The Amazon Appstore has long served as a gateway for users to download and install applications on Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV devices. However, its origins trace back to March 2011, when Amazon first introduced the Appstore as a platform for Android phones and tablets, a full six months before the debut of its first Fire-branded tablet.
Transitioning Away from Android
Fast forward fourteen years, and Amazon has made the decision to discontinue the Appstore for Android devices, effective August 20, 2025. This means that users will no longer be able to download or install applications from the Appstore on their Android devices, including any previously purchased apps. Furthermore, there is no assurance that apps installed via the Appstore will continue to function after this date. Fortunately, the Appstore will remain operational for Fire Tablet and Fire TV devices.
This change may be disappointing for many, as the Appstore, despite being a lesser alternative to the Google Play Store, offered a unique advantage: it allowed users to synchronize their app purchases across devices. For those who owned both an Amazon Fire tablet and an Android phone, this feature was particularly beneficial.
Amazon’s Fire tablets operate on a modified version of Android known as Fire OS. While Fire OS is similar enough to stock Android to facilitate the installation of the Google Play Store, it diverges sufficiently to lack Google Mobile Services. This divergence is likely why Amazon has opted not to pre-install the Play Store, as the affordability of its tablets is partly due to the company’s strategy of monetizing through user purchases.
- Previously, users could purchase an app or game on a Fire tablet and install it on an Android device without incurring additional costs from the Google Play Store.
- With the impending discontinuation of the Appstore for Android, this seamless experience will no longer be available.
In its early days, the Appstore also featured a “free app of the day” promotion, which encouraged users to explore its offerings. As a result, many users may find that they have older paid Android apps or games linked to their Amazon accounts. After August, accessing these apps will require the use of an Amazon Fire device.
On a positive note, Amazon is providing users with a six-month window to adapt to the end of Appstore support. This period allows users to cancel any app or service subscriptions they may have tied to the Appstore.
Additionally, Amazon is phasing out Amazon Coins, the tokens previously used for app purchases and in-app transactions within the Appstore. Starting February 20, 2025, users will no longer be able to purchase Coins, although they can continue to use any remaining balance until August 20. For those who prefer not to invest in a fading ecosystem, Amazon will refund any unspent Coins by that deadline.
