June 16, 2025, 3:01 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
In 2017, Google introduced so-called Instant Apps. As the name suggests, these apps were meant to be available directly without installation. They function similarly to Apple App Clips, which allow actions like ordering in a restaurant or riding an e-scooter without needing to download a separate app. The feature apparently wasn’t used enough, as Google has now announced its discontinuation.
Google Discontinues Development Tool for Instant Apps
According to “Android Authority,” Google will only support Instant Apps until the end of 2025. This information comes from a notice on the developer platform Android Studio. When hovering over the associated app packages in the application, the following message appears:
“Support for Instant Apps will be discontinued by Google Play in December 2025. Publishing and all Google Play Instant APIs will no longer function. Tool support will be removed in the Android Studio Otter Feature Drop.”
Currently, developers can download a separate Software Development Kit (SDK) for “Google Play Instant Development.” Creating Instant Apps is therefore an extra step that does not automatically occur with the development of the main app.
Few Instant Apps Available
According to “Android Authority,” some companies like Vimeo and Wish have developed their own Instant Apps. However, the requirement that such an app must not exceed 15 megabytes has deterred many developers. Overall, the implementation rate fell short of Google’s expectations. This is likely the reason the company is now discontinuing the feature.
For users, Instant Apps were hardly visible in everyday life. The option to use such an app only appears in certain cases, such as when visiting a provider’s or service’s website where the app download link is provided. When clicking the link, Google Play checks if an Instant App is available—or not. Only when users click on the Instant App does it reach the smartphone.