Amazon to Shut Down Appstore for Android Devices in August 2025

SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2025 — Amazon has announced it will discontinue its Amazon Appstore for Android devices, effective August 20, 2025. The company stated that the closure is part of its ongoing efforts to streamline services.

In a notice on its website, Amazon said, “Starting August 20, 2025, you will no longer have access to the Amazon Appstore on your Android device.” The company is also discontinuing its digital currency program, Amazon Coins, which will no longer be available for purchase as of February 20, 2025, and any remaining coins in user accounts will be refunded after the shutdown date.

The Appstore has previously served as an alternative to the Google Play Store, primarily catering to Amazon Fire devices and some non-Amazon Android devices. However, Amazon noted that after the closure, any apps downloaded through the Appstore will not be guaranteed to function on Android devices.

“This decision aligns with our goal to improve and streamline our services,” Amazon stated. The company added that Fire-branded devices, including Fire Tablets and Fire TV, will continue to support the Appstore, which provides a range of apps and services for those platforms.

The Amazon Appstore was introduced in May 2013, originally aimed at Kindle users, and has seen limited success in gaining traction compared to competing app stores. The company aimed to capitalize on a growing market, but the Appstore has remained stagnant in terms of content and user engagement over the years.

As part of a wider transition, Amazon also announced that starting March 6, 2024, the Appstore would no longer be downloadable on Windows 11 devices due to Microsoft ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android, rendering it incompatible.

In recent statements, the tech giant emphasized that developers will still be able to submit updates for existing apps until the shutdown date, but they will no longer be able to submit new applications targeting Android devices.

Amazon’s announcement comes amidst a larger discussion in the tech community regarding third-party app access and the implications of app store monopolies. The discontinuation reflects an ongoing challenge for Amazon in expanding its app ecosystem against competitors like Google.

While the shutdown of the Appstore may signify a retreat from smartphone market aspirations, the company will still maintain operations around its Fire devices, ensuring that users with those products will have continued access to its app ecosystem.