Elon Musk’s X is facing challenges on Android devices, with new installs declining significantly while downloads on the App Store continue to grow. According to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures, X downloads on Google Play dropped by 44% year-over-year worldwide in July 2025. Meanwhile, iOS downloads increased by 15%. This sharp decline in Android installs has dragged down X’s overall mobile downloads, resulting in a 26% decrease year-over-year as of July. While this is an improvement from the previous month—when total downloads fell by 35% due to a 49% drop in Android installs—the trend remains concerning.
The report did not pinpoint the exact reasons behind the Android decline but noted that the X app on Android has long been problematic for the company. Recently hired X Head of Product Nikita Bier, known for his expertise in growing teen-focused social apps like Gas and TBH, has hinted at efforts to address Android-specific issues. The app is notorious for being buggy and prone to crashes. Bier announced that X is assembling an “Android Dream Team” to rebuild the app, signaling a focus on improving the platform’s performance. He also highlighted that the iOS app recently had a record week for installs, possibly to offset attention from the Android slump.
The data raises questions about where potential X Android users are turning. While rival Bluesky has seen slowing growth—with just 119,000 downloads on Google Play in July—Meta’s Threads has been gaining traction. Threads’ daily active users are reportedly catching up to X on mobile devices, suggesting some Android users may be migrating there.
Beyond download struggles, X is also experiencing a decline in subscription revenue. Appfigures reported that X earned $16.9 million in net revenue in July, down from $18.8 million in March 2025, though slightly up from June’s $16.8 million. The majority of X’s revenue still comes from ads rather than premium subscriptions. The drop in Android demand is partly to blame, but X is also losing paying customers to Grok, which now has its own standalone app. Many users who subscribed to X for AI features may be shifting to Grok instead.