Google is preparing to make third-party app stores easier to use on Android by allowing approved platforms to install applications with fewer confirmation screens and deliver updates in the background.
The changes are part of its Registered App Stores program, which introduces a new approval process for alternative app marketplaces while requiring them to meet Google’s security standards.
Under the current system, Android users installing applications through third-party stores must grant installation permission and confirm individual installations and updates. Starting December 1, 2026, approved stores participating in Google’s Registered App Stores program will receive installation privileges automatically after approval. Their updates can also run in the background according to the user’s update settings.
The new features will be available only on devices running Android 17 QPR2 or later in supported countries. The United States is excluded from this rollout. Google has not yet announced a final release date for Android 17 QPR2, whose latest version was still in beta as of October 2026.
To qualify, third-party app stores must complete identity verification, register as an organization and submit their entire application catalog to Google for ongoing malware screening. They must also submit new applications and updates, including every version of their own store application, for security checks. According to Google’s official enrollment documentation, participating stores must pay a $10,000 annual fee before Google begins reviewing their applications.
Despite the simplified installation process, Google will continue to require explicit user consent for every app installation. Participating stores cannot silently install applications without permission, and large downloads or background installations must display visible notifications. If an installation begins on another device, the store must also provide a notification that remains visible until the user dismisses it.
Google is introducing additional safeguards to reduce the risk of malicious applications entering registered marketplaces. Participating stores must work to keep malware and potentially harmful applications out of their catalogs, address major security vulnerabilities and avoid interfering with competing app stores. They are also prohibited from hiding or modifying Android security notifications.
Registered stores will receive access to the Android Developer ID API, which allows them to check whether applications in their catalogs originate from verified developers. Google recommends blocking installations when an application fails the verification check.
The program also introduces financial penalties for stores with high levels of potentially harmful applications. If more than 1% of installation attempts or more than 2% of a store’s applications are identified as potentially harmful within a 30-day period, Google can charge additional fees for screening and cleaning up the catalog. Stores that violate the program’s requirements may be suspended until they resolve the issue, although Google says they will receive notice and an opportunity to address problems first.
Google will not directly moderate the content of registered stores, and each marketplace remains responsible for the applications it distributes. The company has also not publicly detailed the full scanning process, how quickly newly submitted applications are checked or what results participating stores receive.
The initiative follows Google’s March 2026 announcement of changes associated with its disputes with Epic Games. Participation remains optional, meaning third-party stores that do not join the program will continue operating under the existing Android installation process.
Separately, Google has been expanding Android developer verification, a program designed to establish the identities of application developers. The company began introducing these checks in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand on September 30, 2026, with plans to expand verification worldwide in 2027. The developer verification system is distinct from the Registered App Stores program, although the two initiatives work together to improve accountability across Android’s app ecosystem.
For Android users, the changes could make alternative app marketplaces more convenient while retaining consent requirements and security checks. However, the benefits will depend on which stores obtain approval, where the feature is available and when compatible Android devices receive the required software update.
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