Plunging Google Play installs pull down mobile performance as X struggles to maintain revenue momentum
Android Downloads Plunge, Impacting Growth
X’s Android app is losing steam.
In July 2025, new installs of Elon Musk’s X app on Google Play dropped by 44% year-over-year. This steep decline comes despite a 15% growth in iOS installs during the same period.
- This led to a 26% decrease in total mobile downloads, down from a 35% drop in June.
- The consistent fall on Android is dragging down X’s overall mobile presence.
A Buggy Android Experience Is to Blame
Android users face a subpar experience.
The Android version of X is buggy, frequently crashes, and lacks the polish of its iOS counterpart.
- Nikita Bier, the new Head of Product, acknowledged the issue by announcing a hiring push for an “Android Dream Team.”
- The goal is to rebuild the app from scratch, focusing on speed, stability, and performance.
- Meanwhile, Bier celebrated iOS success, likely to offset the negative Android headlines.
Rival Apps Not Filling the Gap – Yet
Where are Android users going?
Though Bluesky is a well-known alternative, it only garnered 119,000 downloads in July—a fraction compared to X.
- Meta’s Threads, however, is quietly gaining ground in terms of daily active users, potentially luring away some of X’s Android base.
Subscription Revenue Feels the Impact
Declining installs are hitting X’s bottom line.
In-app subscription revenue fell to $16.9 million in July, down from $18.8 million in March. This slight recovery from June’s $16.8 million wasn’t enough to reverse the downward trend.
- Most revenue still comes from ads, but the dip in subscriptions signals waning user engagement.
- A contributing factor: the emergence of Grok’s stand-alone app, which may be cannibalizing users who previously subscribed to X for its AI features.
A Wake-Up Call for X’s Android Strategy
X must act fast to stop the bleeding.
While iOS performance offers a silver lining, the massive Android user base can’t be neglected. A revitalized Android app could help X reclaim lost ground, retain users, and stabilize revenue streams.
