Microsoft to End Support for Amazon Appstore on Windows 11
Microsoft has recently announced that it will no longer support Amazon’s Android app store on Windows 11 starting from March 5, 2025. This decision will render the Amazon Appstore non-functional on the operating system due to the discontinuation of support for the Windows Subsystem for Android, which is essential for running Android apps on Windows 11. While Android apps installed from the Appstore will continue to work until the support officially ends, there may be functionality issues over time.
For users who have already downloaded apps through the Amazon Appstore, these apps can still be found by searching for them by name or through the “My Apps” section within the Amazon Appstore app. To reinstall the Amazon Appstore or redownload previously acquired apps, users can utilize the Microsoft Store or navigate to the “My Apps” section in the Amazon Appstore app.
However, it is important to note that after the discontinuation date, the Amazon Appstore will still be accessible on other platforms, including Fire TV, Fire tablets, and Android devices. The reasoning behind the discontinuation of the Android subsystem and Amazon Appstore from Windows 11 has not been disclosed by either Amazon or Microsoft. Nevertheless, it is implied that these features were phased out due to underutilization. It is worth mentioning that the Amazon Appstore introduced a selection of Android apps exclusively from Amazon, rather than Google, to Windows 11 in early 2022.
Please note that this news article has been generated by an AI language model and may not reflect the views or intentions of Bloomberg.
Analyst comment
Neutral news
As an analyst, the market impact of Microsoft ending support for the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 will likely be minimal. While some users may experience functionality issues with Android apps over time, the availability of the Appstore on other platforms ensures continuity for Amazon. This decision suggests that the Android subsystem and Appstore on Windows 11 were not widely used, potentially leading to their discontinuation.
