If you’ve ever owned an Amazon Kindle Fire 8 (Gen 10), you know the struggle - the constant push of Amazon services, the sluggish performance, and the endless bloatware. I bought 2 tablets for my girls a few years ago, mainly to watch youtube kids videos on an international flight.

Amazon doesn’t make it easy either: blocking OTA updates (over-the-air) is impossible now. They’ve locked it down so tight that even advanced users can’t easily stop unwanted updates or reboots that re-enable their bloatware.

The Amazon Fire tablet runs a heavily modified version of Android called Fire OS. Instead of giving you a clean Android experience, Amazon turns your tablet into a billboard for its ecosystem - pushing its own services, apps, and ads at every corner.

From the moment you boot up, your tablet is tied to your Amazon account. Everything, and I mean everything - books, movies, apps, even the search bar - routes through Amazon’s services:

  • Appstore instead of Google Play (with far fewer apps)
  • Amazon Shopping and Prime Video preinstalled and unremovable
  • Alexa integration you can’t fully disable
  • Default web browser: Silk, which prioritizes Amazon links
  • Even the home screen constantly promotes Amazon offers, Prime subscriptions, and shopping suggestions.

Fire OS comes bloated with dozens of apps most people never use:

  • Amazon Music
  • Amazon Photos
  • Audible
  • FreeTime / Kids+
  • Goodreads
  • GameCircle
  • Newsstand
  • Amazon Appstore
  • Weather
  • ….the list goes on and on and on… IMDb, Amazon Games, Alexa Shopping Lists.

You can “disable” some but most can’t be uninstalled through normal settings. They sit there consuming RAM, CPU cycles, and storage, slowing down everything else. Even on a child’s tablet, the lock screen shows Amazon ads for books, movies, and deals. Not something I want my kids to be subjected to.

Behind the scenes, a swarm of Amazon services run continuously:

  • com.amazon.device.software.ota (updates and re-enabling apps)
  • com.amazon.device.settings.sdk.internal.library
  • com.amazon.client.metrics (Amazon’s telemetry and metrics)
  • com.amazon.device.messaging
  • com.amazon.geo.client.maps
  • com.amazon.dcp (device communication platform)
  • and many more

Together they eat RAM and battery, even when the tablet is idle.

However, there’s good news: you can debloat your Fire tablet safely and breathe new life into it.

Meet Fire Toolbox, a Windows app designed specifically for Amazon Fire tablets.

It lets you:

  • Remove Amazon apps and services you’ll never use
  • Install Google Play Services
  • Replace the default Fire Launcher with a clean, fast launcher like Nova.
  • Customize system behavior without rooting

You can download Fire Toolbox from XDA.

The Process: Debloating Step-by-Step

  • Connect your tablet via USB and enable Developer Options → ADB Debugging.
  • Run Fire Toolbox and select “Manage Apps” → “Remove Amazon Apps”.
  • Uninstall all Amazon bloat: Amazon Appstore, Alexa, Photos, Kids+, Shopping, Music, Silk Browser…the list goes on
  • Install Google Play Services using the Toolbox shortcut.
  • Replace Fire Launcher with your preferred launcher, I used Nova to give a better look and feel.
  • I was unable to complete disable OTA updates so I’ll probably have to do all this again at some point.
  • Reboot your tablet.

The Result

After debloating:

  • RAM usage dropped by around 30%
  • The tablet feels snappier, smoother, and more responsive
  • Apps launch faster and battery life improved
  • It looks like an actual android tablet
  • Most importantly: no more Amazon ads or nags

My kids noticed the difference immediately. They can finally use their tablets without being bombarded by Amazon prompts or lag. Simple games and YouTube Kids now run smoothly - ownership feels restored and I don’t need to rush out to buy a new tablet immediately.

Final Thoughts:

Amazon’s aggressive control over its Fire tablets makes it clear: these devices are designed to lock users into their ecosystem but with a bit of work - and Fire Toolbox - you can reclaim your device.

For me, the transformation was worth it. The kids are happy, the tablets are fast, and I’ve learned one thing: Fuck Amazon, I’ll never buy another piece of hardware from them ever again (excluding virtual compute). You own the hardware, but Amazon controls the experience. Never again.