Google has announced a major update to Android’s app distribution rules, making it easier for users to install third-party app stores. The company is introducing a Registered App Stores program that aims to simplify the sideloading process while addressing long-standing disputes with Epic Games. This move could significantly alter the Android app ecosystem by reducing barriers for alternative app stores and developers.

Simplified Installation for Alternative App Stores

Under the new system, third-party app stores that meet Google’s quality and safety standards can register with the company. Once registered, users will encounter fewer steps and warnings when installing these stores outside the Google Play Store. This change is intended to give users more flexibility while ensuring a safer experience.

App stores that do not join the program will continue to function as normal sideloaded apps, with no changes to their installation process. Google plans to launch the program outside the United States first, with a potential U.S. rollout later, pending court approval.

Legal Resolution with Epic Games

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, welcomed the changes, stating on X that Google is ‘opening up Android all the way with strong support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers.’ He added that all disputes between Epic and Google had been settled worldwide.

Epic Games had sued Google in 2020, alleging that the Play Store’s rules restricted competition in app distribution and in-app payments. In 2023, a jury ruled in Epic’s favor, and courts later upheld remedies requiring Google to make changes to promote competition from alternative app stores and payment systems.

Changes to Billing and Developer Fees

Alongside the sideloading changes, Google announced revisions to Play Store billing rules and developer fees. The company is introducing a new model that separates billing charges from platform service fees. This is expected to give developers more flexibility in processing payments while lowering some fees.

Google will roll out the updated Play Store fee model in phases, with the updated developer programs launching by September 30. The Registered App Stores program is expected to arrive with a major Android release by the end of the year.

Restrictions on APK Sideloading

However, Google has also introduced tighter controls around APK sideloading on Android. In August 2025, the company announced that it would restrict the installation of certain APK files downloaded from the internet starting in September 2026. This change will initially apply in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, where users will no longer be able to install apps that do not meet Google’s developer verification requirements.

Developers distributing apps outside the Play Store must now verify their identity through the Android Developer Console. This includes submitting business identification, such as a D-U-N-S number, and registering the app’s package name. According to Google, this requirement will help strengthen Android’s security systems.

Pushback from Open-Source Community

The policy has drawn pushback from some organizations in the open-source community. In February 2026, more than 40 organizations, including Proton AG, F-Droid, Nextcloud, and The Tor Project, urged Google to reverse the rule. They warned that mandatory developer registration could expand Google’s control over Android distribution and create barriers for independent developers.

Impact on Android Ecosystem

Google’s decision to streamline sideloading of third-party app stores could reshape competition in the Android ecosystem. Although Android technically allowed sideloading, Google’s warnings, installation prompts, and distribution rules made it difficult for rival app stores to reach mainstream users.

As a result, most developers still relied on the Play Store as the primary distribution channel. However, the new Registered App Stores framework lowers those barriers by allowing approved third-party stores to install more easily and distribute apps directly to users.

The new sideloading framework could strengthen the viability of rival app marketplaces and reduce developers’ reliance on the Play Store. At the same time, because participating stores must meet Google’s quality and safety benchmarks, the company will still shape which alternative marketplaces receive a smoother installation experience.

Moreover, Google has simultaneously tightened controls on other forms of sideloading. The company has announced that apps distributed outside the Play Store will require developer identity verification, including registration through the Android Developer Console. Consequently, while the new framework appears to expand distribution options, Google will still effectively retain oversight over how independent apps and marketplaces operate on Android.