Microsoft has announced that it will end support for Android apps on Windows 11 in 2025.

Microsoft has made a surprising decision to end support for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), a virtual machine that allowed it to run Android apps. Windows 11 Through the Amazon App Store Marketplace. The tech giant first gained official support for mobile apps through a deal with Amazon in 2021, and has updated the platform regularly since then. According to the announcement, Windows 11 users will not be able to use Android apps after March 5, 2025.

This announcement was made by Microsoft through a Note Labeled as “important” on Windows Subsystem for Android webpage on March 5, 2024. The company highlighted that after the date next year, all applications and games dependent on the Amazon App Store and WSA will no longer be supported on Windows. “Until then, technical support will remain available to customers. Customers who installed Amazon App Store or Android apps before March 5, 2024 will continue to have access to those apps until the March 5, 2025 deprecation date. .

Additionally, Amazon also posted a update Explaining to developers how the development will affect them and noting important dates for them. According to the e-commerce giant, developers will no longer be able to submit new apps. It came into force from Tuesday. However, developers who already have an app can continue to provide updates and support until the shutdown date in 2025.

Users can continue using any pre-installed apps until March 5, 2025 next year. However, it is not possible to download and install new apps. gave Amazon The App Store and associated Android apps on Microsoft Store will also not be searchable on Windows 11. The surprising move comes just three years after Microsoft first introduced WSA. While the company did not give any reason for the decision, A Reports by Ars Technica has highlighted that Android app users on Windows 11 were quite low.

The report suggests that this is because Microsoft couldn’t strike a deal with Google and instead onboarded the Amazon App Store, which has a much smaller selection of apps than the Play Store. Further, most major app developers already provide web-based interfaces or Windows apps separately. As a result of these reasons, WSA and native Android apps could never gain popularity.