Google Opens Registered App Stores Applications, Excludes US

Google has opened applications for its Registered App Stores program, letting third-party Android app marketplaces outside the United States seek certification for faster installs ahead of a rollout later this year, according to Ars Technica.

What does the Registered App Stores program actually change?

Stores accepted into the program get two mechanical changes on Android devices: users can install an app from that store in a single click, matching the Play Store experience, and the store can push silent background updates the way Google's own store does. Google first announced the framework in March; the application window opened this week, with device-level support arriving "later this year," a Google spokesperson told Ars Technica.

Why isn't the program available to US stores?

In the United States, third-party stores are distributed inside Google Play itself under a 2026 court order stemming from Epic Games' antitrust win before Judge James Donato. Google had tried to fold that US remedy and the international Registered App Stores plan into a single settlement with Epic that gave Google more control over both, but the companies withdrew the settlement after the court signaled it would not approve it. Registered App Stores now exists only as the international track; US users instead find alternative stores listed inside Google Play, where Aptoide remains the sole listing, per Ars Technica.

What do stores have to do to get certified?

Applicants must document compliance with a published set of requirements covering intellectual-property protection, removal of illegal content, and separate privacy policies for users and developers, all submitted in English. Google also imposes ongoing security obligations meant to prevent the channel from becoming an easier path for malware onto Android devices, and store operators must upload copies of all their apps as part of the review.

How much does certification cost?

Participation carries a $10,000 annual fee, which Google requires upfront before it will review an application. Google says the fee covers the additional security vetting the program requires, according to the company's published program terms cited by Ars Technica.

What is Google saying about the launch?

"In March, we announced the Registered App Stores program to give third-party app stores a more streamlined way to reach users while maintaining the safety and security of the Android ecosystem," a Google spokesperson said. "Eligible app stores outside the US can now apply to register their stores ahead of the new simplified installation experience rolling out to users later this year."

What is the timeline from here?

March 2026: Google announces the Registered App Stores framework. Mid-2026: Google and Epic attempt a joint settlement covering both the US court remedy and the international program, then withdraw it after the court signals it won't approve the terms. Late October 2026: Google opens applications for eligible non-US stores, with the $10,000 fee due at submission. Later this year: Google begins rolling the simplified, single-click install experience out to supported Android devices for approved stores.

The arrangement leaves US Android users on a separate, court-mandated track inside Google Play rather than the voluntary certification system now opening abroad.

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