Google has officially announced that it is ending support for Instant Apps, the ability to run Android apps without installing them directly on the device. According to company representatives, the reason is simple: low popularity and weak user engagement.
Instant Apps emerged in 2017 as a potentially convenient way to let users try an app or game without having to download and install it. Essentially, they were demos that launched via a link to quickly demonstrate the program’s capabilities. However, as Google has acknowledged, developers are increasingly using other methods, such as AI recommendations and promoting apps within the Google Play ecosystem.
The first to notice the change was developer Leon Omelan, who noticed a warning in Android Studio: “ Publishing and all Instant Apps APIs will be disabled, and tool support will disappear from the Android Studio Otter Feature Drop .” This information was later confirmed by Google’s press service. The service will stop working in December 2025.
Now Google is betting on more effective engagement tools: we are talking about full-fledged installations, support for AI algorithms and a new user experience, where demo modes become less relevant.