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Amazon just released another updated – I haven’t verified this method works yet.  Last updated 12/26/2011 with post 6.2 root method!!

There are a few reasons to get root access for your Kindle Fire.  The primary reason is so you can setup and get working the Android Market and sync for your Google Calendar and Contacts.

The method I will be talking should work on almost any platform.  For Windows you need .NET 2.0+ installed, while on Linux and Mac you will need Mono v1.2.6+ installed.  I haven’t tried it on Linux or Mac yet, but I know it works flawlessly on Windows 7 and that is the platform I will be writing this guide around.

Note: While rooted you will not be able to watch Amazon Videos on demand.  It looks like Amazon has a root check.  Though there is a bypass, once you get your apps setup and working, there is really no reason to keep root, unless you want to install a third party rom.

Step 1 – Install and Prep the Android SDK

You will need to have installed the Android 2.3 SDK (the Kindle Fire runs a version of Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread).  If you do not have it installed, head on over to the instructions for Installing the Android SDK for directions.

Step 2 – Prep the Kindle Fire and Computer

First let’s prep the Kindle.  Tap the upper right corner of the screen where you see the gear icon, then click “+More”:

Now scroll down and tap on “Device”.  Near the bottom of the screen tap on the “Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources” from “Off” to “On”:

Click on the “Home” button to take you back to your home screen.  Now let’s modify a couple of files on your computer.

The first file we need to modify is located at %USERPROFILE%\.android\adb_usb.ini.  All you need to do is add 0×1949 to the end of the file.  Simple as that.  Save and close the file.

The second file we need to modify is android_winusb.inf and is located in the  Android\android-sdk\extras\google\usb_driver\ directory.  You need to add to the following at the end of [Google.NTx86] and [Google.NTamd64] sections:

;
;Kindle Fire
%SingleAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_1949&PID_0006
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_1949&PID_0006&MI_01

Save and close the file.

Step 3 – Download and Prep SuperOneClick

Head over and download SuperOneClick from http://shortfuse.org/?page_id=2.  You will need to download at least version 2.2.  Version 2.3 should be coming out within a few days of this post.  After downloading simply unzip.

Step 3 – Download and Prep Kindle Fire Utility

Head over to XDA and download the Kindle Fire Utility v.7.  Unzip the latest version after downloading.

Step 4 – Mount the Kindle Fire and Update the Drivers

Plug the Kindle Fire into your computer.  If you haven’t done it before it will go through and install the drivers.  On the Kindle Fire hit “Disconnect” at the bottom of the screen.  I have found that if you don’t do this, it can cause problems.

Head into the Device Manager.  If you are on Windows 7 or Vista simply type in “Device Manager”, without the quotes, into the Start Menu Search box.  Go down to “Kindle” under “Other Devices”, right click go down to “Properties” and then click on the “Drivers” tab.  Hit the “Update Driver…” button and browse to the android_winusb.inf file you just updated.  The Kindle Fire should now be listed under “Android Phone” in the Device Manager.

You are now ready to root!

Step 5 – Root

Load up SuperOneClick, and click “Root”.  After the zerg rush you should now have root access to your Kindle Fire.  To check load up the command prompt, type in “adb shell” and then “su”.  If you get a respond of “su” back you are good to go.

Have fun!

Step 5 – Root

Load up the utility by double clicking the run.bat file.  A command prompt window will appear, like below:

Option 3 is the one you will usually want.  Enter 3, click enter, and you are good to go!

WARNING: The only way I found to unroot the Kindle Fire is by heading over to Amazon and reinstalling the 6.2 update.  Don’t worry, if you do this, it WILL NOT affect any custom apps or settings you made (such as getting Android Market, Google Sync).

Credits

I did not develop how to root the Kindle Fire.  A lot of people from XDA put in a lot of hours, I just compiled the “How To”.

• death2all110 for figuring out how to root: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1348830
• CLShortFuse for developing SuperOneClick: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
• And you can’t forget the following: ubeezee, yareally, Clavin (“tweaked” by Vashypooh (who also developed the above utility)), Team Win. rooobbbbb, Jolleyboy, Bandage, Abramel, and Jcase

Thanks, and happy rooting.