Google’s Android Instant Apps feature, which allowed users to experience portions of mobile applications without a full installation, is set to be discontinued by December 2025. This decision comes in light of the feature’s limited adoption among developers, who faced challenges in creating the necessary lightweight app versions.
Understanding Android Instant Apps
Launched in 2016 and rolled out to users in early 2017, Android Instant Apps aimed to enhance user experience by enabling quick access to app functionalities. When a user taps on a link, the Google Play Store checks for an available instant app, launching it without the need for a complete installation. This approach not only expedited content delivery but also minimized data usage and storage requirements, offering a streamlined mobile experience.
Despite its potential benefits, the feature struggled to gain traction among developers. Companies like Vimeo and Wish were among the early adopters, leveraging the instant app format to attract new users while they browsed online. However, the technical demands of creating a special “instant-enabled” version of an app—capped at 15MB—proved to be a significant barrier. Many developers found it challenging to condense their applications, particularly those with extensive and complex dependencies, which likely contributed to the feature’s limited implementation.
Recently, developer Leon Omelan discovered a notice within the latest canary build of Android Studio indicating that support for Instant Apps would be phased out. The message stated: “Instant Apps support will be removed by Google Play in December 2025.” This announcement confirms that publishing and all related Google Play Instant APIs will cease to function, and tooling support will be eliminated in the upcoming Android Studio Otter Feature Drop.
While Google has yet to update its online documentation to reflect this impending change, it is anticipated that further details will emerge soon. Given the feature’s lack of widespread adoption, the impact on the average user is expected to be minimal, as many may not have engaged with Android Instant Apps in the first place.
