Aptoide becomes the first rival app store to return to Google Play in the US

Aptoide returned its games store to Google Play on January 8, 2026, following a legal settlement that required Google to allow competing app stores on Android devices in the United States. The Portuguese app store had previously been removed from Google Play over a decade ago. Google was ordered to make these changes as part of a court settlement addressing antitrust concerns regarding its control of app distribution on Android.

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