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Google Shutting Down Instant Apps – November 2025 Last Call!

by Team TechTidingz|
Android phone showing Instant Apps preview screen with ‘Try Now’ button.
Android Instant Apps Shutdown

What’s Happening? Instant Apps Retirement by December 2025

Google recently announced it will shut down Android Instant Apps in December 2025, citing consistently “low” usage despite being active since 2017.

What Were Android Instant Apps?

  • Instant Apps, introduced at I/O 2017, allowed Android users to try apps or games instantly-via a URL without installing them.
  • These mini-app experiences took just a few megabytes and were designed to improve discovery and reduce friction.

Why is Google Removing Them?

  • Google’s own developer tools-like Android Studio-warn that Instant Apps APIs and tooling will be removed by December 2025.
  • A spokesperson confirmed the feature never gained real traction. Developers are now adopting AI-powered app snippets and ‘simultaneous installs’ instead.
  • With low adoption, Google wants to reallocate resources to tools that offer better engagement and growth.

What This Means for Developers

  • After December 2025, Instant App publishing stops, all related APIs and SDKs are deprecated.
  • Existing Instant App users may still run old ones—but new development is no longer possible.
  • If you use Instant Apps today, it’s time to plan a migration to other formats:
    • Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
    • App Clips / Modular installs
    • Google Play’s new AI‑assisted discovery features

See Also – Google Removes “Social Share” from Pixel Camera in Version 9.9

Is Instant Apps Useful?

  • Despite initial hype, developer feedback suggests most never encountered a working Instant App in the wild
  • One developer on r/androiddev said:

“Instant app is a failure” — reflecting on its limited adoption despite potential use cases

Takeaway for Your Blog Readers

  • Deadline: Android Instant Apps sunset in December 2025—mark this if you still maintain one.
  • No official support = no updates.
  • Explore alternatives now: PWA, app clips, or Google’s new AI tools.
  • Don’t panic-Instant Apps never disrupted the install flow, and users can keep using existing ones temporarily.
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