In a significant move, Google has announced the discontinuation of its Android Instant Apps feature, set to take effect in December 2025. This innovative feature allowed users to access parts of an app without the need for a full installation from the Google Play Store. However, low adoption rates among developers have been cited as the primary reason for this decision.
When Google introduced Android Instant Apps in 2016, the goal was to streamline the user experience by allowing smartphone users to try apps without the hassle of full installations. This feature aimed to enhance content delivery, minimize data usage, and reduce storage requirements—all while providing a more optimized mobile experience.
Android Instant Apps function by enabling users to access a lightweight version of an app temporarily. When a user taps on a link, the Google Play Store checks for the existence of an instant app and runs it directly, avoiding the need for a full download. These instant apps occupy significantly less space compared to their full counterparts available on the Play Store, making them a convenient option for users looking to explore new services.
Despite the apparent benefits, developer adoption of Android Instant Apps has been lackluster. To support this feature, developers were required to create a specialized “instant-enabled” version of their app, which had to be under 15MB. This requirement posed challenges, particularly for applications with large and complex dependencies. As a result, many developers found it difficult to optimize their apps for this format, leading to the low uptake of the feature.
Some of the earliest adopters of Android Instant Apps included companies like Vimeo and Wish. These brands leveraged instant apps to reach potential users who were casually browsing the web, providing a seamless way to engage with their services. However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the challenges associated with development hindered broader implementation.
Recently, developer Leon Omelan discovered a notice in the latest canary build of Android Studio indicating that support for Instant Apps will be completely removed by December 2025. The notice states: “Instant Apps support will be removed by Google Play in December 2025. Publishing and all Google Play Instant APIs will no longer work. Tooling support will be removed in Android Studio Otter Feature Drop.” This confirmation from Android Authority underscores the impending shutdown of the feature.
While Google has yet to update its online documentation to reflect the discontinuation of Android Instant Apps, it is expected that further announcements will clarify the situation. Given the limited use of this feature by developers, it is likely that most users will not notice its absence once it is officially discontinued.
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