Microsoft is ending support for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), the underlying component behind the Amazon Appstore (and other Android apps) in Windows 11.
Back in 2021 Microsoft said that Windows 11 would be able to run Android apps. When it arrived the following year, users could install the Amazon Appstore, and some individual Android apps were also found in the Microsoft Store.
With Microsoft pushing into all things AI, it may now see its past attempts at making Windows a dramatically better touch-focused platform as no longer worth the resources.
A Microsoft spokesperson explained why it’s terminating the feature.
“As part of our commitment to meeting evolving customer needs, we periodically update our product offerings,”
“This involves introducing new technical innovations and retiring products. Microsoft remains dedicated to an open platform and ecosystem, and we look forward to continuing to bring the best experiences and apps to Windows.”
Microsoft says customers who installed the Amazon Appstore (or other apps and games using WSA) on their Windows 11 machines before Tuesday can keep using them until March 5, 2025.
Meanwhile, Amazon clarified that its Appstore and associate apps will no longer be discoverable in the Microsoft Store beginning on Wednesday.
In addition, developers can no longer submit new apps for the Amazon Appstore on Windows, but those with existing ones can continue to submit updates for them until this time next year.
