October 13, 2026
Your personal library: AI Studio apps install on your phone without the $25 fee
An app built in Google AI Studio now installs on your own phone with a regular Google account: no more $25 fee or Play Console.
Building an app in Google AI Studio takes about 5 minutes, and from there it goes straight to your phone.
This path used to cost $25 for a developer account, and the finished app only made it to internal testing: up to 100 testers, with the production release done by hand in Play Console. Since Oct 13, 2026, Google Play accepts such apps from a regular Google account.
How to build. In ai.studio, click "+ New App", pick the "Build an Android app" chip, paste your app plan and click Build. The app opens in a browser-based Android emulator and is edited by chatting with the agent.
How to install on your phone. You need Android 7.0 or later plus Chrome or Edge. Tap Build Number seven times, turn on USB Debugging, plug in the cable and click Install → "Install via USB".
The Play Store has a new "Your personal library" section. Personal apps install on several of your own devices and are restored there, but they don't appear in the store's public search or recommendations.
The rollout starts Oct 13, 2026 in select markets, including the US, and only for adults. A personal app still has to comply with Google Play policies.
Google promises sharing personal apps with friends and family in the coming months; wide distribution still requires a professional developer account.
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