DOC: Sideloading Apps

Currently the Tablet program employs three apps that are sideloaded onto the tablets. Sideloading is the common name that identifies the process of manually copying apps to the tablet and installing the app outside of the restrictions of the Amazon or Google app stores.

The following apps are sideloaded onto the tablet.  This means that this particular app is not available in the Amazon App Store and we will copy and install it to the tablet manually.   

  • TFS Student App  
  • Links for Seniors 
  • Solitaire Klondike 

The summary of the process includes transferring  app’s apk files to the tablet, and tapping the apk file to install the app.   

There are two separate methods to complete this process.  The methods are: 

  1. Sideloading files from a Windows Computer 
  1. Download files using the Silk Browser 

The method you choose will depend on the availability of a Windows computer and the number of tablets you are setting up.   

  • If you are setting up more than 3 or 4 tablets, having a Windows computer to sideload is faster and more efficient.   
  • If a Windows computer is not available or if you need to sideload a couple of apps, the Silk browser method will get the job done easily.   

Sideloading File from a Windows Computer 

Here are the specific steps to complete the sideload: 

  1.  Connect the tablet to a Windows computer using the Fire tablet’s standard charging cable.  Plug the charging cable into a USB plug on the computer.  You may receive a message from the tablet about the charging power connection.  
  1. Enable File transfer for this tablet.  This includes the following steps: 
  1. Launch the Settings app. 
  1. Tap Connected Devices 
  1. Scroll down to USB settings and tap File Transfer.
  2. The Windows File Explorer on the Windows computer will launch and the Fire tablet will show as a file host in the drives section of the left panel display   
  1. Using Windows File Explorer, double click on the Fire entry to navigate to the Downloads folder.  This will be the folder where you will copy the app’s apk files. 
  1. Find the APK files on the TechforSeniors OneDrive folder here.  It is recommended that you download the apk files to your Windows laptop in order to alleviate any synchronization challenges when transferring the files to your tablet.  Remember the location where you download to your local drive.  Copy the apk files by dragging to the local windows location.   
  1. From this downloaded location on your Windows computer, using Windows File Explorer, copy the files to the Downloads folder on the tablet using a drag and drop process.  
  1. On the Tablet, launch the Files app.  Using the menu icon (upper left), find and display the Downloads folder.  You should see the apk files in this location.   
  1. On the tablet, tap on an APK file to begin the installation process. 
  1. If prompted, confirm that you want to install the app from an unknown source. 
  1. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.  If NevPrivacy is installed and active, you will see a prompt on whether you wish to lock the app. Important to click Cancel on this prompt.
  1. Tap Continue to install another app.   

You can perform a similar transfer to a Mac computer only by installing to your Mac the Android File Transfer app to your Mac.   

Sideloading Using the Sylk Browser 

To load an APK file from a Windows computer to your Amazon Fire tablet via file transfer, you can follow these steps: 

  1. Enable installation from unknown sources on your Fire tablet: 
  • Go to Settings > Security & Privacy 
  • Toggle on “Apps from Unknown Sources” for your browser app or Files app. 
  1. Using the Silk browser, navigate to the downloads section of the Administors page. .  Here you will find the files for download.   
  1. Tap the individual buttons to download the apk file associated with the apps. Tap Download to confirm.   
  1. Tap Open on the download confirmation screen to start the installation process.  If you miss the Open button on the confirmation screen, you can find the download by tapping the More menu and tapping Downloads.  Tap on the download file to begin installation.   
  1. Tap INSTALL on the lower right to install.  Stay on this screen to watch the installation update.   
  1. Tap DONE to end the installation process.   
  1. On returning to the Silk Browser, repeat the installation process for each of the apps you will sideload.   

Following the Sideload 

Remember that sideloaded apps won’t receive automatic updates through the Amazon Appstore, so you’ll need to manually update them in the future if needed. 

You will find the app icons on the home screen.  Drag the icons to their appropriate Home Screen location per the Tablet Setup guide.