[Update: Fixed] Amazon Appstore is broken on Android 12

Ben Schoon | Dec 19 2021 - 7:01 am PT

While the Google Play Store is the best place for Android apps, the Amazon Appstore is one of the few reasonably viable alternatives. However, Android 12 has almost entirely broken the Amazon Appstore, and the fix isn’t exactly around the corner.

Update 12/19: Speaking to Engadget, Amazon confirmed that the Amazon Appstore has been updated to properly support Android 12. A spokesperson explained:

We have released a fix for an issue impacting app launches for Amazon Appstore customers that have upgraded to Android 12 on their mobile devices. We are contacting customers with steps to update their Appstore experience. We are sorry for any disruption this has caused.

As originally highlighted by the folks over at PiunikaWeb earlier this month, users are reporting that the Amazon Appstore isn’t fully compatible with Android 12. Amazon itself confirmed this issue, saying that the technical team is “aware” of the problem, as a staff member explained on the company’s forums.

Earlier this week, the Appstore also added a notice about the issues.

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.

In the month since this issue was first identified, Amazon still has not rolled out a fix.

What’s the problem? It appears to be that Amazon’s DRM solution is not playing properly with Android 12, resulting in problems with both free and paid applications downloaded from the store, as pointed out by Lilliputing.

While this issue is likely only affecting a small number of users for the time being, it’ll certainly be a bigger frustration as companies such as Samsung expand their Android 12 rollouts.

Update: After this story was published, Amazon offered a statement on the matter to 9to5Google.

We are 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.