Google opens Android to third-party app stores July 22

Google will let third-party app stores in the US access its Play catalog of apps and games starting July 22.

Third-party stores gain catalog access through a new program. The company launched the Play Catalog Access Program and notified developers that their submitted app and game listings will become available to registered external Android app stores. Those stores will be able to offer the products to users, though downloads will still route through Google Play and the company's service fees will continue to apply.

The change complies with a court order stemming from Google's legal battle with Epic Games. Google and Epic reached a settlement in November 2025 that included a modified version of the injunction originally imposed by US District Judge James Donato.

Earlier settlement plan is withdrawn. In March the companies had proposed a "Registered App Stores" program that would have given participating stores a simplified sideload installation flow. They have now withdrawn the modified settlement and will no longer argue it in court on July 16, according to The Verge.

With the Play Catalog Access Program, third-party stores will instead be downloadable directly from within Google Play itself. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson told The Verge the company agreed with Epic to withdraw the motion rather than prolong uncertainty for the ecosystem.

Program carries fees and strict requirements. Third-party stores must pay Google an upfront $5,000 service fee for security review during onboarding and another $5,000 annually to maintain catalog access. They must target users only in the US and are legally barred from using the Play catalog to distribute apps outside the country. The stores must also meet a lengthy set of additional requirements.

Broader changes accompany the catalog access. As part of the Epic settlement Google opened the Play store to outside billing systems and reduced its commission on app purchases from 30 percent to 10 percent. Developers can now offer alternative payment methods or direct users to their own websites for purchases inside app or game listings.

Jackson said the move lets Google focus on a recently announced global business model evolution aimed at delivering greater app store choice, lower prices and more opportunities for developers and users. The company remains committed to Android's security and a competitive ecosystem, he added.