Google excludes the United States from its Registered App Stores region list, but describes a separate US-only program, Third-Party App Store on Play. Registration is optional: third-party stores that do not enroll may continue operating on Android as before. Google schedules Registered App Store availability in its listed regions for December 1, 2026, on devices running Android 17 QPR2 or later.
What Registered App Stores changes
Google’s program is a voluntary verification path for third-party Android app stores. Registered stores may receive operating-system capabilities such as one-tap installs and automatic updates, subject to Google’s requirements. A Google spokesperson was quoted by October 27 as saying eligible stores outside the US could apply.
That status is separate from ordinary third-party app distribution. Stores do not have to enroll to keep operating, but Google ties the additional Registered App Store capabilities to the program.
What the US distinction means
Google does not include the United States in the regions listed for Registered App Stores. It identifies Third-Party App Store on Play as a distinct program available only in the US. The distinction does not mean that third-party Android stores are generally prohibited in the country: Google says stores that do not enroll in Registered App Stores may continue operating as before.
For the scheduled regional availability, the user's home account country determines eligibility. Short-term travel to an unsupported region does not interrupt existing one-tap installs or automatic updates. A permanent move followed by a change to the account country can change access. On managed devices, an enterprise administrator may block installation of Registered App Stores.
What store operators must take on
Google limits registration to verified organization accounts; individual developer accounts are not eligible. A store must be a standalone Android APK, operate as an open marketplace, obtain developers’ authorization and distribution rights, and provide a process for intellectual-property disputes. Its listings must give users clear information and controls, including consent, uninstall options, and automatic or manual update settings.
The security work continues after applying. Operators must submit the complete hosted app catalog and subsequent APKs for Google’s security screening. Google also requires later versions of the store APK to be submitted for screening to maintain active status.
Google lists an annual $10,000 fee to initiate eligibility review. It may also assess variable screening and remediation fees if potentially harmful apps exceed either 1% of install attempts or 2% of the catalog over a 30-day period. These are separate thresholds, not a combined rate.
