US court orders Google to fix rival app store downloads on Play Store within 1 week
Judge in Epic Games v. Google rules that Google intentionally created anticompetitive barriers for third-party stores on Google Play, giving them 7 days to comply.
A US District Court has ordered Google to modify the search and download system for third-party app stores on the Google Play Store within one week, setting a deadline of August 20, 2026. The ruling follows the court's finding that the company intentionally continues to create "anticompetitive friction," despite having allowed alternative stores onto the Play Store under a previous ruling.
The order is part of the Epic Games v. Google antitrust lawsuit presided over by Judge James Donato. The court identified three issues that must be addressed immediately: search results that display retailers like Walmart instead of rival app stores like Aptoide Games when users type "store for apps" or the name of an external store; a download button that requires clicking "View" before the "Install" button appears, unlike regular apps that install instantly; and intimidating warning popups with multi-step verification processes that discourage users from completing downloads.
Google's lawyers cited installation permissions and security concerns, but the judge rejected the argument, stating clearly, "That is not acceptable." Google has agreed to terms to complete the process within one week.
This ruling reflects that the US court is not stopping at merely ordering Google to "open the door" to competitors, but is actively monitoring whether that access is genuine. If Google fails to meet the deadline, it could face additional measures from the court, while third-party stores on Android are likely to gain significantly easier access to users.
Android users globally, including most Thai users, may soon see alternative app stores more clearly and install them more easily on Google Play, leading to more download choices and price competition.