Google will make rival Android app stores easier to find after judge says process is ‘not acceptable’ yet

Following the arrival of third-party Android app stores on Google Play earlier this week, a judge in Google’s ongoing court battle has said that the current state is “not acceptable,” and Google will make changes as a result. The first third-party Android app store went live in Google Play earlier this week, with Aptoide Games available for download. And it works rather seamlessly, certainly a whole lot better than the sideloading process went before. Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here’s how it works [Gallery] The one catch with this debut, though, was that accessing third-party app stores is not exactly the easiest process. Google noted that you’ll need either a direct link or specific search phrases to find third-party stores, and the judge is not happy about that. As The Verge reports, Judge Donato in the long-running court case said that the current state of finding third-party app stores in Google Play is “not acceptable,” taking issue with search keywords such as “store for apps” not turning up third-party stores. Donato expressed that “every possible variation that’s even only 70 percent properly phrased” should show stores correctly, and Google says it will make changes accordingly. Third-party stores will also be treated more like standard apps, with an “Install” button set to be added in place of the existing “View” button. Donato gave Google a week to make these changes, also arguing that the “are you looking for” banner is “friction… that has no purpose whatsoever.” More on Android: What’s new in Android’s August 2026 Google System Updates Google Chrome starts rolling out updated navigation bar with Gemini button on Android [Gallery] Google Assistant shutting down on Android and Wear OS in September Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.