To browse internet on Amazon Fire tablet, you need to connect to a Wi-Fi network and then use the pre-installed Silk browser. These two steps unlock the full web, from news and shopping to streaming video.
Connect your Fire tablet to a Wi-Fi network
Before you can browse, the Fire tablet must be on a wireless network. Start from the home screen and open the Settings app, which looks like a cog icon.
- In Settings, tap "Internet" or "Wireless".
- Make sure Airplane mode is turned off.
- Toggle Wi-Fi to the On position. The switch may turn orange when enabled.
- Your tablet will scan for available networks. Tap the name of your network.
- If the network shows a lock icon, enter the Wi-Fi password and tap "Connect".
Once connected, the Wi-Fi icon appears in the status bar. The tablet will automatically reconnect to known networks when they are in range.
Open and use the Amazon Silk browser
The Silk browser is built into every Fire tablet. Tap its icon on the home screen or in your app list to launch it. Silk is built on the Chromium Project, which means it works like Chrome or Edge: fast, secure, and responsive. To visit a website, type the address in the top bar. To search, enter a keyword and tap the search icon. Silk will show results from your default search engine.
Navigate websites and manage tabs
Scrolling through a page is simple: swipe up or down. To zoom in or out, use a pinch gesture. Double-tap on text or images to zoom in automatically. When you find a link you want to explore later, tap and hold it, then choose to open it in a new tab. To see all open tabs, tap the tab icon at the top right. Switch between them by tapping a preview, or close a tab by swiping it left or right. To open a fresh tab, tap the plus icon.
Save pages with bookmarks and view your history
Bookmarking a page saves it for quick return visits. Tap the three-dot menu, then select "Bookmark" and choose a folder. To access your bookmarks, tap the book icon at the top right. Your browsing history is stored so you can revisit sites you saw recently. Tap the clock icon to view history entries organized by date. To clear all history, tap "Clear All" in the history window.
Manage your downloads
When you download a file, a notification appears at the top of the screen. Tap that notification to open the Downloads menu. From there, you can tap any file to open it with the appropriate app. To delete a downloaded file, long-press it and select "Delete". You can also reach the Downloads menu by tapping the three-dot menu and choosing "Downloads".
Adjust Silk browser settings
Customize your browsing experience from the three-dot menu. Under Privacy & Security, you can block pop-ups, manage cookies, and clear browsing data. In Display & Appearance, adjust text size, font, or turn on dark mode. The Search section lets you change your default search engine. These settings help you tailor Silk to how you want to use the Fire tablet.
Troubleshoot common browsing issues
If the browser feels slow or crashes, start by restarting the tablet. A common fix for freezing is to clear the browser cache. Go to Settings > Apps & Games > Amazon Application Settings > Silk Browser > Privacy > Clear browsing data, then select "Cache" and tap "Clear Cache". If you need to disable the Silk browser on your Fire tablet, you can restrict web access through the device's parental controls. For Fire Kids tablets, adults can filter websites or block the browser entirely from the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard. If you need to reset the parental controls password on your Amazon Fire tablet, that is done through the parent dashboard settings on the device or your Amazon account. If problems persist, ensure your tablet's software is updated to the latest version.
