Amazon to Shut Down its Android App Store06:50 AM, Feb 23 2025
Amazon has announced that it will be discontinuing its app store for Android devices, effective August 20, 2025. In a notice sent to developers, the company indicated that they will no longer be able to submit new applications to the store, marking a significant shift in Amazon’s strategy regarding its app ecosystem.
Oh wait what, Amazon App Store discontinued on Android Devices. pic.twitter.com/CQvxcXe4LP — RizbIT IT Services (@RizbITUK) February 20, 2025
In addition to the closure of the app store, Amazon will also be phasing out its Coins digital currency, which users have been able to utilize for purchasing games and applications within the app store. According to a statement on a support page, the company confirmed, “Starting August 20, 2025, you will no longer have access to the Amazon Appstore on your Android device. We will also be discontinuing the Amazon Coins program on August 20, 2025.”
To address any concerns from users, Amazon stated that it would refund any remaining Coins held by users as of the discontinuation date. The company noted that the app store had seen limited usage outside of Amazon’s own devices, with a spokesperson explaining, “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.”
Despite the closure of the Android app store, Amazon reassured users that the app store will continue to function on its proprietary devices, including Fire TV and Fire Tablet. This decision aligns with Amazon’s strategy to concentrate on enhancing the app store experience for its own hardware.
The move comes in the wake of security concerns, as last year, researchers from McAfee Labs discovered an application within the Amazon app store that was disguised as a health tool but was actually spreading malware. Since its inception in 2011, Amazon has made various attempts to compete with Google by creating an alternative app store ecosystem. The company also attempted to support its now-defunct Fire Phone project through its own app store.
Additionally, Amazon previously announced plans to discontinue support for its app store on Windows, which allowed users to access Android apps, starting March 5, 2025. This program for Windows was launched in 2021, but it appears that Amazon is now refocusing its efforts on its own devices and services.
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