Amazon has made a significant announcement regarding its Appstore, revealing plans to discontinue the service for Android devices effective August 20, 2025. This decision was communicated to developers through an official notice, indicating that they will no longer be able to submit new applications to the store. In tandem with this change, Amazon will also terminate its Coins digital currency program, which allowed users to purchase games and applications within the app store.
As of the specified date, users will lose access to the Amazon Appstore on Android devices, with the Coins program ceasing operations simultaneously. Amazon has assured users that any coins held in their accounts by August 20 will be eligible for a refund.
The rationale behind this decision stems from the minimal usage of the app store by customers outside of Amazon’s own devices. Consequently, the company aims to refocus its efforts on enhancing the Appstore experience primarily for its proprietary devices, where customer engagement remains robust.
Continued Support for Amazon Devices
Despite the discontinuation on Android, the Appstore will continue to operate on Amazon’s proprietary devices, including Fire TV and Fire Tablets. This move underscores Amazon’s commitment to maintaining a vibrant app ecosystem for its dedicated user base.
In a related note, security researchers from McAfee Labs had previously flagged an application within the Amazon Appstore that masqueraded as a health tool but was actually designed to spread malware. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring app security within any distribution platform.
Since its launch in 2011, Amazon has sought to carve out an alternative ecosystem for app distribution to rival Google. The company had also made attempts to leverage its app store to support the now-defunct Fire Phone initiative, reflecting its broader ambitions in the mobile space.
Additionally, Amazon has announced plans to end support for its app store on Windows, which had allowed Android applications since March 5, 2025. This initiative for Windows was originally launched in 2021, but it appears that the company is now consolidating its efforts to focus on its own devices.
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