You can now download a new app store from Google Play Store.
Jake Peterson Senior Technology Editor
Experience
Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for nearly a decade. His team covers all things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, game consoles, and subscriptions.
August 10, 2026
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Key Takeaways
If you have an Android device, you officially have a new app store to try out—the first of likely many to come. Unless you've dabbled in sideloading before, all of the apps on your smartphone or tablet probably came from the Play Store, Google's own app marketplace, or the official app store of your device's manufacturer, e.g., the Samsung Galaxy store. Starting today, however, you can download this new third-party app store from the Google Play Store.
As reported by The Verge, starting today, Aug. 10, you can download the "Aptoide Games" app marketplace on your Android directly through the Play Store. Aptoide isn't necessarily new: The company has operated an unofficial app store that you could sideload on your Android before this change, helpful for accessing apps you couldn't find on Google's official store. But now, you're able to install it on your smartphone like any other app from the Play Store.
While today is newsworthy, this development could have happened any time over the past two and a half weeks. Google has actually allowed developers to create and distribute third-party app stores on the Play Store since July 22. That decision wasn't really Google's, however, as the company would likely prefer keeping the Play Store as the only official app marketplace available to most Android users. Instead, the change in policy is the result of an agreement between Google and Epic Games, following years of litigation. Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, has long fought both Google and Apple in court, claiming the companies had unfair controls over app marketplaces.
While not all of Epic Games' suits have been fruitful, the company has certainly succeeded: A judge found Google had an illegal monopoly over Android applications and needed to open up its platform to third-party options. Google fought the ruling, then tried to compromise with Epic Games to allow for third-party app stores—just not through the Play Store. The company rather abruptly changed course, however, and agreed to host third-party app stores on the Play Store.
What do you think so far?
While app marketplaces like Aptoide Games are now allowed on the Play Store, they have to operate under some specific rules set out by Google, especially as it pertains to security, privacy, and user safety. They can distribute their own apps, as well as apps found on the Play Store, but they must pay Google certain fees to maintain the overall integrity of the platform.
Aptoide might be the first, but it won't be the last. Expect Epic Games to launch its own app store imminently, seeing as it was the company leading this charge in the first place. But more app marketplaces will likely follow suit.
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| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Adds Aptoide as the First Third-Party App Store Distributed Through Google Play | 0 | 5.92 | 12-08-2026 |
| 2 | Google ordered to make it easier to download alternative Android app stores | 0 | 8.4 | 14-08-2026 |
| 3 | Will you actually use other app stores now that Google can’t stop you? | 0 | 13.13 | 15-08-2026 |
| 4 | Alternative App-Stores bald im US-Play-Store verfügbar | 0 | 5 | 15-07-2026 |
| 5 | 小動作太多?美法官痛批Google刻意設下阻力,限期一週內改善第三方軟體市集下載流程 | 0 | 30 | 15-08-2026 |
| 6 | Telegram разблокировали в AppStore | 0 | 10 | 04-08-2026 |
| 7 | Google Play Store minor makeover has started rolling out | 0 | 5 | 10-07-2026 |
| 8 | Google May Frustrate Android Power Users With New Hurdles To Unverified APK Sideloading | 0 | 8.7 | 21-03-2026 |
| 9 | USA: Google muss Installation alternativer App-Stores auf Android vereinfachen | 0 | 15.55 | 14-08-2026 |