the anti-viruses database, resulting in a false positve.
    As always, I take your security and privacy VERY seriously! If you do not feel safe with installing the Toolbox due to virus concerns, I respect and support your decision. It is always up to the user and their judgment! :D
    32
    I'd also like to take the time to acknowledge today as a very special day for this project! Today marks the 3RD YEAR anniversary of the project!!! 😄 🎉🎉

    It seems like only yesterday, that the first version of the Toolbox was released! It's just crazy to think that it all started in 2019, as a very simple batch file program designed solemnly to remove lock screen ads, and has grown into what it is today! If you're interested in what started it all, I'd highly recommend checking out this post. It dives a little more into the Toolbox's background and it's beginnings!

    I just wanted to THANK YOU all from the bottom of my heart for making the last 3 years so memorable! If it wasn't for the amazing support and this wonderful community, the project would've died a long time ago! You guys are the fuel that feeds the Toolbox's development!

    Through this project, I've gotten to meet some wonderful people that I'd consider to be good friends:
    @Davy49, @Tailborn, @Falcon342, @blaacksheep, and of course you (the one reading this)!

    So, where does the Toolbox go from here? Well, I suppose the next step would be to bring the Toolbox to more platforms! Currently, the Toolbox is being ported to other platforms using the Python programming language, and PySimpleGUI. I've also been asked if the Toolbox Python port will ever become open-source, and I think the answer is most likely yes. Big things are planned for the Toolbox this year, and I hope you'll join me on this journey!

    HERE'S TO THE TOOLBOX'S 3RD YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! 👏:D
    28
    Last edited 9-30-2022

    A lot has changed since I first posted this. Toolbox has been updated to v29.0 and now has a new method of replacing the Fire Launcher, DNS66 is only a delaying tactic and doesn't stop updates in all cases, and the Lockscreen Ad removal process in the old FTB v9.2 still works to remove the ads. I leave the post up, but understand that it's just for reference as a starting point for you to explore these things.


    What to do about F/W v. 7.3.2.2

    So your Fire tablet has the latest firmware update on it (v7.3.2.2) and Fire Toolbox won't do what it's supposed to. All is not lost. I've collected some workarounds that will keep Amazon at bay. The three main problems are:

    1) You can't stop Automatic updates.

    2) You can't get rid of the lockscreen ads.

    3) You hate the Amazon Launcher, but Amazon won't let you change it permanently.


    Once those three problems are addressed, you pretty much have your tablet back. The Toolbox will still work for all the other things you want modify. First, get your tablet set up with Toolbox, install Google Services, and install the launcher you want. (Make sure to select "Enable Widget Support".) We'll take care of the Amazon Launcher later. So let's get started with the 3 main problems.

    1) Automatic updates.

    This method is far from perfect and has sometimes allowed updates to somehow slip by. The only other way to do this that I know is to use an app blocking firewall and block the update apps. I chose this method because it doesn't require a 'training period' to train the app on what to block and what to let through. Also, if you've already got lockscreen ads in your tablet's cache, this will not remove them. This method must be in place before you first connect to WiFi for the lockscreen ad blocking to work.

    We need to stop the tablet from contacting Amazon to update it's firmware. We can no longer disable the service that does this, BUT, we can interfere with it's ability to contact the server from which it gets its updates. On a computer, we would modify the hosts file and block the addresses of the update servers. On an Android device, we need root access to do that, but there is an alternate way of adding things to the hosts file - with a VPN. We'll use a free and open source ad blocking VPN app to do this. The app is called DNS66 and it's available through F-Droid. You need to make sure this is always running to be protected from updates. Luckily, android has a feature to assist us in this. It's called "Always On VPN" and we need another app to access the hidden setting for this. We'll use "Activity Launcher" to get to this setting. Activity Launcher is available from Google's Play Store.

    It turns out that using Activity Launcher to change this hidden setting does nothing more than give you an extra notification that your VPN is off. It doesn't stop traffic, so it's useless. Besides, my tablet has taken to turning the "Always On VPN" setting back off every time I boot. (Thanks Amazon!) Activity Launcher is still useful for finding settings that Amazon doesn't see fit to include. It also makes desktop shortcuts to those settings if you wish.

    Download DNS66 to your computer from f-droid.org or from the attached file, copy it to your tablet and install it. Also go to the Play Store and install Activity Launcher. Finally, get the Amzn_Blcklist.txt that's attached to this post and copy that to your tablet. The blocklist file must remain on your tablet, so put it somewhere where it won't get deleted. I suggest in the root of your internal storage. (/storage/emulated/0)

    Open DNS66. There are a couple settings that must be changed. On the Start tab, turn on "Watch Connection". (All 3 switches should now be on.)
    DNS66-start.jpg

    Now go to the Hosts tab. Tap the "+" in the lower-right. Under Title, type "Amazon Blocklist". Tap the paper clip on the next line. Navigate to the Amzn_Blocklist.txt file you downloaded earlier and select it. Now tap "Done" in the upper-right. You should now have the first and last entry on the displayed list selected.
    dns66-hosts.jpg

    Now go to the Apps tab. Turn on "Show System Apps". Tap the gear under the Show System Apps switch and select "No Apps". All the switches below that should now be off.
    dns66-apps.jpg

    You can optionally set your own DNS servers on the next screen if you'd like. I like to turn on Custom DNS Servers, deselect the German ones that are pre-selected, and then turn on the last two servers (CloudFlare).
    dns66-dns.jpg

    This can also be done with Toolbox making this step unnecessary. Now go back to the Start tab. Tap "Start". It will notify you that it wants to connect to a VPN. Tap Yes or OK and allow it.

    Quick note: Do not use the Toolbox DNS changer in Modify System Settings AND the DNS66 Custom DNS setting together. This will cause connectivity to fail. I use DNS66 and not Toolbox's DNS changer. Having the Custom DNS Servers set ins DNS66, and using the Toolbox DNS changer simultaneously caused me hours of grief trying to figure out why Google couldn't connect!

    Now Launch Activity Launcher. Tap the magnifying glass in the upper-right. Enter "VPN". One setting should appear called "VPN". Tap it. Tap the gear on the end of the DNS66 line. Turn on Always-on VPN. Turning on the other switch makes Google Services think you are disconnected, so leave that one off. Step one accomplished.

    actlaunch-vpn.jpg


    Notes:

    DNS66 takes several seconds before it gets started when you first boot, so it is possible that the tablet will make a DNS query for the update server or the lockscreen ad server before it loads. Best practice is to turn off WiFi before you power down or reboot.

    ----------



    2) Lockscreen Ads.


    Toolbox v29.0 now takes care of lockscreen ads!


    It turns out, that blocking those update servers also blocks your tablet from getting any lockscreen
    ads! No further action is needed. I stopped investigating this because I chose to disable the lockscreen completely. If you want to do that, you can do it in Toolbox, or in Activity Launcher that you just installed. Launch Activity Launcher. Tap the magnifying glass. Type in "screenlock". Now tap the last item (.password.ScreenLockSuggestionActivity). Select None and you're done.



    Notes:

    It has come to my attention that when disabling your PIN, it may still ask you for a PIN by Parental Controls for some settings or activities. I would suggest if you're going to disable your PIN, to first set it to something simple like 0000, reboot it, and then disable the PIN. That way you'll know what PIN you set if it suddenly asks you next month for your PIN.

    Another way to disable lockscreen ads is detailed Here.

    ----------



    3) Amazon Launcher.


    New: Toolbox v29 has remediated most of the difficulties in replacing the launcher. Always check that you have the latest version of Toolbox. I'll leave the rest of the post up to inspire ideas.


    The latest version of Toolbox (v 28.1) has a new tool called 'Custom Navbar Key'. This method uses Automate to automatically replace the Home button every time you reboot. It works rather nicely. I leave this section posted for completeness and to facilitate experimentation on other choices.

    The way we're going to get rid of the Amazon Launcher is by not calling it! We're going to replace the Home button with another button that we can map to any launcher we'd like. This isn't a perfect solution, but it is FREE. If you're willing to spend a couple bucks, you can purchase a more configurable gesture navigation app with more features, but this is FREE, so maybe you can accept it's shortcomings. I'll keep this post updated with other navbar replacements that people suggest.

    Go to the Play Store. Get and install "One Button Navigation". Launch it. It will want you to turn on Accessability Service for it. Follow the on-screen instructions and turn on "One Button Navigation Bar". You'll see your new nav button at the bottom of the screen. I like to adjust the width down to a dot, like the button it's replacing, but that's up to you. I also like to make the background black and the botton bright yellow so that I'm reminded it's running. Set up the background and button colors as you like them. Yeah, I know the ads in this are obtrusive, but you'll never see them once it's set up. Also DNS66 will block the ads if you install that first.
    obn-set.jpg

    Next tap the Action tab. Tap "Single Click". Scroll down and select "Launch Application...". Select the launcher that you installed with Toolbox here. In my case, it was Nova 7. (Google updated the Nova version that Toolbox installed.) Now you can set any other actions you'd like for the new button.
    obn-act.jpg

    I didn't want anything additional, so I made the gestures similar to the original buttons. This is all up to you. You can reverse them or set additional functionality to the button. I ended up with a new navbar that covers the original navbar (the one with the home button that brings up the Amazon Launcher). I now have a button that when pressed, takes me to my launcher. When I swipe it left, it goes back a screen. When I swipe it right, it shows the recents. I spent a lot of time with other navbar replacements and this is the minimalist replacement that works best for me. YMMV. Before someone complains that it doesn't work in landscape mode, I'm not the developer. You should rate it and leave a comment for him! This is the best I could find that does what I want for FREE.

    ----------



    I'll edit this post with your suggestions for better solutions to these problems and keep a list of navbar replacements that people suggest at the end so you can find what works best for you.


    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Some Suggested Navigation Bar replacements:
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    One Button Navigation Bar by Nu-Kob (PlayStore)

    Pie Control by coolAce (PlayStore)

    Simple Control by coolAce (PlayStore)



    DNS66 is available from F-Droid.org (dated March 26, 2021)
    Activity Launcher is available from APKMirror.com (dated March 21,2022)
    21
    What's going on, guys?

    I sincerely hope everyone is doing good, and having a wonderful December so far!

    Today marks the release of V26.0 of the Toolbox! So, without further ado... let's take a look at what this release has to offer!

    Welcome, Welcome, Welcome... Screen!​

    You know, every time I run a build for the first time I go through the Theme Selector, then the Tour, and then the Welcome Screen. I just think to myself "this is just a mess" - so in this update I thought I'd focus on improving it and making it better. I started by re-designing the Welcome Screen and doing my best to link all three tools into something that looked visually appealing. Now, in a tabbed interface you'll find the Setup Tour in the very first tab, Theme Selection (with a new UI) in the second, Installation Management in the third, and finally in the fourth the Changelog.

    Now let's talk specifically about the Installation Management tool. This bad boy now has the ability to read installations from directories other than the default (localappdata\Datastream). So, if you've got your installations in a custom location, and you'd like to manage them, it's now possible to point the path to that location. This should help make managing installations a lot easier!

    Custom Launchers on FireOS 7.3.2.2​

    As some of you may know, I bit the bullet and updated my tablet to the latest version of FireOS... to the dreaded 7.3.2.2. This update, from what I heard, caused the Custom Launcher and disabling OTAs tools to no longer function and after updating, I soon discovered that it was indeed the case. I then tried everything I could think and well really didn't turn up any valuable workarounds... until I tried the method we'd been using on older gen devices... and it worked! Of course, just like on the older gens, it has the drawback of being removed every time the device is rebooted. However, it's the only method I could find, so it's better than nothing, right?

    Anyway, while coding it in I decided to take the liberty of also clean up the code, and the UI a bit. What's cool is the tool will now read what generation your tablet is, and display what methods are available to use. You'll also find that the initial method selection UI is a lot more usable compared to its previous iteration.

    Change the Timeout for the Display?​

    Ah, the latest addition to the General group in the Modify System Settings tool. This subtool not only allows you to alter the timeout to traditional values, but also allows you to set a custom timeout. Want your screen to sleep after 24 hours of inactivity? This one's for you folks who want to extend the timeout as much as you can. Just be careful, it may cause a burn-in if your tablet's screen remains on the same screen for too long!

    Let's Talk Linux Port Stuff​

    I guess the point of this section is to ask you guys if you're ok with updates to the VB version being slowed down, so I can focus more on the port? I'd also like to address a common question I get asked about it being open-source. Right now, I'm planning on it being closed-source for now. However, I am planning on making it open-source when I feel like the time is right. Please be patient! So, let's get back to the original question... are you guy's ok if I shift primary focus to the port?


    Wait, that's not everything! If you're interested in everything that's changed... please take a look at the changelog below:
    Version 26.0 - Changelog

    [Welcome Screen]
    • Updated the user interface.
    • Added better installation detection to the Installation Management subtool.
    • You can now specify what directory the Installation Management subtool will scan to detect installations.
    • Improved the look of the Theme Selector.
    • Fixed a bug causing the Startup Tour to not load tools correctly.
    [Device Information]
    • Fixed chipset information not displaying for some tablets due to a renamed string in getprop.
    [Theme Selector]
    • Moved the Theme Selector to the Welcome Screen.
    [Custom Launcher]
    • Improved the UI.
    • Made significant improvements to the code, and fixed various bugs/issues.
    • Added Re-route Homekey option for tablets running FireOS 7.3.2.2+.
    [Modify System Settings]
    • Added the ability to change the "Display Timeout" to the General tab.
    • You can now set a custom Display Timeout of up to 24 hours.
    [Lockscreen Management]
    • Improved the warning regarding the Pattern security type.
    [Hybrid Apps]
    • Updated Disney+, and Netflix to the latest versions.
    [Manage Amazon Apps]
    • When restoring from a debloat list, it now displays the proper header and message.

    Ready to download V26.0? Head on over to the Download's section of the OP. By the way, because of some directory changes to the bin folder... the update will not show up in the Updater. It must be installed via the Installer or extracted from the Portable release.

    Ok, my favorite part about of these release posts... sharing appreciation for you awesome folks! I just wanted to say I'm so blessed to be a part of the wonderful community over here on XDA. You guys are incredible people and in fact... this is perhaps the one place I've been on that I don't see negativity or people bullying one another. You guys are just AMAZING and I wanted to let you know that I appreciate everyone's support! Furthermore, you guys are what keep this project going, and it wouldn't be where it is today without you guys! So please pat yourself on the back - you deserve it!

    Also, I'd like to place the limelight on my good friends @blaacksheep, and of course @Falcon342. I just can't express how much I appreciate all you've done for this thread! I haven't had the time to get on here because of work and when I come on the forum I see you guys helping out and answering questions. I really do appreciate the time and effort you two have put into being so freaking helpful! However, I've got to be honest, I'm extremely sad because I feel like I'm not doing enough. I'm sure you guys would like a little help (I'm gonna try harder to be more active on here when I can to hopefully help you guys out). Anyway, thank you guys again!! I really do appreciate it!!!!

    Also, don't think I forgot about you donators! I just want to say I'm so honored that you'd donate your hard-earned cash. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it. Guys and gals, THANK YOU so much for donating! I really do appreciate every penny! :D

    This year has flown by and Christmas is right around the corner, so I just wanted to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope you all had a remarkable 2021! Let's hope 2022 is an even better year! 🙏

    Well, that's all I've got for now! Have a good one, guys, and until next time... Peace! ✌️