Google to Allow Competing App Stores Inside Play Store Starting July 22

Google will let users find and install rival app stores directly within the Play Store from July 22, 2026, after withdrawing a joint motion with Epic Games, marking a major shift in Android app distribution in the US.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

Google will begin allowing competing app stores to be listed inside the Google Play Store starting July 22, 2026, following the withdrawal of a joint motion with Epic Games that sought to amend a previous court ruling. The changes, which apply only in the United States, mean users can discover and install alternative app storefronts without having to sideload them manually.

Previously, rival app stores on Android had to be installed by downloading an APK file outside of Google Play. The court had ruled in 2024 that Google held an illegal monopoly in the Android app market. As part of the remedies imposed by Judge James Donato, Google must also grant competing stores access to its existing app catalog and lower certain fees.

Google had earlier proposed a "Registered App Stores" model that would still require installation outside the Play Store. However, both Google and Epic jointly requested amendments to the original order and then withdrew that request shortly before a court hearing. Google said it wants to end the ongoing uncertainty for the Android ecosystem.

The antitrust case stems from Epic's frustration with the 30% cut on in-app purchases in Fortnite, which led Epic to add a direct payment option in violation of app store rules. Fortnite was removed from both the App Store and Google Play in 2020.

In the European Union, alternative Android app stores are already allowed but must be downloaded outside of Google Play. On iOS in the EU, Apple permits alternative app marketplaces under the Digital Markets Act, but they must be installed via a browser and explicitly approved by the user, not through the App Store. No similar option exists on iOS in the US.