Bought Apps on Google Play Since 2016? You Might Be Getting Money Back, Wyoming AG Says

The original story by Nick Perkins for Oil City News.

If you’ve paid for apps, games or in-app purchases on the Google Play Store in the last few years, there’s a decent chance cash is coming your way.

Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz is urging residents to check details on a $700 million antitrust settlement with Google that could send automatic payments to millions of Google Play customers.

A coalition of 53 attorneys general sued Google over allegedly anticompetitive practices on the Google Play Store that hurt both consumers and app developers. A judge granted key approval to the settlement on Nov. 20.

If the court gives final approval at a hearing on April 30, 2026, most of that $700 million will be paid out to: People who paid for apps or in-app content on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s conduct.

On top of the money, Google has also agreed to change some of its business practices going forward.

According to the AG’s office, most people won’t need to do anything.

• Starting Dec. 2, 2025, affected customers began receiving notices about the settlement and payment process.
• No claim form is needed in most cases. Payments will be sent out automatically once the settlement is fully approved.

You’ll get your money through PayPal or Venmo:

• You’ll receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo at the email or phone number linked to your Google Play account.
• If that email or phone number already matches a PayPal or Venmo account, the money will go straight into that account.
• If it doesn’t match, you can:

• • Create a new PayPal or Venmo account using that info, or

  • Direct the payment to an existing account with a different email or number.

There will be a supplemental claims process after automatic payments go out for people who:

• Don’t have and don’t want a PayPal or Venmo account;
• No longer have access to the email or phone number tied to their Google Play account;
• Believe they should have been paid but never received anything.

You can sign up on the settlement website to get an email when that secondary claims process opens by submitting your name, email and phone number.

Attorney General Kautz says affected consumers should pay attention to these key dates:

• Feb. 19, 2026

  • Last day to opt out (if you want to sue Google on your own instead of taking a settlement payment)

  • Last day to file a written objection if you don’t like the terms of the settlement

• April 30, 2026

  • The court will hold a final approval hearing to decide whether the settlement officially goes through.

The settlement was negotiated by attorneys general from all 50 states, plus DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands — including Wyoming’s top lawyer.

If you’ve spent money in the Google Play Store since August 2016, it’s worth keeping an eye on your inbox, your text messages and the official settlement site over the next year.