Amazon did not shut down the entire Amazon Appstore. On August 20, 2025, it discontinued the store on non-Amazon Android phones and tablets. The Appstore continues on Amazon hardware, including Fire Tablets, Fire TV devices and Fire TV built-in products. As of August 18, 2026, describing this as a future shutdown is outdated unless “Android Appstore” is explicitly limited to ordinary Android mobile devices.
What changed, and what did not
| Device or program | Status |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, OnePlus and other non-Amazon Android phones and tablets | Amazon Appstore discontinued on August 20, 2025 |
| Amazon Fire Tablets | Amazon Appstore continues |
| Fire TV and Fire TV built-in products | Amazon Appstore continues |
| Amazon apps distributed through Google Play | Not automatically removed by this change |
| Amazon Appstore integration for Windows 11 | Separate program discontinued after Microsoft ended Windows Subsystem for Android support in March 2025 |
| Amazon Coins | Discontinued August 20, 2025 |
Amazon’s developer announcement describes the cutoff as applying to “non-Amazon Android devices,” not to Fire OS products. See Amazon’s August 20 clarification and its original announcement.
When the shutdown happened
- February 20, 2025: Amazon stopped accepting new apps targeting non-Amazon Android devices. Existing live apps could still receive updates during the transition.
- August 20, 2025: Amazon ended support for the Appstore on non-Amazon Android mobile devices.
- August 20, 2025: Amazon Coins ended. Amazon said remaining balances would be handled through the refund arrangements in its announcement.
That timeline matters: February’s date was primarily a developer-submission milestone; August’s date was the customer-facing end of the mobile storefront.
What happens to apps already installed?
Amazon did not say that every downloaded app would be instantly deleted. Its wording was that apps obtained from the Appstore were not guaranteed to continue operating on non-Amazon Android devices after August 20, 2025. In practice, an app may still launch, but its future behavior depends on how it was built and operated.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Do what you love, uninterrupted — 25% faster performance than the previous generation and is ideal for seamless streaming, reading, and gaming.
- High-def entertainment — A 10.1" 1080p Full HD display brings brilliant color to all your shows and games. Binge watch longer with 13-hour battery, 3 or 4 GB RAM, 32 or 64 GB of storage, and up to 1 TB expandable storage with micro-SD card (sold separately).
- Thin, light, durable — Tap into entertainment from anywhere with a lightweight, durable design and strengthened glass made from aluminosilicate glass. As measured in a tumble test, Fire HD 10 is 2.7 times as durable as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
- Stay up to speed — Use the 5 MP front-facing camera to Zoom with family and friends, or create content for social apps like Instagram and TikTok.
- Ready when inspiration strikes — With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately) offers a natural writing experience that responds to your handwriting. Use it to write, sketch in apps like OneNote, and more.
- Updates may stop, leaving an old and potentially insecure version installed.
- Server-side login, subscriptions, cloud data or in-app purchases may fail.
- Removing the app may make reinstallation through Amazon impossible.
- Amazon billing or licensing checks may stop authorizing the app.
- An APK that remains on the phone is not proof that its services or compatibility will remain intact.
What affected users should do
Find an official replacement
- Open Google Play and search for the app’s official listing.
- Check that the developer name, icon and website match the original app.
- Install the Google Play version and sign in with the same account if the developer supports account synchronization.
- Verify that purchases, saved data and subscriptions appear before assuming the migration worked.
A purchase made through Amazon does not automatically transfer to Google Play. Entitlement and data migration policies are set by each developer.
If there is no Google Play version
- Check the developer’s official website for a supported Android download or web app.
- Export local data from the old app while it still works.
- Contact the developer about account, purchase and subscription migration.
- Avoid unofficial APK mirrors, which can distribute modified, outdated or malicious packages.
Review subscriptions and paid content
Check the Amazon Appstore subscription page or Amazon account billing history, then check the developer’s account portal. Confirm auto-renewal status and avoid starting a Google Play subscription until you know whether the Amazon-billed subscription has ended; otherwise, duplicate charges are possible. Canceling an Amazon subscription does not itself create a Google Play subscription.
Fire Tablet and Fire TV owners
No emergency migration is required solely because the non-Amazon Android store ended. Amazon stated that the Appstore remains available on Fire Tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV built-in products. That does not guarantee that every app supports every generation of Fire hardware: individual apps, operating-system versions and Amazon APIs have their own requirements.
Rank #2
- Fire HD 8 offers an 8" HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
- Fast and responsive with long battery life - With up to 4 GB RAM (2X more than 2022 release), 64GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Hexa-core processor for fast, responsive performance. Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
- Save time, get creative - Enjoy three smart tools to help you send polished emails, quickly summarize webpages, and create unique wallpapers.
- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
- Stay connected with family and friends - ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family or download apps like Zoom.
Buying a Fire device just to preserve one former Amazon Appstore app is therefore risky. Check that the specific app is listed for the exact Fire model and that its required services are supported.
What developers need to know
Distribution timeline
New submissions for non-Amazon Android devices were restricted beginning February 20, 2025. Existing live apps could be updated during the transition. After August 20, 2025, Amazon’s continuing Appstore focus was its own products, including Fire Tablets and Fire TV.
Migration checklist
- Audit whether each listing targeted non-Amazon Android, Amazon devices, or both.
- Move affected users to Google Play or another officially supported channel.
- Keep accounts and entitlements independent of a single store’s billing system where possible.
- Publish clear instructions for subscription cancellation, replacement purchases and data transfer.
- Review Amazon-specific licensing, DRM, push-notification, billing and API dependencies.
- Remove obsolete Amazon-mobile installation instructions from documentation.
- Maintain separate Fire OS and Fire TV packages where the platform requires them.
Fire OS is Android-derived, but Amazon’s policy distinguished its own hardware from non-Amazon Android devices. Continuing to publish for Fire products does not restore distribution to ordinary Android phones.
Rank #3
- SAVE UP TO $70 — Bundle includes a full-featured tablet (not a toy) for kids ages 3-7, a 1-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, and a kid-proof case, versus items purchased separately.
- 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED — If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
- AMAZON KIDS+ INCLUDED - Includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+, an award-winning digital subscription offering thousands of ad-free books, interactive games, videos, and apps. Kids can explore content from trusted brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, and PBS Kids including educational STEM activities, language learning, and entertainment they love - all in one place. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at $7.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
- NO-HASSLE PARENT CONTROLS — Easy-to-use Parent Dashboard allows you to filter content based on child's age, set educational goals and time limits, and grant access to additional content like Netflix and Disney+.
- UP to 10-HOUR BATTERY — Means the tablet is always ready when you need it.
Why Amazon made the change
Amazon said most Appstore customers use Amazon’s own devices and that it would concentrate resources on that ecosystem, as reported by TechCrunch. Maintaining a separate storefront outside Amazon hardware also meant competing with Google Play’s larger ecosystem and supporting another billing, licensing and update path. Those are reasonable strategic interpretations, but Amazon’s stated concentration-of-usage rationale is the confirmed explanation.
Replacement distribution options
| Option | Best for | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play | Most ordinary Android phone and tablet users | Availability, billing and purchase transfer depend on the developer |
| Amazon Fire Tablets | Users who want Amazon’s supported tablet ecosystem | Fire OS is not the standard Google-certified Android experience; Google Play-only apps may be unavailable |
| Amazon Fire TV | Television and streaming apps on Fire TV hardware | It is a TV platform, not a replacement for a general Android mobile storefront |
| F-Droid | Users seeking free and open-source apps | It is not a complete replacement for proprietary commercial apps or integrated commercial billing |
| Official direct APK from a developer | Apps whose developers explicitly support direct distribution | The developer and user assume more responsibility for signing, updates, security and payments |
Do not treat an alternative repository or direct APK as equivalent to Google Play. For banking, identity, enterprise and other sensitive apps, use only a distribution method the developer explicitly supports.
Common misconceptions
- “Amazon shut down its Appstore everywhere.” No—the Fire Tablet and Fire TV storefront remains.
- “All Amazon apps on Android disappeared.” The change concerned Amazon’s separate storefront. An Amazon-developed app distributed through Google Play is not automatically removed.
- “Every downloaded app stopped working on August 20.” Amazon said continued operation was not guaranteed, not that every app would be disabled immediately.
- “Android support ended on February 20.” That was the major new-submission date; the customer-facing discontinuation was August 20.
- “Fire OS is unaffected in every respect.” The store remains, but app and device compatibility still varies.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amazon Appstore completely gone?
No. It ended on non-Amazon Android mobile devices but remains on Amazon Fire Tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV built-in products.
Rank #4
- SAVE UP TO $100: Get a full-feature tablet (not a toy) made for big kids ages 6–12, 1-year subscription Amazon Kids+ and a slim Kid-Friendly Case, versus items purchased separately.
- 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED: If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
- AMAZON KIDS+ INCLUDED - Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription that provides unlimited access to ad-free, age-appropriate books, videos, apps and games that kids love to play, create and learn. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $7.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
- EASY-TO-USE PARENTAL CONTROLS - Remotely review child activity to learn more about what your child is enjoying, approve (or deny) purchase and download requests, manage content, and more.
- FAST WITH LONG LASTING BATTERY - Features all-day up to 13-hour battery life, powerful hexa-core processor, with up to 4 GB RAM (2X more than 2022 release), 64 GB of internal storage for content, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately) for even more. It’s great for downloading games, videos, books, and music for their on-the-go educational entertainment.
Can I keep using an app I downloaded from Amazon?
Possibly, but Amazon no longer guarantees operation on a non-Amazon Android device. Updates, authentication, subscriptions and billing can fail even if the installed APK still opens.
Does this affect the Amazon Shopping or Prime Video apps?
Not automatically. Apps distributed through Google Play or another supported channel are separate from the discontinued Amazon Appstore storefront.
Should I buy a Fire Tablet to replace my Android phone?
Only if the exact apps you need are supported on the intended Fire model and you accept Fire OS’s differences from standard Google-certified Android. The shutdown alone is not a reason to buy one.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBest Value
- Like-New Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device. Like-New Amazon devices may be packaged in generic Amazon-branded boxes.
- Fire HD 8 offers an 8" HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
- Responsive with all day battery life - Includes 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), 32GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
- Save time, get creative - Enjoy three smart tools to help you send polished emails, quickly summarize webpages, and create unique wallpapers.
- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
Can developers still publish Fire TV apps?
Yes. Amazon’s post-shutdown Appstore support continues for Amazon products, including Fire TV and Fire Tablets, subject to each platform’s technical and policy requirements.
Is sideloading a safe replacement?
Only when the APK comes directly from a developer that explicitly supports it. Unofficial mirrors add malware, tampering, update and licensing risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an Amazon Appstore purchase transfer to Google Play?
Not automatically. The app developer decides whether accounts, paid entitlements or subscriptions can move between Amazon billing and Google Play.
What happened to unused Amazon Coins?
Amazon Coins were discontinued on August 20, 2025; remaining balances were subject to the refund arrangements described in Amazon’s announcement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
