Google has opened applications for the Registered App Stores program, the route that brings third-party app stores into Android. The program does not cover the United States: there, after losing its case with Epic Games, alternative stores reach Google Play by court order. Outside the US, joining is voluntary.
The idea began as a fallback. After Judge James Donato's ruling, Google had to allow third-party billing and catalogue sharing with rival stores, and the heaviest obligation was distributing those stores inside Google Play. Registered App Stores were meant as an alternative to that hosting, provided stores met a baseline of trust and security. Google wanted to use the program in the US too, but the American version stalled once the court signalled it would not be approved.
https://support.google.com
Applicants must meet a list of conditions: protect intellectual property, remove illegal content, publish a privacy policy for users and developers, and keep ongoing security measures that stop malware from reaching devices more easily. The application must include documentation in English and copies of every app the store distributes.
Participation costs $10,000 a year, payable before Google reviews the application. Google says the fee covers the support needed to run the program. If a store turns out to host malware, further review fees may apply.
Support will roll out across a broad region covering most of the world outside the US and Europe. The program goes live on December 1, but it only works on devices running the latest Android 17 builds. Google says it will start with Android 17 QPR2, expected on Pixel phones in the coming weeks. Most phones sold in those markets are not Pixels and receive slower updates, so many devices there may never get a compatible build.
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