Microsoft is unexpectedly ending support for Android apps inside Windows 11, though you’ll have a year to play games on your Windows tablet until support officially ends.
But if you haven’t already installed Android app support, you’re out of luck.
Microsoft isn’t saying exactly why it’s ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android, though the announcement was made as part of an official Microsoft developer document spotted by Windows Central. This means that the existing Android app store on Windows, published by Amazon, will stop working.
“Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA),” Microsoft wrote. “As a result, the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all WSA-dependent apps and games will no longer be supported starting March 5, 2025. Until then, technical support will remain available to customers.”
Unfortunately, it also sounds like if you didn’t act quickly, your ability to play Golf Clash on the Surface Pro tablet it is gone forever. “Customers who have previously installed Amazon Appstore or Android apps March 5, 2024, will continue to have access to these applications until the termination date of March 5, 2025,” Microsoft added. (Emphasis ours.)
Amazon has also published an FAQ with a few more details. “Apps installed from the Amazon Appstore on your Windows 11 devices will continue to work until March 5, 2025,” the company said. “While we do not expect an immediate impact on your ability to access applications between March 2024 and March 2025, over time some applications may not function properly.”
Why did Microsoft discontinue Android apps on Windows? If I had to guess, it was because they stank. The real killer was the lack of official access to the Google Play Store, which meant users had to download apps from Amazon’s app store, which in some ways feels like a knockoff. And the Amazon store is still full of what appear to be worthless play-to-win games and apps. Finally, while there are still Windows tablets from Microsoft and Lenovo, there are basically no consumer Windows tablets. All of which probably didn’t help Microsoft’s usage metrics.
However, I was able to download the Kindle app for Android on my Windows 11 PC just a few minutes ago. So if you want to try Android on Windows, act fast.