Microsoft has announced its plans to discontinue support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), which allowed Windows 11 users to run Android apps directly on their PCs.
End Support for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) in 2025
This feature, linked to the Amazon Appstore, has been available since the launch of Windows 11 in 2021. The decision to end support for the Windows Subsystem for Android was communicated through a developer document.
According to Microsoft, support for WSA, including the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all apps and games reliant on WSA, will cease on March 5, 2025.
Impact on Users and developers
While developers won’t be able to submit new apps targeting Windows 11 after March 5, 2024, they can continue updating existing apps until the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 is fully discontinued.
Existing users of Android apps from the Amazon Appstore will still have access to their apps after the support cutoff date. However, they won’t be able to download new apps once Microsoft discontinues its Android subsystem.
Moreover, beginning March 6, 2024, users of Windows 11 will no longer be able to locate the Amazon Appstore or its related applications through the Microsoft Store search feature.
Microsoft’s move comes as a surprise, especially considering the company’s ongoing efforts to update the Windows Subsystem for Android in recent years.
The decision to discontinue the Windows Subsystem for Android may be due to low usage or limited demand for Android apps on Windows, particularly given the current scarcity of Windows tablet hardware in the market.
