The Rise and Fall of Chrome Apps: What You Need to Know

Google's Chrome browser is one of the most popular browsers on Android devices, and its features and improvements have made it a staple for many users. One of the key reasons behind its popularity is that it comes pre-installed on nearly all Android devices. However, another feature that was once part of the Chrome browser has been slowly phased out - Chrome Apps.

In recent years, Google has announced several dates for ending support for Chrome Apps on various platforms. In June 2022, the company will stop supporting Chrome Apps on Chrome OS for all customers, with the exception of those with Chrome Enterprise and Chrome Education Upgrade who will have access to a policy to extend support through that date.

This is not the first time Chrome Apps have faced an end-of-life announcement. In June 2021, Google stopped supporting Chrome Apps on Chrome OS, followed by the discontinuation of NaCl, PNaCl, and PPAPI APIs in June 2021. Additionally, in December 2020, support for Chrome Apps was ended on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, with a policy to extend support through that date for customers with Chrome Enterprise and Chrome Education Upgrade.

The reason behind this phase-out is the low adoption rate of Chrome Apps among users. Originally, Google announced in 2016 that Chrome apps would stop being supported on Windows, macOS, and Linux because only one percent of users had installed them. The company had initially planned to discontinue support for Chrome Apps on these platforms back then, but was later spared several more years before the final end-of-life announcement.

What does this mean for users? For those who use Chrome apps regularly, there is a good chance that they can be found in a different format, such as an Android app or a Chrome extension. Additionally, some Chrome Apps will redirect users to a website where they can continue to use them as traditional web apps. However, for those who own Chromebooks and rely on Chrome Apps, this change may have a more significant impact.

In conclusion, the discontinuation of Chrome Apps is unlikely to have a major impact on how most users experience the web. The rise of Android apps and Chrome extensions has overshadowed Chrome Apps, which never really caught on with developers. While it's sad to see Chrome Apps go, this change marks an opportunity for developers to focus on creating new and innovative experiences for users.

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