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Microsoft announced that it will end support for the Android subsystem (Windows Subsystem for Android™️ – WSA) included in the Windows 11 operating system in 2025. The software giant, which announced about three years ago that it would bring Android applications to Windows via Amazon Appstore with Windows 11, stated that this system will be discontinued as of March 5, 2025.
The end of Windows 11 and Android integration
In a new support document published by Microsoft, “Microsoft is discontinuing support for Windows Subsystem for Android™️ (WSA).” The statement was included. With this decision, support for all applications and games connected to Amazon Appstore and WSA on Windows will end as of March 5, 2025.
If you currently use Android apps from the Amazon Appstore, you will still be able to access these apps after the end of support date. But when Microsoft retires the Android subsystem next year, you won’t be able to download new apps. Starting March 6, Windows 11 users will no longer be able to search for Amazon Appstore or related Android apps via the Microsoft Store.
This decision by Microsoft came as a surprise after it has been constantly updating Windows Subsystem for Android over the past years. Amazon stated that they will provide “a seamless end-of-support experience for developers and customers” for the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11. According to Amazon, developers will not be able to submit new apps targeting Windows 11 after March 5, 2024, but developers with an existing app will be able to continue to submit app updates until the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 is completely discontinued.
The introduction of Android apps in Windows 11 appeared to be a response to the progress Microsoft has made with Apple’s M1 chips and running iOS apps on macOS. Microsoft has partnered with Amazon, but without access to the official Google Play Store, the experience of easily downloading popular Android apps on Windows has always been lacking. This may be a big reason why Microsoft decided to completely remove Android apps from Windows 11.