Judge gives Google one week to fix 'anticompetitive' download flow in Google Play

A US federal judge has ruled that Google deliberately made it difficult for Android users to download alternative app stores, ordering the company to fix the process within one week. The ruling marks the latest step in a long-running antitrust case challenging the company's control over app distribution.

The case centres on allegations that Google leveraged its dominant position with the Android operating system to give its own Play Store an unfair advantage over rivals. Plaintiffs argued the company built a series of technical and design obstacles specifically intended to discourage users from downloading apps outside the official store.

According to court filings, when an Android user attempted to download a third-party app store, the device displayed multiple warning screens and required the user to manually change security settings buried deep in the phone's menus. The judge determined that this process went well beyond reasonable security precautions and was designed to deter users.

Under the ruling, Google must make third-party app stores directly searchable and visible within the Google Play Store itself. That change eliminates the current process, which requires users to leave the Play Store entirely to find competing marketplaces.

Google has said it reserves the right to appeal the ruling but will begin implementing the required technical changes within the one-week window. A company spokesperson said the warning screens were designed to protect users, but confirmed the company would comply with the court's instructions.

Among those expected to benefit most from the ruling are gaming companies and independent software developers who operate their own app stores. These companies have long argued that Google's distribution barriers made it effectively impossible for users to discover alternative marketplaces.

A similar case previously targeted Apple's App Store policies, though courts have reached different outcomes for the two companies. The judge in the Google case emphasized the inconsistency of the company marketing Android as an open platform while working to keep app distribution effectively closed.

Digital markets specialists say the ruling could have tangible effects on the Android app ecosystem. As alternative stores gain visibility, developers are expected to become less reliant on Google's commission rates, and price competition is expected to increase.

Some security specialists, however, warn that greater app store diversity could also raise malware risks. Google's security team has argued that apps downloaded from unvetted sources can expose users to greater risk.

The ruling is viewed as part of a broader wave of regulatory pressure on technology giants' platform control in the US. Similar cases are proceeding in the European Union and other jurisdictions, and their outcomes are expected to influence one another globally.