A US judge has ordered Google to make it easier for Android users to find and install alternative app stores through Google Play, saying its current approach creates unnecessary anti-competitive barriers. The ruling matters because it strengthens remedies from Google’s antitrust case with Epic Games, which found that Google held a monopoly over Android app distribution.

Judge James Donato criticised Play Store searches that failed to surface alternative stores and instead returned unrelated physical retailers, as well as Google’s use of a “View” button rather than “Install” for Aptoide. Google agreed to address the concerns within a week. The changes follow a March 2026 commitment to support third-party stores, stemming from a late-2025 settlement with Epic and earlier court remedies.