Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) was one of the unique features that Microsoft brought with Windows 11 in 2021.
This feature enabled users to download Android apps and games from the Amazon Appstore directly on their Windows 11 computers.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 To No Longer Support Android Apps
However, in an unexpected move, Microsoft has decided to kill support for the WSA on March 5, 2025. This means users will no longer be able to access the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 and all apps and games that depend on WSA after this date. However, the company will continue to provide technical support to its customers until March 5, 2025.
The Redmond giant has quietly updated the notice in the official Microsoft developer document for the WSA (via Windows Central).
“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,” reads the documentation.
“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. Please reach out to our support team for further questions at support.microsoft.com. We are grateful for the support of our developer community and remain committed to listening to feedback as we evolve experiences.”
Amazon Appstore, which powers the WSA on Windows 11, has also updated the information on the same issue in a separate blog post. It says it will no longer be available on the Microsoft Store starting March 6, 2024. However, it will continue to be available and supported on other surfaces, including Fire TV, Fire Tablet, and Android devices.
“Because Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 will no longer be supported after March 5, 2025. Amazon and Microsoft are partnering to create a smooth end of support experience for developers and customers of Amazon Appstore on Windows 11,” Amazon wrote in the blog post.
“Developers will no longer be able to submit net new apps targeting Windows 11 after March 5, 2024, but developers with an existing app can continue to submit app updates until Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 is fully discontinued.”
However, existing customers of Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 will continue to have access to previously installed apps and receive app updates.
While Microsoft did not mention in the notice why it has decided to drop support for WSA on Windows 11, it has, however, clarified to Engadget that it has terminated the feature to respond to “evolving customer needs.”
“As part of our commitment to meeting evolving customer needs, we periodically update our product offerings. This involves introducing new technical innovations and retiring products. Microsoft remains dedicated to an open platform and ecosystem, and we look forward to continuing to bring the best experiences and apps to Windows,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget.