What you need to know
- Microsoft has announced that it is deprecating the Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11.
- This means support for installing and running Android apps is being removed from the OS.
- The feature will be deprecated on March 5, 2025.
In a shocking move, Microsoft has announced that it is deprecating the Windows Subsystem for Android, a feature that allowed Windows 11 users to run Android apps directly on their PCs. Tied to the Amazon Appstore, users have been able to browse and download Android apps since the launch of Windows 11 in 2021.
The death of the Windows Subsystem for Android was announced in a developer document:
"Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android™️ (WSA). As a result, the Amazon Appstore on Windows and all applications and games dependent on WSA will no longer be supported beginning March 5, 2025. Until then, technical support will remain available to customers. Customers that have installed the Amazon Appstore or Android apps prior to March 5, 2024, will continue to have access to those apps through the deprecation date of March 5, 2025."
The company tells me that Android apps on Windows 11 will stop functioning after March 5, 2025. Users should migrate any data they may have in their Windows Subsystem for Android instance before that date to avoid losing any data. The company has already removed the ability to download new apps from the Microsoft Store.
It's likely that Microsoft is killing the Windows Subsystem for Android because not enough people use it. There's little use for Android apps on Windows, especially with the lack of Windows tablet hardware on the market these days.
