Google to Discontinue Android Instant Apps by December 2025 Over Low Usage
Google has announced that it will phase out support for Android’s Instant Apps by December 2025, citing persistently low user engagement as the key reason behind the decision.
The feature, introduced in 2017, was designed to allow users to preview apps without downloading them, offering developers a new channel to reach audiences. Despite its initial promise, Instant Apps failed to attract widespread adoption.
The shutdown was first observed by developer Leon Omelan, who discovered a warning inside Android Studio stating that Instant Apps support will be removed by Google Play in December 2025, ending both publishing and the use of related APIs.
Confirming the development, Google spokesperson Nia Carter told The Verge that developers are now using alternative tools for app discovery, such as AI-powered highlights and simultaneous app installs, which have shown greater effectiveness. Carter noted that discontinuing Instant Apps would allow Google to focus its resources on tools that deliver better outcomes for developers and users, while encouraging full app downloads to foster deeper user engagement.
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Instant Apps were originally introduced to help users experience apps instantly through web links without navigating to the Play Store. Developers were required to modularise their apps, ensure seamless deep linking, and maintain small initial download sizes to support the feature.
Over time, Instant Apps expanded compatibility from Android 4.3 to Android 6.0 and beyond, eventually allowing users to launch Instant Apps directly from the app drawer and add them to home screens. Despite these upgrades, Instant Apps struggled to achieve significant traction.
Meanwhile, Google’s AI-powered Search feature, AI Overview, now serves over 1.5 billion users monthly as of early 2025. The company has also reported impressive growth in its subscription services, with more than 270 million paid users, mainly driven by YouTube and Google One. YouTube Music and Premium alone now boast over 125 million subscribers worldwide, including trial users.
