The once-promising X (formerly Twitter) is facing an unexpected crisis on the Android platform. New installs have plummeted by 44% year-over-year in July 2025, according to app intelligence provider Appfigures. This staggering decline has not only affected X's overall mobile downloads but also pulled down its average, leading to a 26% decrease in total mobile downloads year-over-year as of July.
In contrast, iOS downloads have grown by 15%, providing a stark contrast to the struggling Android platform. The dip in Android installs is particularly notable, with the X app on Android being notoriously buggy and prone to crashes. To address these issues, recently hired X head of product Nikita Bier has announced plans to hire an "Android Dream Team" to work on rebuilding the X Android app.
Bier's efforts to revamp the app are a response to the growing concerns surrounding the platform's performance. The recent slump in Android downloads suggests that users are increasingly choosing alternative platforms, such as Bluesky or Meta's Threads. While Meta's Threads has gained significant traction with daily active users, it is unclear where X's lost subscribers are heading.
Grok, a rival app, has been gaining ground by attracting users who were previously subscribing to X primarily for its AI features. This shift in user behavior has further exacerbated the revenue concerns surrounding X. In July 2025, X earned $16.9 million in net revenue, down from $18.8 million in March 2025 and $16.8 million in June.
The decline in Android installs is also affecting X's subscription revenue, which continues to be a major contributor to the company's overall income. While X still generates most of its revenue from advertising, the dwindling demand for premium subscriptions is a pressing concern. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether X can regain its footing on Android and revive its subscription revenue.
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