Google Launches Registered App Stores Program for Android Outside the US

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Google is introducing a new Registered App Stores program to ease app installs from third-party stores internationally, excluding the US, starting December 1 on Android 17 devices.

Google has initiated a new program called Registered App Stores aimed at facilitating easier app installation from third-party app stores on Android devices outside the United States. The program, announced recently and set to go live on December 1, is a response to increased complexity following Google's legal defeat in the Epic Games antitrust case. While US users gain access to alternative app stores through Google Play by court order, international users will rely on a voluntary certification and approval process by Google.

To participate, third-party app stores must apply for Google’s approval and meet stringent requirements, such as protecting intellectual property, removing illegal content, maintaining a privacy policy for users and developers, and implementing security practices to limit malware risks. Google requires applicants to submit comprehensive documentation and copies of all their apps, with the application process including a $10,000 annual fee. Additional review fees may apply if malware issues arise.

Stores accepted into the program will receive benefits that improve user experience, including one-click app installations and the ability to update apps silently in the background, mirroring the functionality of the Google Play Store. This streamlined installation process is designed to make accessing apps from approved third-party stores as straightforward as from Google’s own store.

The program will roll out support on devices running the latest Android 17 builds—specifically starting with Android 17 QPR2, expected soon on Google Pixel phones. However, many devices in eligible regions outside the US and Europe may not upgrade to compatible versions, potentially limiting practical adoption.

Originally intended as part of a settlement between Google and Epic Games to host third-party stores within Google Play itself, the Registered App Stores program became an alternative after the settlement was withdrawn by the parties. As a result, while US users will continue to access alternative app stores via Google Play, internationally the program offers a new path for third-party app marketplaces to gain official recognition and smoother integration with the Android platform. Currently, only Aptoide is listed in the program as an approved store, with other applicants now invited to begin enrollment.

Google frames this initiative as balancing increased third-party store access with preserving the Android ecosystem's security and user safety. Although adoption challenges due to device update practices remain, the Registered App Stores program represents a significant evolution in Android’s app distribution landscape internationally.