Android phones will soon get approved app stores beyond Google Play

Google will begin certifying rival app stores for Android on December 1, 2026. Approved stores will be able to install and update apps with much of the ease of Google Play. The catch is timing. The feature needs Android 17 QPR2, a later update to Android 17, so few phones can use it at first.

What changed

Google has published updated guidelines for its Registered App Stores program, and app stores can now apply for approval. Once approved, a store can offer its apps outside the Play Store with far fewer restrictions. These stores will use their own billing and fee systems. Google will oversee security standards for the stores and their apps.

What approved stores can do

Today, apps installed outside the Play Store, often called sideloaded apps, need extra security permissions and do not update on their own. Registered stores are meant to remove those hurdles.

• One-tap installs without an extra system confirmation screen
• Automatic background updates for apps and games, like the Play Store
• The ability to send announcements and status updates to users

Who can use it first

Very few people at the start. About 1% of Android devices run Android 17 right now. Android Police says supported Google Pixel phones are the main ones that can use it. Many phone makers, including Samsung, have only rolled out Android 17 based on QPR1, which is not enough. That figure should grow slowly as more makers adopt Android 17.

Where it applies

Verified storefronts are available in select countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UAE and the United Kingdom, among others. In the United States, Google already lets rival stores such as the Epic Store distribute directly inside the Play Store. That follows remedies Google agreed to in its court settlement.

What is not known yet

No store has been confirmed as applied or approved. Android Police expects Aptoide to be the first approved in the US. Amazon App Store and Epic Games Store may also apply, given their size and reach. Google announced the program in March 2026, amid antitrust pressure from its Epic Games litigation and settlement effort and the EU Digital Markets Act. When most phones will get the needed update is unclear.