Google will discontinue its Instant Apps feature in December 2025, a decision driven by declining usage and popularity.
Another shift is brewing in the tech industry. Google is preparing to sunset another service, this time its much-discussed Android Instant Apps feature. Launched in 2017 with high hopes, this feature allowed users to experience a limited application functionality without installing the full app. However, Google has officially announced that this service will be entirely removed from the Google Play Store starting December 2025.
What are Instant Apps and why were they special?
The concept of Android Instant Apps was simple yet impactful. This feature enabled users to access a lightweight version of an app by simply clicking a link, without needing to install anything. For example, if a user opened a link to an e-commerce website or game on Google Search, and an instant version of that application was available, it would open directly in a lightweight interface – without the hassle of downloading and installation.
This feature was particularly useful for users with limited smartphone storage or those who only wanted to try a demo of an app. Similar to Apple's App Clips, it was considered an alternative for smart mobile access.
Why did Google decide to discontinue it?
The discontinuation of Android Instant Apps is not sudden. Google had already hinted at this direction. In a canary (early) version of Android Studio, developer Leon Omelian received a pop-up alert explicitly stating:
'Instant Apps support will be removed from Google Play in December 2025. Google Play Instant APIs and publishing support will be shut down.'
Google spokesperson Nia Carter also confirmed this news, stating that developers are now using other tools for app discovery and that Instant Apps usage has become negligible. Therefore, the company wants to invest more in tools that are truly beneficial for both users and developers.
What will be the impact on developers?
This decision will directly impact mobile app developers. Many companies used Instant Apps to offer users trial experiences of their services. Removing these options will now require developers to make their apps entirely download-based. Additionally, the tooling support in Android Studio for developing and testing Instant Apps will be removed in an upcoming Feature Drop.
Another entry in the 'Killed by Google' list
Google discontinuing its services is nothing new. The company has already added numerous products and features to its 'Killed by Google' list. Some notable discontinued services include Google+, Inbox by Gmail, Google Hangouts, and recently, the first-generation Chromecast.
Google replaced Chromecast with the new Google TV Streamer, which included enhanced content support and UI improvements. This clearly shows Google's belief in removing unnecessary or underutilized services at the cost of innovation.
What will be the impact on users?
The Instant Apps feature proved to be a boon for users who wanted to experience a smaller version of an application while browsing the internet – such as game demos, shopping carts, or payment gateway checkouts. Now that this feature will be discontinued from December 2025, users will be required to install the full app to use the application.
While this will make app usage slightly more complex, it could, on the other hand, help app developers achieve deeper user engagement.
