Windows 11 is losing access to hundreds of thousands of apps next year, when Microsoft will withdraw support for Android apps on the platform. The functionality became widely available in 2021, allowing laptop and desktop owners to install and use Android apps natively on Windows.
This unlocked a huge catalog of games, productivity apps and streaming services to download from Amazon’s Appstore. This is the same showcase used for the Fire tablet and Fire TV users.
The Amazon Appstore used to be the only place to download and install new Android apps on your Windows 11 hardware. Support ended this month, though anyone who previously installed the apps can continue to use them as usual
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Microsoft confirmed plans to end the feature this week. There was an update shared in the documentation for developers. It reads: “Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android™️ (WSA). As a result, the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all apps and games dependent on WSA will no longer be supported starting March 5, 2025. Until then, technical support will remain will be available to users.
“Customers who installed Amazon Appstore or Android apps before March 5, 2024 will continue to have access to those apps until the March 5, 2025 termination date.”
The good news is that if you have already downloaded Android applications toheryour Windows 11 device, Mror I willto be abcontinue to use the software after March 5, 2025deadland not.
However, anyone looking to download Android apps for the first time will now be blocked.
It’s unclear why Microsoft decided to remove the feature, which unlocked hundreds of thousands of additional apps for Windows 11 users. However, reading between the lines, it seems likely that it was dropped due to a lack of interest among PC users.
With fewer Windows 11 tablets on store shelves, running Android apps have clear become a less attractive prospect for users.
It’s worth noting that while there’s no shortage of high-profile apps on Amazon’s digital marketplace, it doesn’t quite have the same selection as the Google Play Store. But since there is no (official) way to access the millions of apps that are in the Play Store, this could have negatively affected user acceptance.
If you’re desperate to keep installing new Android apps on your PC, there are several third-party options that unlock access to the same feature, including Waydroid and BlueStacks.
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