Three years ago, Android app support was touted as a major selling point for Windows 11. But Microsoft is making a complete heel-turn. It’s officially ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), and it will completely shutter the PC-based Amazon Appstore on March 5th, 2025.
Microsoft hasn’t provided a reason for this unprecedented move. However, it seems that very few people use Android apps on Windows 11. Mobile apps and games that are worth playing on a PC usually receive a PC release, so an Android emulation layer is somewhat redundant. Not to mention, the Amazon Appstore contains far fewer apps than the Google Play Store, and some customers may have been displeased by an Amazon-branded platform within the Windows operating system.
The unpopularity of WSA must have come as a surprise to Microsoft. After all, Android app support was a lifeline for ChromeOS, and there are plenty of 2-in-1 touchscreen PCs that could benefit from a selection of mobile games. Apple also implemented mobile app support in its desktop operating system—it was a trend in 2020 and 2021.