The Kindle Fire has received rave reviews topping the charts in usability and feature set. One characteristic not widely praised is the limitation of application availability to the Amazon App Store. Though Amazon provides access to many applications, people expect more and are asking for access to the full Android Apps Marketplace. Though direct access to the marketplace is not supported, there are several options available for installation of Android apps.

Prepare the Kindle Fire for Application Installs

Before you can find the perfect Android app and determine the best approach to download and install the files, you must first prepare the e-reader. First, select Settings and go to the Device section. Within this section locate the configuration to allow installation of applications and ensure it is set to “On”.

Use the Fire’s built-in features

Recent updates to the Fire have made it possible to browse the Android Marketplace and view all available apps. However, these files cannot be downloaded or installed from this site as the Kindle is not a recognized Android product. Once you have identified desired apps use the Silk web browser to search for the file from other locations using the file extension “.apk” to return the appropriate files. Download and install from the pull-down bar in the browser once located. As files are not originating from the official Android site you should exercise caution and evaluate the source prior to download. If some files are too difficult to find or you are not comfortable with this approach, find another Android device to assist you.

Tap into another Android device

Another Android device may be just what you need to get all your favorite apps on the Kindle Fire. With your Android phone or Pandigital Novel e-reader access the marketplace directly and download all your favorites. Move the app file you downloaded onto the Fire for installation. There are two options for file transfer without using a computer. The easiest method is to email the file to the Kindle. If this does not work or you want more direct control over the process, use a wireless file exploring app installed on the Fire. These apps are available on the Amazon App Store and allow you to access and manage files on an Android device across the wireless network letting. Browse to the Android device, locate the app file, download to the Kindle using the WiFi connection, and install.