Amazon has announced the closure of its Android App Store, scheduled for August 20, 2025.
This decision marks the end of Amazon's 14-year effort to establish an alternative to Google's Play Store on Android devices.
The shutdown comes with immediate changes for developers, who can no longer submit new applications to the store. According to TechCrunch, while new submissions are halted, developers can continue updating their existing apps until the final closure date in August.
One of the major impacts of this shutdown is the discontinuation of Amazon's Coins digital currency program. Users who still have Amazon Coins in their accounts don't need to worry – the company has confirmed that all remaining coins will be automatically refunded after the closure date.
What's particularly interesting about this decision is Amazon's reasoning. A company spokesperson revealed that the move reflects user behavior, stating that the "overwhelming majority" of their app store customers primarily use it on Amazon's own devices. This suggests that the Android version of the store never gained the traction Amazon had hoped for.
The decision follows recent security concerns, as McAfee Labs researchers discovered malware disguised as a health application on the platform last year. This incident highlighted some of the challenges faced by alternative app stores in maintaining security standards.
The good news for Amazon device owners is that the App Store will continue operating normally on Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices.
For Japanese users, the impact comes sooner, as they will lose access to in-app purchases on Android devices immediately.
This isn't Amazon's first recent app store closure. The company previously announced the discontinuation of its Windows app store support, which offered Android apps, effective March 5, 2025. That service, which began in 2021, lasted just four years.
Looking back, Amazon's journey in the Android app marketplace began in 2011, including an ambitious attempt to support its Fire Phone project. Despite these efforts, the company has now chosen to focus its resources on its own device ecosystem, where it sees the most user engagement.
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