Google ordered to simplify third-party app store installation in US

A U.S. federal judge has ordered Google to simplify the process for users to install third-party Android app stores through the Google Play Store. U.S. District Judge James Donato ruled that Google’s current implementation creates “anticompetitive friction” by introducing unnecessary steps that discourage users from choosing alternative stores.

The court order mandates three specific changes to the user experience in the United States: first, when users search for terms like “app stores” or “store for apps,” the Play Store must directly display relevant alternative stores; second, the “View” button currently used before installation must be replaced with an “Install” button; and third, the intermediate “Looking for an app store?” confirmation screen must be eliminated.

This ruling is a development in the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Google. Epic Games argued that Google and Samsung used complicated installation processes to prevent users from adopting external marketplaces. While Google has already begun allowing third-party stores on the Play Store following previous court orders, the judge determined that the current method of redirecting users to intermediate pages effectively hides these alternatives.