Google is making a big change for Android users in the US. Starting October 29, 2025, people will be able to download apps and make payments outside of the Google Play Store. This change comes after a court order in Google’s legal case with Epic Games, which has been fighting for more freedom for app developers.

Until now, Google did not allow developers to tell users about other places where they could buy apps or make payments. Developers also couldn’t share links to websites offering cheaper prices or alternative payment methods.

With the new rules, they can now do all of that. This means users may find better deals, discounts, or even different versions of apps outside the Play Store.

Developers can use their own payment systems or other services like PayPal or direct credit card payments. The court’s order will last until November 1, 2027, giving users and developers more flexibility for the next two years.

Google says it still wants to keep users safe and will continue to follow its SAFE principles. The company promised to protect user data and security while following the court’s decision.

Also, it said that these changes apply only to US users for now. But it will share more updates in the future based on feedback from both users and developers. This new policy is a big win for both sides. Developers will have more control over how they sell their apps, and users will have more choices and possibly lower prices.

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A legal battle involving the Google Play Store has been going on for some time now. Now, we finally have a major victory for app developers and Android users in the United States. Following a multi-year legal saga with Epic Games (the creator of Fortnite), Google has been forced to open up its ecosystem, ending a practice that has defined the Play Store for years. Effective immediately for users in the United States, the strict requirement that app developers must exclusively use Google Play Billing (GPB) for in-app purchases is over, allowing third-party payment solutions.

You can now bypass Google Play Billing for cheaper in-app purchases

This big change is the result of an injunction issued by a US District Court. The Mountain View giant just updated its Google Play policies to comply with the ruling as of October 29, 2025. Previously, the company had argued the mandatory billing system was necessary to “preserve user trust and safety.”

The new policies grant developers two key freedoms that shift power away from Google. Developers no longer have to use Google Play Billing for transactions in their apps. They can now implement their own payment systems. This way, they can bypass the substantial commission (often referred to as the “Google Tax”) that the platform historically collected.

Furthermore, developers gain the right to communicate with users about options outside of the Play Store. Google will not prohibit a developer from providing a link to external transactions or even linking to where the app can be downloaded outside the Play Store. Plus, a developer can now offer a lower price if the user chooses an alternative payment method. This gives them the power to pass savings directly to the consumer.

The fight is not over

This change promises competitive pricing for consumers in the US. However, the fight with the tech giant continues.

Google has made it clear that while it complies with the current injunction, it will continue to legally challenge the ruling. The firm recently attempted to have the Supreme Court hear its case and pause these changes, but that request was denied.

For now, these newfound freedoms are strictly limited to the United States while the court order remains in effect. Users and developers in the rest of the world must still comply with the old Google Play restrictions. Other countries will have to wait and see if this landmark US ruling eventually forces a global shift in policy.

The post Google Play Store Finally Opens to Third-Party Billing in the US appeared first on Android Headlines.

Users must verify their age to continue downloading apps, as Google enforces new Play Store requirements.

On app stores like Apple’s and the Google Play Store, there are certain applications that are designed for adults. Now, it looks like Google wants to implement age verification across the board, requiring users to show proof they are 18 or older to download certain “mature” apps from the Play Store.

Google Play Store needs proof of your age

This is according to a post on X by Artem Russakovskii, where he shared screenshots of the age verification system in action. Basically, users need to show Google proof of their age, if not they might not be able to download many apps from the Play Store. This is part of Google’s larger efforts at identifying the ages of their users on search and YouTube.

Based on the screenshots, users have several ways of verifying their age. This comes in the form of uploading a government-issued ID, taking a selfie, using a credit card, or using a third-party service. If you’re already using a credit card in your name to buy from the Play Store, we reckon this shouldn’t be an issue.

At the moment, it is unclear what kind of limitations users might face if they do not verify their age. Presumably, at the very least, they will be blocked from downloading apps designated for adults. However, if the limitations go beyond that, it is going to be very annoying.

Not Google’s fault

Now, you might think that this is just Google’s way of collecting more information on you. That was our first instinct too. However, according to Russakovskii, Google isn’t entirely to blame for this. According to him, Google is just adhering to the law. In the US alone, there are several states that have implemented age verification requirements. This is also true for other countries like the UK.

Google obviously needs to play nice with these states and countries if it wants to keep operating in them. However, for users, these extra steps will be a pain. It would be less of an issue if the process were seamless. But we’ve already seen Google’s reliance on AI has resulted in adults getting banned.

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