On September 12, 2025, the Ninth Circuit upheld changes to Android and Google Play in an injunction entered by a US District Court in an ongoing US legal proceeding with Epic Games. As always, user trust and safety remains at the center of what we do, while following our SAFE principles.
Changes to our policies during the effective dates of the injunction will be published on this page.
To ensure compliance with the injunction as of October 29, 2025 we have made the following changes for apps when serving users in the United States:
- Google will not prohibit a developer from communicating with users about the availability or pricing of an app outside the Google Play Store, and will not prohibit a developer from providing a link to download the app outside the Google Play Store or link to transactions.
- Google will not require the use of Google Play Billing in apps distributed on the Google Play Store, or prohibit the use of in-app payment methods other than Google Play Billing. Google will not prohibit a developer from communicating with users about the availability of a payment method other than Google Play Billing. Google will not require a developer to set a price based on whether Google Play Billing is used.
Additional updates on December 9, 2025:
As a follow-up to these changes and to ensure we have appropriate user and ecosystem protections, we are announcing the following changes:
- Clarified our Payments policy
- Expanded alternative billing programs for all eligible developers serving US users
- Launched the external content links program for developers looking to link users in the US to external content
Developers will have until January 28, 2026 to come into compliance with these policies and program requirements if they wish to continue linking users to external content or offering alternative billing systems.
These changes will only be available in the United States while the US District Court’s order remains in effect.
Additional changes to our policies consistent with the injunction will be published on this page.