‘That is not acceptable’: Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

A San Francisco judge ordered Google to reduce friction for users installing rival Android app stores, continuing remedies from Epic Games’ antitrust case. The order follows earlier findings that Google held an illegal monopoly over Android app distribution and should open Google Play to competing stores.

The ruling keeps pressure on Google to loosen control over the Android ecosystem, potentially improving distribution options for developers. It also signals that courts may require platform owners to implement practical, user-facing changes rather than merely policy-level concessions.