Windows Ends Support for Android Apps
When Microsoft first announced Windows 11 in June 2021 , one of its flagship features was support for Android apps. It seemed like a match made in heaven: after all, Apple’s ecosystem allows some iOS apps to run on macOS, so it makes sense to allow Android and PC users to do the same.
Unfortunately, things aren’t actually going as Microsoft probably hoped. On Tuesday , we learned that the company is discontinuing the Windows Subsystem for Android . The end-of-life plans aren’t immediate: Microsoft is giving users until March 5, 2025 to sideload Android apps to their PCs. However, after this period, you will no longer be able to install new Android applications on your computer, and the ones you have installed will not receive future support. Bummer.
The Windows Subsystem for Android has never been a perfect solution. Instead of directly porting apps from Android OS to Windows, the system allows users to download apps from the Amazon Appstore . While there are many options to choose from, this is not all that Google Play Store dedicated support has to offer. Still, it’s much better than nothing, which is why Microsoft’s decision is a shame.
It gets worse for fans of the Windows Subsystem for Android, too: Starting today (March 6, 2024), Microsoft will no longer let you search the Amazon Appstore or any of its Android apps in the Microsoft Store. It may seem like support has already ended, and in some ways it has. Since the Amazon Appstore app is no longer available in the Microsoft Store, you won’t be able to download it in the future. If you don’t already have it on your computer, you are effectively prevented from installing Android apps on your computer.
If you already have the app installed, you’ll be able to install new Android apps from the store until the March 5th deadline. However, there won’t be any new apps in the future, so what you see is what you get. Existing app developers can continue to support their apps on the platform, but their access will also be closed in March 2025.