Elon Musk’s social media platform X is grappling with a significant setback on Android, where new app installs plummeted by 44% year-over-year in July 2025, according to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures. In stark contrast, X’s iOS downloads surged by 15% over the same period, highlighting a growing divide between the two mobile ecosystems. The Android slump dragged X’s overall mobile downloads down by 26% compared to July 2024, a slight improvement from June’s 35% drop, when Android installs had cratered by 49%.

“The Android app has been a persistent pain point for X,” said an Appfigures analyst, noting user complaints about frequent crashes and sluggish performance. Newly appointed X head of product Nikita Bier, renowned for scaling teen apps like Gas and TBH before selling them, acknowledged the issue in a recent X post, announcing the formation of an “Android Dream Team” to overhaul the troubled app.

Bier also highlighted a record week for X’s iOS app installs, a move analysts see as an attempt to shift focus from the Android decline. However, the numbers tell a grim story: X’s Android struggles are eroding its mobile dominance, particularly in emerging markets where Android devices prevail. While rival Bluesky saw modest growth with 119,000 Google Play downloads in July, it pales against X’s millions. Yet, Meta’s Threads is closing the gap, with 115.1 million daily active users in June 2025, up 127.8% year-over-year, compared to X’s 132 million, down 15.2%. “Threads is becoming a real threat,” said a tech industry observer, suggesting some Android users may be migrating to the rival platform.

The Android downturn is also hitting X’s bottom line. Subscription revenue fell to $16.9 million in July 2025, down from $18.8 million in March, though slightly up from June’s $16.8 million, per Appfigures. “The decline in Android installs is a key driver,” the firm noted, adding that X’s reliance on advertising, which still accounts for most of its revenue, masks the severity of the subscription slump. Another factor is the rise of Grok, xAI’s standalone AI chatbot app, which is siphoning off users who previously paid for X’s premium tiers to access AI features.

Musk’s vision to transform X into an “everything app” integrating social media, payments, and AI is under pressure as Android’s technical issues and competition from Threads and Grok threaten user retention. “Fixing the Android app isn’t just about stability—it’s about restoring trust,” said a mobile app strategist. With Bier’s team racing to rebuild, X’s ability to reverse this slide will be critical to its global ambitions.