I put in Android on an Echo Present and resurrected its usefulness

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Amazon has at all times held a decent grip over the software program that runs on its units, and the corporate’s Echo line of sensible audio system and shows is not any totally different. The truth is, it’s rather more locked down than the Kindle Hearth tablets that assist you to sideload common Android apps. The Echo line doesn’t get pleasure from that privilege. However due to a brand new open-source venture, now you can jailbreak choose Echo Present 5 and Present 8 fashions and substitute Amazon’s locked-down Hearth OS with full-fledged Android.

Below the hood, Amazon’s sensible shows pack related specs as mainstream Android units. As an example, the second-gen Present 5 relied on MediaTek’s MT8163 chip, which additionally powered the Kindle Hearth HD 8 pill and a number of other funds telephones just like the Nokia 5.1. Nevertheless, Amazon has by no means permitted unlocking the bootloader on its sensible shows, holding us locked to the Alexa-centric Hearth OS ecosystem.

This new jailbreak for the Echo Present depends on a BootROM exploit present in older MediaTek-based units, permitting us to unlock the bootloader and set up a customized restoration. We will then set up various working methods like LineageOS. In fact, the latter means giving up entry to Amazon’s tight software program integration and Alexa, so is it value doing? In my view, completely.

Android on the Echo Present: What are you able to do?

<img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="echo show 5 twrp recovery" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-1000w-562h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="echo show 5 twrp recovery" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-twrp-recovery-scaled.jpg"/> Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

After I discovered in regards to the jailbreak’s existence, I instantly grabbed two second-gen Echo Present 5s off Fb Market. These units may be discovered for comparatively low-cost lately since they first hit the market in 2021.

Since Amazon by no means meant for these sensible shows to run third-party Android apps, they solely embody 1GB of RAM. That is the most important limiting issue, however on the flip aspect, a recent set up of LineageOS is surprisingly lean. With out the bloat of Google Play Companies and different background companies, I’ve discovered the interface is surprisingly responsive. The truth is, it felt quicker zipping round right here than it ever did on Amazon’s personal Hearth OS, which is a closely skinned variant of Android too.

The LineageOS construct developed for the Echo Present 5 has all {hardware} elements purposeful out of the field, besides the front-facing digicam. This implies you need to use the touchscreen, connect with Wi-Fi, play audio via the built-in audio system, and maybe even set up various voice assistants, however extra on that later.

My Echo Present 5 now behaves like a docked Android pill with wonderful audio system.

With the flexibility to put in any Android app, the Echo Present 5 immediately turns into extra versatile. On Hearth OS, the Echo Present cycles via information and buying strategies (learn: Amazon buying advertisements). However with Android, you'll be able to set up any display screen saver app of your selection. I settled on the Flip Clock app (pictured above), which may be dismissed by tapping as soon as on the display screen.

I then put in music streaming apps like Spotify and Plexamp, they usually labored flawlessly on the Echo Present. I additionally had success with the open-source YouTube consumer, NewPipe, which delivers a much better expertise than utilizing Amazon’s Silk net browser on Hearth OS.

I’m nonetheless solely scratching the floor of what’s potential with a jailbroken Echo Present. I've one other Echo available that I plan to show right into a secondary show for my PC or use an app like Contact Portal to set off keyboard shortcuts. The chances are limitless, not less than in comparison with the inventory Hearth OS.

Nevertheless, should you completely want Alexa in your Echo Present in any respect prices, you may wish to keep away from jailbreaking your system. There's at present no manner of working Amazon’s voice assistant on Android. However should you’ve by no means loved utilizing Alexa within the first place, this jailbreak is ideal. It means that you can extract significant utility from a tool that’s destined to take a seat in a drawer for many individuals.

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<img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Tips on how to set up Android on an Echo Present

<img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="echo show 5 about android" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="echo show 5 about android" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/echo-show-5-about-android-scaled.jpg"/> Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

Getting Android up and working on an Echo Present isn’t so simple as putting in the Play Retailer on Amazon’s Kindle Hearth line of tablets, and the method could appear intimidating should you’ve by no means dabbled with customized ROMs previously. However the entire course of takes lower than an hour and it’s moderately simple should you observe the venture’s directions. There’s at all times a threat with jailbreaking any system, however I haven’t seen anybody brick their units following this technique but.

The gist of the method entails rebooting the Echo System in fastboot mode by holding down the Energy and Quantity buttons and connecting it to a pc through USB. From there, it’s merely a matter of double-clicking the exploit script and letting it do all of the work. A couple of minutes later, the Echo will reboot into TWRP, the favored customized restoration, the place we have to carry out a full backup in case we have to return to the inventory OS.

Jailbreaking an Echo Present solely requires a USB cable and takes lower than an hour.

With the system exploited and TWRP put in, you’re prepared to put in Android. Merely seize the newest LineageOS construct and replica it over to the system. Lastly, wipe the /system and /knowledge partitions inside TWRP and flash the LineageOS ZIP file. A fast reboot later, and also you’ll be offered with an Android launcher. At this level, you'll be able to sideload particular person apps through APK recordsdata or sideload an app retailer like F-Droid.

When you don’t thoughts a barely slower interface, you may as well set up a GApps package deal. It will set up Google’s Play Companies framework and the complete Play Retailer. I've solely simply begun taking part in round with putting in Google’s full complement of apps — together with Gemini — on the Echo Present, nevertheless it already seems promising.

With many customers reporting a rise within the frequency of full-screen advertisements popping up on Echo Present fashions over the previous few months, this exploit is maybe the easiest way to reclaim management over your system. And as soon as the group will get a voice assistant like Gemini up and working, it is going to doubtless provide the most effective sensible speaker expertise of any available on the market.