It was just a few years in the past — in 2021 — that Home windows 11 gained official assist for Android apps due to a Microsoft-maintained VM referred to as the Home windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). With the WSA, Home windows 11 customers may set up and run almost the total vary of apps for Android, optionally by Amazon’s Android market — the Amazon Appstore — due to an Amazon-Microsoft deal.

Now, Home windows 11 is dropping official Android app assist — and entry to the Amazon Appstore together with it.

Microsoft right now introduced that it plans to cease sustaining the WSA inside the 12 months. Home windows 11 customers who’ve put in the Amazon Appstore or Android apps will proceed to have entry to these apps by March 5, 2025 — however not after. And beginning tomorrow, Amazon plans to stop new customers from downloading the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Retailer, Microsoft’s app retailer for Home windows.

Picture Credit: Microsoft

“Clients might proceed utilizing Amazon Appstore apps that they beforehand put in and can nonetheless be capable of obtain app updates [after March 6]” Amazon wrote in a weblog put up revealed right now. “Builders will not be capable of submit internet new apps focusing on Home windows 11 after March 5, 2024, however builders with an present app can proceed to submit app updates till Amazon Appstore on Home windows 11 is absolutely discontinued.”

As Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham notes, the WSA — whereas a handy solution to run Android apps on Home windows — was restricted from the beginning due to its incapacity to entry the Google Play Retailer, the official app retailer for Android. The Amazon Appstore had a smaller choice, likely driving customers in lots of instances to native Home windows or web-based variations of apps they may’ve put in by the WSA.

Now, simply because Microsoft’s ending assist for the WSA doesn’t imply it’ll turn out to be unimaginable to run Android apps on Home windows. Various third-party options exist, together with Waydroid, which gives assist for Android apps by way of Linux-based system containers, and Bluestacks, an Android emulator for Home windows and macOS.