Microsoft and Amazon Pull the Plug: Windows Subsystem for Android and Appstore to be Discontinued

In February 2025, Microsoft announced the termination of development for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), followed shortly by Amazon’s declaration that the Amazon Appstore for WSA and other devices would also be discontinued later in the year.

At present, Microsoft’s WSA can no longer be downloaded or installed via the Microsoft Store, as the subsystem was originally designed to operate in conjunction with the Amazon Appstore. For example, installing WSA through the Microsoft Store first required the installation of the Amazon Appstore, which in turn included the Android subsystem.

Amazon has now confirmed that, effective August 20, 2025, it will permanently end support for the Amazon Appstore. While the store will remain accessible for the time being on Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire Tablet devices, after this date it will no longer be possible to download or update applications.

In its official announcement, Amazon warned:

“We’ve decided to discontinue the Amazon Appstore on Android to focus our efforts on the Appstore experience on our own devices, as that’s where the overwhelming majority of our customers currently engage with it.”

Users are advised to review their frequently used applications and locate them on alternative app marketplaces — a veiled reference, though unstated, to the Google Play Store.

Amazon will also offer automatic refunds for any remaining account balances. While the exact refund process has yet to be disclosed, it is expected that full details will be announced before support officially ends.

For those still using WSA, there is no immediate cause for alarm. Even though Microsoft will no longer maintain or develop the subsystem, installation packages can still be obtained from sources such as GitHub. Users can also continue to install Android apps by sideloading APK files. Thus, it remains possible to use WSA on Windows 10 or 11; however, over time, the lack of official updates from Microsoft may result in reduced compatibility and other operational challenges.

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