Google announced it will retire Instant Apps in December, ending a feature that allowed users to run lightweight versions of apps without full installation.
Instant Apps required developers to create a special version under 15MB, which limited adoption. As mobile apps increasingly mirror their websites, the utility of Instant Apps diminished. Consequently, developer interest stayed low, and users rarely encountered the feature.
Instant Apps were delivered through Google Play Services and could be toggled via the “Google Play Instant” setting on Android devices. Few apps currently support the feature; one remaining example is from Finnish publisher Ilta-Sanomat.
With limited uptake and evolving mobile usage patterns, Google’s decision to retire Instant Apps reflects the feature’s declining relevance.