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E-commerce major Amazon has announced to shut down its
Amazon Appstore on Android
on August 20, 2025, ending its 14-year run. The closure, as revealed by the company, will not affect Fire TVs and Fire Tablets, where the Appstore will continue to operate. The announcement to shut down Amazon Appstore was made in February. In a statement to Android Police, the company then said “We’ve decided to discontinue the Amazon Appstore on Android to focus our efforts on the Appstore experience on our own devices, as that’s where the overwhelming majority of our customers currently engage with it”.
Why Amazon is pulling the plug on Amazon Appstore
To recall, Amazon Appstore was launched in 2011 as a rival to Google Play. However, it never gained major traction, despite early promotions such as a free daily app and the Coins reward system. According to the industry data, its global share had fallen below 1% by 2022. Reports suggest that Amazon is now focusing on its Fire ecosystem, where it has greater control and can drive revenue through Prime subscriptions, Alexa services, and ads.
What happens to Amazon coins
Users who still hold Amazon Coins, the company’s discontinued digital currency, will get automatic refunds after the cutoff date. However, refunds will only go through if payment details are up to date. Amazon has advised users to update their Amazon Wallet to avoid failed transactions.What users need to do:
- Check Amazon Coins balance and claim refunds.
- Update payment details to ensure refunds are processed.
- Download or back up apps, as future updates may not be available.
For most Android users, the shutdown will have little impact since the Appstore had become largely inactive. But the move highlights the risks of digital marketplaces — once a platform shuts down, apps and purchases can vanish with it.
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