US judge orders Google to remove 'friction' from rival Android app store installs

US District Judge James Donato has ordered Google to eliminate what he termed "anticompetitive friction" in the installation process for rival app stores on Android. The ruling, delivered in a San Francisco courtroom, mandates that Google implement specific technical changes within one week to facilitate easier access for third-party competitors.

The order follows a hearing involving Epic Games, which presented evidence that Google’s current procedures create unnecessary hurdles for users attempting to install alternative app stores. Judge Donato agreed with the plaintiff’s assessment, describing several existing steps as having "no purpose whatsoever" and ordering their immediate removal.

Among the mandated changes, Google must improve its search algorithm within the Play Store to ensure third-party app stores appear when users search for terms such as "store for apps." The judge noted that current results inappropriately surface physical retailers like Walmart, a outcome he described as "not acceptable." Google’s legal counsel agreed to rectify the search results to cover every plausible variation of the query.

Additionally, the court ruled that users must no longer be required to press a "view" button before accessing the "install" button for third-party stores. Judge Donato compared this requirement to the seamless experience offered for services like Apple Music, ordering that the interface be adjusted to prioritise installation. Google also agreed to remove a redundant confirmation screen that asks users if they are "looking for" the app store, a step the judge argued serves no functional purpose given that users are already aware of the advanced permissions involved.

This decision is part of the broader antitrust litigation between Epic Games and Google, which began nearly three years ago when a jury unanimously found that Google maintained an illegal monopoly over Android app distribution. Almost two years prior, Judge Donato had already ordered Google to host rival app stores within its own Play Store and provide them with full access to its app catalog.

The latest order targets the remaining usability barriers that Epic argued persisted despite previous rulings. By enforcing a strict one-week deadline, the court has signalled its intent to accelerate the practical implementation of competition in the Android app distribution market.