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Forum Discussion
Backdoor/bootleg way to download & install Dropbox on latest Kindle Fire Max 11 tablet?
I have the Dropbox app on my previous tablet, the Fire HD 10. At one time Dropbox was in the Amazon app store (analogous to Google Play store). It's not there any more. The Kindle is an Android device, but Google Play apps can't reliably be installed. I assumed I'd be able to install Dropbox on the newest Fire tablet. Not so.
I spent an hour on the phone this afternoon with an Amazon CSR who ultimately told me that if an app isn't in the Amazon app store, you can't install it. Even though the Dropbox app is in my Amazon app library, I still can't download/install it on the new tablet.
But I wouldn't expect him to know of a secret way to do it, or if he did know, to tell me.
I can log in to Dropbox.com on the Kindle's Silk browser, but when I try to open a "paper," I get a message to download the app. 🙄 Yeah, that's what I'd like to do. I do have a Dropbox Plus paid subscription.
It would be great if I could somehow transfer the app from my older Kindle to the new one.
Can anyone help?
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi there Sasha99 - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
I'm afraid that if your device does not meet the requirements outlined here, there's not an official way to achieve this.
I'll leave this thread open though, in case another user has something additional to suggest.
Let us know if you have anything else to add in the meantime.
The Fire Max 11 tablet runs the Fire OS 8.3.2.7. The Kindle Fire OS version 8.3.2.7 is based on Android 11. Amazon's Fire OS is a modified version of Android with its own customizations and doesn't include Google services by default, though it is generally aligned with the core Android version it's based on. Fire OS 8, specifically, runs on Android 11, bringing some of the features of Android 11 to Fire tablets.
My Fire HD 10 tablet, which does have the Dropbox app installed, runs Kindle Fire OS version 7.3.3.0 is based on Android 9 Pie. Fire OS 7, in general, aligns with Android 9 and includes Amazon’s customizations and app ecosystem but lacks Google services by default.
Does that help? I'm not necessarily looking for an "official" solution.
- Rich
Super User II
Sasha99 wrote:
I'm not necessarily looking for an "official" solution.
You'll be better off doing a Google search on how to sideload apps on a Kindle. Of course, you'll need access to the APK file for Dropbox, which they don't offer for direct download. Maybe you can find it on your HD 10. Be careful if you choose to download it from unofficial sources as it could be compromised.
