Fire OS

Fire OS is an Android-based operating system developed by Amazon for their hardware devices. Fire OS includes a customized user interface primarily centered on content consumption, and heavy ties to content available from Amazon's storefronts and services.

History

Amazon began referring to the Android derivative as Fire OS with its third iteration of Fire tablets. Unlike previous Fire models, whose operating system was described as "based on" Android, Fire OS 3.0 was described as "compatible with" Android.

Fire OS 5

Based on Android 5.1 "Lollipop", it added an updated interface. The home screen has a traditional application grid and pages for content types, as opposed to the previous carousel interface. It also introduced On Deck, a function that automatically moves content out of offline storage to maintain storage space for new content; the Word Runner speed reading tool; and screen color filters. Parental controls were enhanced with a new web browser for FreeTime mode featuring a curated selection of content appropriate for children, and an Activity Center for monitoring children's usage. It removed support for device encryption, which an Amazon spokesperson stated was an enterprise-oriented feature that was underused. In March 2016, after the removal was publicized and criticized in the wake of the FBI–Apple encryption dispute, Amazon announced it would restore the feature in a future patch.

Fire OS 6

Based on Android 7.1.2 "Nougat", its main changes and additions include:

Adoptable storage, allowing users to format and use their SD card as internal storage
Doze/App standby, aiming to improve battery life by forcing [|devices] to sleep when not actively used, adding restrictions to apps that would normally continue to run background processes
MediaTek exploits (2019)

In early 2019, security exploits for six Fire Tablet models and one Fire TV model were discovered that could allow temporary root access, permanent root access, and bootloader unlocking due to security vulnerabilities in multiple MediaTek chipsets.

Fire OS 7

Based on Android 9 "Pie", it was released in 2019 for all 8th-11th generation Fire tablets.

Fire OS 8

FireOS 8 is the latest release of FireOS for 12th-13th generation Fire tablets, based on Android 11, information about the release became available via Amazon developer documentation around May 2022.
FireOS 8 incorporates changes from Android 10 and Android 11, such as TLS 1.3 support enabled by default, High Efficiency Image File Format support, Dark mode, One-time permissions, Sharing improvements, Device auto backups, etc.
Although it is noted in the Amazon developer documentation that some Android 11 features such as File Based Encryption are not supported yet.
Fire OS will continue to be supported on existing Amazon Fire TV devices and will continue to be used on newer devices.

Fire OS 14

FireOS 14 is based on Android 14. Development information was made available on Amazon developer documentation in 2025.

Features

Fire OS is based on the Android Open Source Project. It does not come with Google mobile services pre-installed; therefore, Amazon cannot use the Android trademarks to market the devices. Users are able to sideload the Google Play store; however, full compatibility is not guaranteed if the app depends on Google services.
Because Google services are not pre-installed, Amazon develops and uses its own apps in their place, some of which include Amazon Appstore, Amazon Alexa, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible, Kindle Store, Silk Browser, Goodreads and Here WeGo.
Fire OS uses a customized home screen. As of Fire OS 7.3.2.3, the launcher features three sections:

"For You" shows the weather, recently used apps, Alexa integration, then shows recommended content such as apps, books movies, etc.
"Home" is the section for the icons of all of the apps currently installed on the device, apps on the Home section can be moved around or put into folders, a search bar is also available at the top of the launcher to search though local content on the device or search online using the Bing search engine.
"Library" shows purchased items from Amazon services, such as apps, books, movies and TV shows from Prime Video, etc.

The OS features a multi-user system, which allows multiple people to set up and use separate user profiles.
Along with Amazon Kids and Amazon Kids+, a suite of parental controls is included which allows parents to create managed child profiles, set limits and set restrictions for minors.

Devices

Current Amazon devices running Fire OS:

Discontinued devices running Fire OS:

Fire Phone
List of Fire OS versions

Fire OS version	Base Android version	Android API level	Devices	Notes
1	2.3.3 Gingerbread	10	Fire	Reported as "Based on Android"
2	4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich	15	Fire HD	Reported as "Based on Android"
3	4.2.2 Jelly Bean	17		Reported as "Compatible with Android"
4	4.4.2 KitKat	19
5	5.1 Lollipop	22	Fire 7
6	7.1.2 Nougat	25		Devices shipped with Fire OS 6 were later upgraded to Fire OS 7 when Amazon abandoned development.
7	9.0 Pie	28
8	11	30		Some Android 11 features such as File Based Encryption are not supported.
14	14	34

Vega OS

In November 2023, a report surfaced of Amazon's plans to migrate away from Android to a custom Linux-based operating system known as Vega OS with plans to launch TVs running Vega in 2024. Amazon was reported to have been developing the operating system since 2017.
On September 30, 2025, Amazon officially announced Vega OS, which will be used on newer Fire TV devices, beginning with the Amazon Fire TV 4K Select. Apps will be HTML5 based, specifically using React Native.