Microsoft unexpectedly announced this week that Windows 11 will ditch its Android subsystem that allowed the OS to run Android apps. Now we get an insight into why the decision was made.
The Windows Subsystem for Android debuted in Windows 11 with the ability to not only run Android apps on your PC, but also access the Amazon Appstore for easy app downloads. It was a neat idea indeed, but definitely underutilized given the inherent limitations of the Amazon Appstore.
As it turns out, it was this lack of use that was to blame for the death of the feature.
A Microsoft employee on Twitter/X this week offered some insight into why Subsystem for Android is shutting down, and it appears that it’s actually a bunch of reasons that made the whole situation hardware for Microsoft to continue.
The Windows Subsystem for Android is part of the operating system, but it is not completely free for Microsoft because it required special support staff. As it turns out, the money for that staff came from the realized income with the Amazon Appstore. So the lack of apps in the store led to low usage of the feature by users, which in turn led to minimal revenue for Microsoft and, now, the death of the feature.
This was also revealed in one publication Microsoft apparently wanted Google to bring applications to Windows at one point, which would be a very different values for users. But, unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Will Microsoft ever give it another chance? It doesn’t appear to be completely off the table, but the odds are slim at best. The functionality itself was neat, but if it’s not viable for Microsoft, it stands to reason that it won’t continue.
The Windows Subsystem for Android is shutting down in March 2025.
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