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Amazon is shutting down its app store on Android

Amazon will shut down its Android app store on August 20, 2025, affecting app submissions and its Coins digital currency. While functionality ceases on Android devices, the store will remain on Fire devices. This decision follows past efforts to compete with Google and the discontinuation of the Windows app store supporting Android apps.

Key points

  • Amazon is discontinuing its app store for Android on August 20, 2025.
  • Developers will no longer be able to submit new apps starting on this date.
  • The Amazon Coins digital currency program will also be terminated on the same date.
  • Users holding Coins will receive refunds.
  • The app store will still be operational on Amazon's Fire TV and Fire Tablet.
  • This follows Amazon's previous move to stop supporting its app store for Windows as of March 5, 2025.

Why it matters

  • The shutdown parallels the ongoing trend of consolidation in app ecosystems with major players like Google and Apple dominating the market.
  • It reflects a shift in Amazon's strategy away from competition with Google on mobile platforms.
  • The discontinuation aligns with Amazon's prior cessation of its Windows app store for Android apps, suggesting a broader narrowing of focus.

Amazon's decision to close its Android app store signals a retreat from competing in the mobile app space, focusing instead on its own devices. It raises questions about the future of alternative app ecosystems as the market becomes increasingly centralized.