Google has announced that it will discontinue its Android Instant Apps feature by December 2025. This functionality allowed users to access portions of an app without needing to install the complete version from the Play Store.
However, the lack of developer adoption, likely due to the challenges involved in creating the smaller instant-enabled versions, has led to this decision. When Android Instant Apps were launched in 2016 and rolled out in 2017, they provided a solution for users who prefer mobile apps over websites, enabling them to try out services without the hassle of installation.
The feature checks if an instant app is available when a user taps a link, running it directly without any installation. These apps temporarily reside on the user’s device and occupy significantly less space than full apps.
Despite its potential, few developers embraced Android Instant Apps. Initial adopters like Vimeo and Wish saw benefits in attracting new users through this format.
However, the requirement for a “15MB instant-enabled” version of their apps posed difficulties, particularly for those with complex functionalities or a large codebase. This likely contributed to the feature’s limited appeal among developers, making its discontinuation more manageable for Google.
Recently, a developer discovered a notice in the latest version of Android Studio, indicating that support for Instant Apps will cease in December 2025, along with the removal of publishing capabilities and related APIs. Although Google has yet to update its online documentation regarding this change, it is expected that this information will be disseminated soon.
Since the feature was not widely utilized, the majority of users may hardly notice its absence in the future.
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