Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here's how it works [Gallery]

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 20 original reports

1. Mon, 10 August 2026

   2 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories13:25
     Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here's how it works [Gallery]

     Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here's how it works [Gallery] 9to5Google Third-party app stores are rolling out in Google Play, but there's only one right now Ars Technica The first rival Android app store just arrived in the US Play Store The Verge Aptoide Returns to Google Play After More Than a Decade, Opening a New Chapter for Competition on Android PR Newswire An Android App Store Competitor Is Available In The Play Store Engadget

   • Google News - Top Stories15:44first to report
     Following Epic loss, Google has started hosting rival app stores in the Play Store

     Following Epic loss, Google has started hosting rival app stores in the Play Store Ars Technica Aptoide Returns to Google Play After More Than a Decade, Opening a New Chapter for Competition on Android PR Newswire The first rival Android app store just arrived in the US Play Store The Verge An Android App Store Competitor Is Available In The Play Store Engadget Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here's how it works [Gallery] 9to5Google

2. Thu, 13 August 2026

   1 report
   • Google News - Top Stories21:53
     ‘That is not acceptable’: Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

     ‘That is not acceptable’: Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier The Verge Aptoide Returns to Google Play After More Than a Decade, Opening a New Chapter for Competition on Android PR Newswire Following Epic loss, Google has started hosting rival app stores in the Play Store Ars Technica An Android App Store Competitor Is Available In The Play Store Engadget Is Aptoide safe? I tried Android's first alternative app store on Google Play - and it's a mess ZDNET

3. Fri, 14 August 2026

   3 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories13:25
     Google will make rival Android app stores easier to find after judge says process is 'not acceptable' yet

     Google will make rival Android app stores easier to find after judge says process is 'not acceptable' yet 9to5Google ‘That is not acceptable’: Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier The Verge Google ordered to make it easier to download alternative Android app stores Ars Technica Aptoide Returns to Google Play After More Than a Decade, Opening a New Chapter for Competition on Android PR Newswire An Android App Store Competitor Is Available In The Play Store Engadget

   • thenextweb.com14:44
     Judge orders Google to make rival app stores easy to install

     The Epic v Google compliance order gives Google a week to remove the extra taps and warning screens blocking installs of rival Android app stores.

   • Google News - Top Stories15:46
     Judge gives Google one week to fix "anticompetitive" app store download in Google Play - arstechnica.com

     Judge gives Google one week to fix "anticompetitive" app store download in Google Play arstechnica.com ‘That is not acceptable’: Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier The Verge Google Play Store starts distributing third-party Android app stores – here's how it works [Gallery] 9to5google.com Judge Tells Google to Make It Easier to Install Third-Party App Stores CNET Google ordered to remove scary warnings when installing third-party app stores Android Authority

4. Sat, 15 August 2026

   1 report
   • indiatimes.com08:17
     Google has one week to fix Play Store: Here’s what will be different for Android users

     Google has been told to stop making rival app stores hard to find. In a San Francisco courtroom on Thursday, US District Judge James Donato ruled that the company's first attempt at carrying third-party app stores inside Google Play was loaded with what he called "anticompetitive friction", and gave Google one week to strip it out.

5. Tue, 18 August 2026

   2 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories20:26
     Google begins rolling out Android’s controversial new sideloading flow

     Google begins rolling out Android’s controversial new sideloading flow Android Authority Google’s new Android sideloading rules are arriving early for power users Android Police Google 'gradually' rolling out Android's 'advanced' sideloading ahead of developer verification 9to5Google The Android gravy train is over! Google starts to roll out new app sideloading restrictions – here's why that's a good thing t3.com Google gradually introduces extended sideloading flow for Android heise online

   • Google News - Top Stories21:50
     Google 'gradually' rolling out Android's 'advanced' sideloading ahead of developer verification

     Google 'gradually' rolling out Android's 'advanced' sideloading ahead of developer verification 9to5Google Google’s new Android sideloading rules are arriving early for power users Android Police The Android gravy train is over! Google starts to roll out new app sideloading restrictions – here's why that's a good thing t3.com Google gradually introduces extended sideloading flow for Android heise online I checked every sideloaded app on my phone against Google's new rules; here's what breaks...

6. Mon, 24 August 2026

   3 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories08:32
     Android Pulse app may already be on your phone, and now we know what it does

     Android Pulse app may already be on your phone, and now we know what it does Android Authority What is the ‘Android Pulse’ app that just appeared in Google Play Store updates? 9to5Google What Is This 'Android Pulse' App Appearing on Everybody's Phones? Lifehacker Google has sneaked a mysterious new app onto your Android phone — and now we think we know what it does TechRadar Your Android phone has a mystery app you probably never installed Absolute Geeks

   • Google News - Top Stories14:15
     Google Maps bug won’t show traffic data on Android Auto and more

     Google Maps bug won’t show traffic data on Android Auto and more 9to5Google Your Android Auto just lost a critical driving feature, and no one knows why Android Police Google fixed this Google Maps issue on mobile, but it's back now on Android Auto Android Authority Google Maps Traffic Data Goes Missing on Android Auto Android Headlines Google AI Update Blamed for Google Maps Rerouting Bug, Users Reaching Out to Dealers autoevolution

   • Google News - Top Stories16:11
     Google pushed a mysterious app to the Play Store; here’s what it actually does

     Google pushed a mysterious app to the Play Store; here’s what it actually does Android Police What is the ‘Android Pulse’ app that just appeared in Google Play Store updates? 9to5Google What Is This 'Android Pulse' App Appearing on Everybody's Phones? Lifehacker Google has sneaked a mysterious new app onto your Android phone — and now we think we know what it does TechRadar Your Android phone has a mystery app you probably never installed Absolute Geeks

7. Thu, 27 August 2026

   2 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories14:27
     AI’s memory crunch is coming for Android apps

     AI’s memory crunch is coming for Android apps TechCrunch Google tells Android app developers to cool it on memory use, or else The Verge Google Play mandating reduced memory usage & seamless device migration in 2027 9to5Google Google is Optimizing Android for the Component Crisis Thurrott.com Android apps will be forced to use less memory in 2027—here's why How-To Geek

   • Google News - Top Stories18:33
     Google tells Android app developers to cool it on memory use, or else

     Google tells Android app developers to cool it on memory use, or else The Verge AI’s memory crunch is coming for Android apps TechCrunch Google Play mandating reduced memory usage & seamless device migration in 2027 9to5Google Android apps will be forced to use less memory in 2027—here's why How-To Geek Google is Optimizing Android for the Component Crisis Thurrott.com

8. Mon, 31 August 2026

   1 report
   • engadget.com23:30
     How to make sure your Android phone is secure

     Android's security and privacy settings can be overwhelming, so you should take the time to make sure your device is locked down as you expect.

9. Tue, 1 September 2026

   2 reports
   • Google News - Top Stories18:00
     5 new features coming to your phone with the September 2026 Android Drop

     5 new features coming to your phone with the September 2026 Android Drop Android Authority A New Android Find Hub Feature Will Help You Remember Where You Put Important Things Engadget Google's September Android Feature Drop Is Here, and There's a Lot of Good Stuff Android Headlines

   • Google News - Top Stories18:00
     New Android Drop adds remembered items in Find Hub, makes anti-nausea dots official

     New Android Drop adds remembered items in Find Hub, makes anti-nausea dots official Ars Technica Sept. 2026 Android Drop: Find Hub ‘Remembered’ list, Motion Assist, & Keep in Google Messages 9to5Google September Android Drop brings 5 new features to Pixel and Galaxy phones PhoneArena

10. Fri, 4 September 2026

    1 report
    • Google News - Top Stories17:30
      Your older Pixel phone may finally be getting Quick Share AirDrop support

      Your older Pixel phone may finally be getting Quick Share AirDrop support Android Authority Google’s Pixel Tablet quietly gains support for Quick Share iPhone transfers Android Authority Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 owners are reporting a surprising new feature PhoneArena Quick Share AirDrop compatibility could soon arrive on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 Digital Trends

11. Sat, 5 September 2026

    1 report
    • Google News - Top Stories17:19
      Your Android phone might soon double as a wireless mouse for Googlebook

      Your Android phone might soon double as a wireless mouse for Googlebook Chrome Unboxed

12. Tue, 8 September 2026

    1 report
    • Google News - Top Stories16:00
      Google Chrome starts two-week release cycle with version 153

      Google Chrome starts two-week release cycle with version 153 9to5Google Chrome is now shipping updates every 2 weeks as AI changes the security landscape TechCrunch Chrome v153 early stable version is now available for Windows and Android PiunikaWeb Your Chrome browser is getting 2x more updates than ever before, as Google promises faster fixes and features GB News Google moves Chrome to a two-week update cycle — TechCrunch UA.NEWS