Publishing an Android App to Amazon Appstore
Amazon Appstore is the primary channel for Amazon devices (Fire TV, Fire Tablet) and is available on Android devices through direct APK installation. Audience is specific: Fire TV users, Kindle Fire owners, Amazon Underground program participants. If your app runs on TVs or supports large screens — Amazon Appstore opens a separate segment.
Developer Registration
Registration at developer.amazon.com. Personal or company account, payment via Amazon Pay. No annual fee (unlike Apple Developer Program) — registration is free.
Amazon Appstore for Android Developer Specifics
Amazon devices (Fire Tablet, Fire TV) run on Fire OS, a fork of Android. GMS is absent, Google Play Services unavailable. For regular Android smartphones, Amazon Appstore installs as a third-party APK over standard Android, and GMS works normally.
This means: if target devices are Fire TV and Fire Tablet, the same compatibility work as Huawei: replace FCM with Amazon Device Messaging (ADM), Google Maps → HERE Maps or OpenStreetMap, Google Sign-In → Login with Amazon.
Amazon Device Messaging (ADM) — FCM equivalent for Fire devices:
<!-- AndroidManifest.xml -->
<permission android:name="com.example.app.permission.RECEIVE_ADM_MESSAGE"
android:protectionLevel="signature" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.example.app.permission.RECEIVE_ADM_MESSAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.amazon.device.messaging.permission.RECEIVE" />
<amazon:enable-feature android:name="com.amazon.device.messaging"
android:required="false" />
// ADM MessageHandler
public class MyADMMessageHandler extends ADMMessageHandlerJobBase {
@Override
protected void onMessage(final Intent intent) {
final Bundle extras = intent.getExtras();
// Handle push message
}
@Override
protected void onRegistered(final String registrationId) {
// Send registrationId to server
}
}
android:required="false" is important if the same APK publishes in Google Play: the app won't crash on devices without ADM.
APK Requirements and Review
- Accepts APK, AAB not supported
- Size up to 500 MB (expanders via Amazon S3)
- Automatic testing on upload: Amazon runs test suite on several Fire devices and regular Android phones
Amazon App Testing Service — built-in automated testing before review. If test fails, Developer Console shows specific results: which device, which crash, stacktrace.
Review takes 1–3 business days.
Fire TV: Publishing Specifics
An app for Fire TV is a separate entry in Appstore (can link to same listing). UI requirements differ: all controls via D-pad (remote), no touch events, minimum touch targets much larger than phones.
Amazon provides Fire App Builder — template project for media apps on Fire TV. For custom apps, mandatory Leanback UI testing via Fire TV Simulator (included in Android SDK).
Amazon Underground and Free App of the Day
Historically Amazon offered monetization programs through "free" apps with developer compensation. Today these programs have changed. When publishing, you can choose standard model (paid/freemium with IAP) or participate in Amazon Coins — virtual currency program with user discounts.
Process
Register account, create listing.
Analyze target devices: Fire TV / Fire Tablet require ADM and UI adaptation.
Prepare APK, pass Amazon App Testing Service.
Fill metadata, screenshots (separate for phone and Fire TV).
Upload, review, publish.
Timeline Estimates
Publishing existing Android app without Fire OS adaptation — 1–2 days. Adapting for Fire TV with ADM integration and Leanback UI — additional 3 to 7 days.