Although the Google Play Store remains the preferred option for Android apps, there are multiple alternatives out there. One of them is the Amazon Appstore which was built for Amazon’s Fire OS devices. New reports suggest that Amazon’s dedicated app hub could be facing issues with the latest Android 12 update.
Users have taken to Amazon’s support forum to voice their concerns (via), and it appears to be more widespread than initially anticipated. As per some users, Amazon’s DRM could be causing the issue, affecting both paid and free apps on the platform. Other users are facing trouble finding their app library on the Amazon Appstore.
Notably, the issue first popped up in October as devices started receiving the Android 12 update. With more phones getting the new software update, the complaints are expectedly growing in number. Amazon says it’s aware of the issue and is working to fix the problem and give users a resolution as quickly as possible.
According to an Amazon spokesperson Amazon is “aware and working to resolve an issue impacting app performance and launches for the small number of Amazon Appstore users that have upgraded to Android 12 on their mobile devices. This issue does not impact Amazon Fire Tablets or Fire TV devices.”
Microsoft’s new Windows 11 operating system supports the Amazon Appstore
In the interim, the company is running a notice for its users which reads – “We’re excited about Android 12 too. Unfortunately, we’re working through some issues. Thank you for your patience as we get your Appstore back.”
Android 12 betas had been around for several months before the stable update started rolling out. So it’s surprising that Amazon couldn’t foresee this during the early testing of the new software. If your device doesn’t have Android 12 yet, the Amazon Appstore should continue to work normally.
Fortunately for Amazon, Android 12 is only available on Pixel devices and Samsung’s early 2021 flagships. However, more devices are getting the update in the coming weeks. So if you rely on the Amazon Appstore for apps and games, we recommend holding off on the new software update until a fix is available.
In June, Microsoft announced that the Windows 11 operating system would officially support the sideloading of Android apps. The company has built the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) to enable support for Android apps. Moreover, the new desktop OS can install apps and games directly from the Amazon Appstore.
Update: December 17, 2021
Amazon has now confirmed that a fix for the issue has been released. It will be contacting customers with next steps to update and improve the App Store experience.
2021-12-18 15:04:56