Amazon has released a minor update to the operating system for the Kindle Fire tablet. Software version 6.3.1 includes a handful of changes, with most aimed at giving users more control over their security options.
The Kindle Fire 6.3.1 update includes:
- Additional parental controls
- Users can now password-protect purchases
- You can disable access to specific content libraries
- You can block access to the web browser
These all sound like helpful changes for Kindle Fire owners who have children in the household and want to prevent them from accessing certain content on the device.
Like all other Kindle Fire software updates you won’t need to do anything to install the new software — just leave your Fire connected to a WiFi network.
But also like all other updates, if you’re running the stock Amazon software and you’ve rooted your tablet, the update will probably kill your root access. So in that case, now might be a good time to turn off your tablet and look for a way to either re-root after upgrading to software version 6.3.1.
Update: You can root Kindle Fire 6.3.1 software using the latest version of the free Kindle Fire Utility. You can follow our step-by-step guide for details and troubleshooting tips.
Or you could install a custom ROM like CyanogenMod and avoid the issue altogether. Once a custom ROM is installed, your Kindle Fire won’t automatically download updates from Amazon — but it also won’t be able to access some features that require the official Kindle software such as the Kindle Owners Lending Library which lets Amazon Prime subscribers read up to one eBook per month for free.