Google is cracking down on what users will be able to side load on their Android phones, going forward. New plans laid out by Android developers have announced that by 2027, Google will require app developers to register with Google and verify their developer identity, for side loading APKs, even outside of the Google Play Store. Currently, users can freely install any app they find online, even to their own detriment. As a measure to improve security for the bulk of its customer base, Google is getting rid of that, which could notably impact how a lot of gamers use their phones as emulation devices.

Starting next year, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed by users on certified Android devices. This creates crucial accountability, making it much harder for malicious actors to quickly distribute another harmful app after we take the first one down. Think of it like an ID check at the airport, which confirms a traveler's identity but is separate from the security screening of their bags; we will be confirming who the developer is, not reviewing the content of their app or where it came from. This change will start in a few select countries specifically impacted by these forms of fraudulent app scams, often from repeat perpetrators.

Registering with a developer on Google would require app-makers to give their personal information to Google in order to release an app, including in some cases, official government identification. The initial changes will roll out to Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, and Thailand, in September 2026, with other countries switching over in "2027 and beyond".

Source

 

[shaunj66]

This isn't about security this is about control. You already get warnings when installing APKs and have to enable settings in order to do so.

They're protecting their revenue from the likes of Revanced and other system level ad blockers.

Vote with your wallet and don't support this.

 

[Chary]

Vote with your wallet and don't support this.

What is the alternative? This is exactly what Google wants. Your alternatives are to use one of those fledgling Linux phones that barely work, the similarly locked down iPhone, or no phone at all. We're past the point of voting with our wallets--the companies are too big to fail and have all the power.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Wtf. This is anti-Android, Google is forgetting why people love to use Android and blocking side loading is a ridiculous idea!

 

[TheStonedModder]

Sounds like Google is about to get the Apple Treatment

You can easily buy year long dev certs (KravaSigner)for $15 or less that you can use on your own device to resign as many apps as you’d like for that full year

People are just going to do the same thing here

 

[Reploid]

What's this Soviet Russia? Or modern Russia.

 

[sarkwalvein]

I think I'll be switching to the Chinese variant of Android or whatever, as it goes it's giving me less of a dystopic big brother feeling.

 

[Kioku]

Really defeating the purpose of Android devices little by little. It's no longer about security, either. Hasn't been for quite some time. They're just mad about the whole "degoogling" craze.

 

[TheStonedModder]

I think I'll be switching to the Chinese variant of Android or whatever, as it goes it's giving me less of a dystopic big brother feeling.

No need. Import a phone from Canada and then flash lineageOS too it

Literally every country sells android phones with unlocked boot loaders except the US..

 

[Chary]

use on your own device to resign as many apps as you’d like for that full year

With ID verification required, will that even be a possibility? And on top of that, Google has already said that "hobbyist" smaller developers will have install limits and app creation limits as well, to prevent abuse.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Let's see if the Pixel 10 series bootloader can be unlocked.
Haven't seen anything definitive on that yet.

The days of personal computers belonging us are numbered.

Gradually freedom is taken away. More rules. More surveillance. More Orwellness.
Big tech hides behind "regulations" when taking away freedom ("we have to comply[…]) and ignore regulations when they aren't interested in following them.

People just don't care for these things that need longer explanations. I've nothing to hide, everything is working, all good.

 

[NetSanity]

That's one of the advantages of using Android. Is Google fucking stupid? What will happen to open source projects that plan on upgrading?

 

[shaunj66]

Let's see if the Pixel 10 series bootloader can be unlocked.
Haven't seen anything definitive on that yet.

The days of personal computers belonging us are numbered.

But you already can't use Google Pay and many banking apps if you have an unlocked bootloader.

 

[emigre]

Might this point, may as well get an iPhone. If the system is going to have additional restrictions, may as well get a more consistent os.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

But you already can't use Google Pay and many banking apps if you have an unlocked bootloader.

A small price to pay

 

[Lostbhoy]

Saaaaaake.

Would root not bypass this? I foresee a lot more rooted phones but then the response would be to just stop all apps working on root as some do already.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

View attachment 524391​

Google is cracking down on what users will be able to side load on their Android phones, going forward. New plans laid out by Android developers have announced that by 2027, Google will require app developers to register with Google and verify their developer identity, for side loading APKs, even outside of the Google Play Store. Currently, users can freely install any app they find online, even to their own detriment. As a measure to improve security for the bulk of its customer base, Google is getting rid of that, which could notably impact how a lot of gamers use their phones as emulation devices.



Registering with a developer on Google would require app-makers to give their personal information to Google in order to release an app, including in some cases, official government identification. The initial changes will roll out to Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, and Thailand, in September 2026, with other countries switching over in "2027 and beyond".

Source

So essentially... they want to defeat the main appeal of android.

 

[emigre]

But you already can't use Google Pay and many banking apps if you have an unlocked bootloader.

To add to this, more companies are requiring 2FA to log into laptops and software. I can't have an unlocked bootloader if I want to work.

 

[TheStonedModder]

With ID verification required, will that even be a possibility? And on top of that, Google has already said that "hobbyist" smaller developers will have install limits and app creation limits as well, to prevent abuse.

Apple has the same limits

Free dev accounts can do 3 apps max(depending on how complicated they are) and need to be resigned manually every 7 days

Unless you sign up for the Apple Dev program, send them ID and pay them $100 for your own private certificate

Services like Krava Signer abuse that and sell those private certs as shared certs.

The only downside is that the cert could get randomly revoked. But a good provider will usually offer a free replacement if that happens

They usually just pay someone $1-180 for their time to apply for the Apple program on their behalf

I can’t imagine Google would be much different

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Saaaaaake.

Would root not bypass this? I foresee a lot more rooted phones but then the response would be to just stop all apps working on root as some do already.

Well the fun part is this also blocks installation of most rooting applications. Apparently they are also considering now blocking ADB which would basically make rooting impossible.