Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of its Android subsystem within Windows 11 starting March 5, 2025. This decision comes almost three years after the software giant first unveiled its partnership with Amazon’s Appstore, aiming to integrate Android apps into the Windows 11 environment seamlessly.
A crucial caveat exists for users currently utilising Android apps from the Amazon App Store. While existing applications will remain accessible after the support cutoff date, downloading new Android apps will be disabled once Microsoft concludes the Android subsystem’s lifecycle next year, reported The Verge.
“Customers that have installed the Amazon Appstore or Android apps before March 5, 2024, will continue to have access to those apps through the deprecation date of March 5, 2025,” said the Microsoft support document.
As of March 6, 2024, Windows 11 users cannot search for the Amazon App Store or associated Android apps within the Microsoft Store.
This abrupt move contrasts with Microsoft’s consistent efforts to enhance and update the Windows Subsystem for Android over the past few years. Initially positioned as Microsoft’s response to Apple’s strides with its M1 chips and the ability to run iOS apps on macOS, the collaboration with Amazon did not provide official access to the Google Play Store, resulting in a suboptimal user experience for those seeking seamless integration of popular Android apps on Windows.
In response to this development, Amazon has assured users of a “smooth end-of-support experience for developers and customers of Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.”
However, developers face restrictions. After March 5, 2024, they will no longer be able to submit new apps targeting Windows 11. Developers with existing apps, on the other hand, can continue submitting updates until the complete discontinuation of the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11.
Users are contemplating why Microsoft has decided to terminate the Android subsystem. The absence of official access to the Google Play Store may have played a pivotal role in the decision, as running Android apps on Windows 11 proved to be a subpar experience compared to Apple’s success in integrating iOS apps on macOS with M1 chips.
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