Amazon Fire Tablet Apps Not Installing? Here's the Fix

If you have an Amazon Fire tablet - especially one used by kids - you may have encountered a frustrating issue: you try to download an app or game from the Amazon Appstore, the download appears to complete, but the app never actually installs. The download just seems to disappear into the void.

This is a common problem, and fortunately there's a simple fix that works in most cases.

Why This Happens

Fire tablets cache data from the Amazon Appstore and Silk browser to speed up operations. Over time, this cached data can become corrupted or take up space needed for app installation. When the cache gets into a bad state, downloads may complete but the installation process fails silently.

Common symptoms include:

• Download progress bar completes but app doesn't appear
• Apps stuck in "Installing" state indefinitely
• Download starts over repeatedly
• "Error downloading" messages with no specific details
• App updates failing to install

The Fix: Clear App Cache

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

Step 1: Force Stop and Clear Amazon Appstore Cache

1. Go to Settings on your Fire tablet
2. Tap Apps & Notifications (or just Apps on older versions)
3. Tap Manage All Applications or See all apps
4. Find and tap Amazon Appstore (may also be called "Appstore")
5. Tap Force Stop and confirm
6. Tap Storage
7. Tap Clear Cache
8. Optionally, tap Clear Data if clearing cache alone doesn't work (you'll need to sign in again)

Step 2: Force Stop and Clear Silk Browser Cache

Even if you don't use Silk much, its cache can affect app installations:

1. Go back to the app list in Settings
2. Find and tap Silk Browser
3. Tap Force Stop and confirm
4. Tap Storage
5. Tap Clear Cache

Step 3: Free Up Storage Space

Fire tablets need free space not just for the app itself, but for temporary installation files. Check your available storage:

1. Go to Settings -> Storage
2. Review what's using space
3. Delete unused apps, old downloads, or move content to an SD card if you have one
4. Aim for at least 1-2 GB of free space for smooth app installations

Step 4: Remove and Reinstall the Problem App

If you're trying to update an app that's already installed but the update won't apply:

1. Long-press the app icon on the home screen
2. Tap Uninstall or drag to the trash icon
3. Restart the tablet
4. Try downloading the app fresh from the Appstore

Still Not Working? Try These Additional Steps

Restart Your Fire Tablet

A simple restart clears temporary system issues:

1. Hold the power button for a few seconds
2. Tap Restart (or Power off, then turn back on)
3. Try the download again after reboot

Check Your Internet Connection

A weak or unstable Wi-Fi connection can cause downloads to fail silently:

• Move closer to your router
• Try disconnecting and reconnecting to Wi-Fi
• Restart your router if other devices are also having issues

Check for Fire OS Updates

Outdated system software can cause app installation issues:

1. Go to Settings -> Device Options
2. Tap System Updates
3. If an update is available, install it and restart

Deregister and Re-register Your Amazon Account

As a last resort, you can reset your Amazon account connection:

1. Go to Settings -> My Account
2. Tap Deregister and confirm
3. Restart the tablet
4. Sign back in with your Amazon account

Note: This won't delete your apps, but you may need to re-download some content.

Preventing Future Issues

To keep your Fire tablet running smoothly:

• Keep storage free: Maintain at least 1-2 GB of free space
• Clear cache periodically: Every few months, clear the Appstore cache
• Keep Fire OS updated: Install system updates when available
• Restart occasionally: A weekly restart helps clear temporary issues

For Parents: Kid's Profiles and FreeTime

If you're managing a child's profile through Amazon Kids (formerly FreeTime), app installations work a bit differently. Apps must be approved through the parent dashboard before they appear in the child's library. If an app isn't installing in a kid's profile:

1. Open the Parent Dashboard app or visit parents.amazon.com
2. Select your child's profile
3. Go to Add Content
4. Make sure the app is checked/enabled for that profile

This quick cache-clearing fix works for most Fire tablet app installation issues. If you continue having problems, the tablet may need a factory reset, or there could be a hardware issue with the storage.