Keeping your apps up-to-date on your Kindle Fire HD is important to get the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. However, the process is not as straightforward as on other platforms like iOS or Android. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to update apps on the Kindle Fire HD.
Check for Available Updates
The first step is to check if there are any available updates for your apps. There are a couple ways to do this:
- Open the Amazon Appstore app on your Kindle Fire. Go to the “Apps” section and tap on “My Apps.” This will show you a list of all the apps installed on your device. Apps that have updates available will show “Update” instead of a price.
- Pull down the top menu bar and tap on “Sync.” This will sync your Kindle Fire HD with the Amazon servers and check for any app updates.
Once you’ve synced your device, you’ll see available app updates start to populate in the Appstore. However, the Amazon Appstore does not automatically update apps in the background like Google Play Store. You will have to manually trigger the updates.
Update Apps Individually
The most straightforward way to update apps is individually within the Amazon Appstore:
- Open the Amazon Appstore app.
- Go to the “Apps” section.
- Tap on “My Apps” to see your installed apps.
- Find the app you want to update and tap on “Update.”
- The update will start downloading. Once complete, you will be prompted to open the updated app. If you tap “Open”, the app will relaunch with the latest updates.
This process needs to be repeated for each app you want to update. It can be tedious to update all your apps this way, but is the most foolproof method.
Update All Apps
Rather than updating each app individually, you can update all apps in bulk:
- Open the Amazon Appstore app.
- Tap on the menu “≡” icon in the top left.
- Select “My Apps.”
- On the “My Apps” screen, tap the “Update All” button.
Tapping “Update All” will queue up all pending app updates on your device. The updates will download and install sequentially. Any apps that require you to open them to complete the update will be noted. You can tap “Open” on those once all downloads are finished.
Enable Auto App Updates
You can also enable automatic app updates in the background going forward. To do this:
- Go to the Amazon Appstore app Settings.
- Turn on “Auto-Update Apps.”
With auto-updates enabled, the Amazon Appstore will automatically download and install app updates quietly in the background, usually over WiFi. You don’t have to manually trigger each update.
Update Apps via the Notification Shade
When app updates are available, you will see a notification appear in the top notification shade. Drag down from the top to open the notifications.
Tap on the “App Updates Available” notification. This will take you directly to the “My Apps” section of the Amazon Appstore where you can update all apps.
Troubleshoot App Updates
Here are some tips for troubleshooting app updates on your Kindle Fire HD:
- Check for Amazon Appstore updates – Sometimes app updates may fail if the Amazon Appstore itself is out of date. Open the Amazon Appstore, go to “My Apps” and check if there are any updates available for the appstore.
- Restart your Kindle Fire – If updates are stuck, try restarting your Kindle Fire HD and check for app updates again.
- Clear Appstore cache – Go to Settings > Applications and clear cache/data for the Amazon Appstore app. Then try updating apps again.
- Uninstall/reinstall stuck app – If an individual app update is stuck, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the Appstore.
- Check network connection – Make sure you are connected to a strong WiFi or mobile data network to download app updates.
In most cases, app updates should download and install without any issues. But if you do encounter problems, these tips should help get things working again.
Downgrade Apps
If you encounter issues after updating an app, you can downgrade to the previous version. Here is how to downgrade apps on Kindle Fire HD:
- Open the Amazon Appstore.
- Go to My Apps > Installed Apps.
- Tap on the app you want to downgrade.
- Tap on “Disable Automatic Update.” This will prevent the app from auto-updating again.
- Uninstall the current version of the app.
- Go back to the app’s page in the Appstore. Tap on the drop down menu next to the Install button.
- Select the older version you want to install.
- Tap Install to download and install the previous version.
You will lose any data or settings changed since updating, so make sure to backup the app first if needed. Re-enabling auto-update may cause the app to update again, so leave disabled if you want to stay on the downgraded version.
Conclusion
Updating your apps is an important part of keeping your Kindle Fire HD running smoothly. Make sure to periodically check for app updates, install them to get the latest features and security fixes, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Enabling auto-updates is recommended to keep your apps updated effortlessly in the background. But you can always manually trigger updates or downgrade apps if you run into problems after updating.
With these tips, you can easily keep all your Kindle Fire apps updated and avoid any potential problems caused by outdated apps.
| Method | How to Trigger | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Update Individually | Open Appstore > My Apps > Tap “Update” on each app | Tedious, but most foolproof |
| Update All Apps | Open Appstore > ≡ Menu > My Apps > Tap “Update All” | Efficient for bulk updates |
| Enable Auto Updates | Appstore Settings > Turn on “Auto-Update Apps” | Updates happen automatically in background |
| Update via Notification | Drag down notification shade > Tap “App Updates Available” | Quick shortcut to My Apps screen |
Troubleshooting Tips
- Check for Appstore updates
- Restart device
- Clear Appstore cache
- Uninstall/reinstall stuck apps
- Check network connection
Updating apps on the Kindle Fire HD does require some manual effort compared to other platforms. But with these tips, you can keep your apps efficiently updated and avoid issues caused by outdated apps.