How to Install WhatsApp on a Kindle Fire Tablet

Installing WhatsApp or any other messaging app turns your Kindle Fire into a great communication tool. But this involves more actions than you’d expect as the Fire prevents third-party software downloads and installations.

On the bright side, there is an option to override this installation lock and this is something you can do even if you’re not tech-savvy. The following article will guide you through the installation and set-up process, step by step.

Before You Start

The first thing to do is enable “Unknown Sources” to allow for the download and installation. This has been tried and tested on the Kindle Fire HD 7, 8, and 10. That said, it should also work on older Fires running the latest software. Anyway, this is how you enable the feature.

Step 1

Select the Menu icon and enter Fire’s Settings. For newer Fire OS iterations (4.0 or later), tap the Security menu. Those using older software versions need to choose the Applications menu.

Step 2

Swipe down the menu window until you reach Unknown Sources and tap on the option to access it. Once Unknown Sources are enabled, you’ll be able to install third-party apps that don’t appear on the Amazon Store.

Note: Unknown Sources installation block appears on most tablets and smartphones, Android and iOS. This allows the manufacturers to protect the native software from malware.

Installing WhatsApp on the Kindle Fire

To initiate the installation, you need the WhatsApp Apk file. It’s best to get the file from the official app website rather than third-party sources.

Step 1

Go to the WhatsApp website downloads section and get the latest version of the app for Android. Hit the “Download Now” button and wait for a few seconds for the action to complete.

Step 2

A confirmation window might pop up and you’ll need to tap on Download again to confirm. That out of the way, you’ll be asked to open the downloaded file. Of course, you choose Open in the corresponding window.

Step 3

As soon as you open the file, you’ll be taken to the WhatsApp installation window. Select Install and wait for the Fire to work its magic. When the installation is done, you can tap on Open and proceed to set up the app.

Important Notes

WhatsApp works with Android 2.3.3 and later, which makes it compatible with almost all Fire OS iterations. To be precise, Android 2.3 and later versions are used as the base for Fire OS. This means you should be able to install WhatsApp on Amazon Fire HD, Kindle Fire, as well as Fire HDX without any problems.

Setting Up WhatsApp

With WhatsApp setup, the important thing is that the app requires phone number verification. Other than that, the process is pretty straightforward. Here are the necessary steps.

Step 1

Launch WhatsApp, select “Agree and Continue,” then confirm by tapping Continue in the pop-up window.

Step 2

Two more pop-up windows appear asking you to grant access to your Kindle Fire. Tap Allow, so WhatsApp can use your media, photos, files, and contacts. If you deny access to media, photos, and files you can go back to this setting and allow access after the fact.

Step 3

Now, you need to type the phone number and hit OK to confirm your choice. An SMS is sent to you with a verification code, type that code into the designated field and select Next. At this point, you’ve successfully signed in and you can use the app.

Adding Contacts to WhatsApp

Since you’ve allowed WhatsApp access to your contacts, you can chat with anyone who has WhatsApp on their device. If some of the contacts don’t have WhatsApp, you can send an invitation link to that person.

Select the green circle at the bottom right of the WhatsApp Chats window, swipe down the menu, and choose “Invite Friends.” Browse your contacts and tap on the one you’d like to send the invitation to.

When a person isn’t in your contacts, you need to choose New Contact at the top of the contacts list. Again, you’re looking for a green circle and it has a small person icon inside. Type the contact information in the following window and you’re good to go.

Other Messaging Apps on Kindle Fire

Aside from WhatsApp, you can install a few other apps on the Kindle Fire and the method is the same unless the apps are available on Amazon Store. One of the most popular options is Tablet Talk, with Viber following close behind.

Some users prefer to use TextNow, Skype, or textPlus. Social media messengers like Snapchat and the Facebook version are also available. In addition, there’s an option to limit or block usage of these apps if you fear your child might be abusing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of your more frequently asked questions about WhatsApp on the Kindle Fire.

Is WhatsApp in the Amazon App Store for Kindle tablets?

Unfortunately, no. That’s why we must take other measures to install the messaging application. You can use the link to the APK above or use the Silk browser on your Fire tablet to download the app directly from WhatsApp. Do keep in mind you may be unable to download the newest version of the app from WhatsApp depending on the version of Fire tablet you have.

Cha-ching, You’ve Got a Message

Getting WhatsApp on your Kindle Fire is plain sailing and you now know exactly how to do it. The great thing is that almost the same methods apply to different messaging apps.

Do you like using WhatsApp? Is there anything about the app that you find annoying? Give us your two cents in the comments section below.