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

 

[UltraAziz]

if they do that android loses its biggest advantage over ios, they'd definitely lose me and I'd try to find some linux phone or something

 

[shaunj66]

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.

Exactly. It's lose-lose.

We can only hope that the EU blocks this decision.

 

[River_01]

So they are taking away one of Andriods biggest selling point in the name of "security"? My guess is they want to crackdown on third party Youtube clients.

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.

If they do that then I'll go ballistic. Only reason to get a Pixel imo is to flash GrapheneOS on it. My Pixel 7 isn't that great and I'm planning on upgrading to 10 (if the bootloader isn't lock).

 

[KleinesSinchen]

If they do that then I'll go ballistic. Only reason to get a Pixel imo is to flash GrapheneOS on it. My Pixel 7 isn't that great and I'm planning on upgrading to 10 (if the bootloader isn't lock).

Wait until the GrapheneOS devs get their hands on the phones. They will quickly say if it is possible.

We can only hope that the EU blocks this decision.

I don't have any hopes in the EU doing something productive. They will rather implement "Chat control" (client side scanning, protect the children!!!) and other dystopian things.
Some jokers (Samsung) even take EU regulations as reason for removing bootloader unlock (misquoting the rules)

 

[pustal]

Exactly. It's lose-lose.

We can only hope that the EU blocks this decision.

I mean, we forced Apple to enable sideloading. Apple's the one that lobbied for the US-China trade war, I think Google is less of an armwrestle.

 

[NitroShell]

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

They think they Apple

Post automatically merged: Aug 26, 2025

I mean, we forced Apple to enable sideloading. Apple's the one that lobbied for the US-China trade war, I think Google is less of an armwrestle.

Yeah but it sucks, android allows you to install any app you want from a APK.

 

[Taleweaver]

Christ that's bad news.

I won't deny that android piracy is easy, but making apk's is also a way to keep purchased apps actually playable. When humble store shut down their android section, I kept my games that way. How am I going to play them if they're no longer maintained on the official app store?

 

[tech3475]

Exactly. It's lose-lose.

We can only hope that the EU blocks this decision.

Either that or Epic sues them again.

If I want an iPhone, I'd buy an iPhone.

If they were serious about security, they could just make another toggle like they do for side loading so at least it's the users fault.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

They think they Apple

Post automatically merged: Aug 26, 2025

Yeah but it sucks, android allows you to install any app you want from a APK.

They actually partially limited this even a few android versions ago. If the app was built with too old of an SDK build they won't allow the APK to be installed normally. Would have to force install via ADB.

 

[Bladexdsl]

first nintendo turns into apple and now google is too what a fucked up world we live in now!
but there will always be a way around this using custom home screens like wolf and root access. they won't be able to stop it.

 

[thekarter104]

It just so happens they play the Yu-Gi-Oh card that's banned from tournaments.

 

[OilFreak]

I might just have to get an alternative OS then

 

[xtrem3x]

There goes PGSharp

 

[thekarter104]

I wish there was a way companies still get ad revenue even when an ad blocker is used, emulating as if there was an ad played. That would be a dream that come true. Then no one would complain...

 

[Deleted member 705600]

Been long time coming

They been slowly embedding themselves into every part of Android with the years

At this point the OS may as well be a proprietary one like Windows, taking in mind how they are practically attached to every shipping Android OEM

Rooting and Custom ROMs be dammned, not even allowing to install custom apps on a open source OS is diabolical

 

[codezer0]

My entire reason for going Android from the start, was for all the things that you could do with it, that you couldn't do with an iPhone at any price, or at all.

Already hate that XDA has a monopoly on who's allowed to root or not. This is some dystopian bullshit.

 

[pat277]

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..

Seriously, how many Canadian phones have a functioning custom recovery, let alone Lineage build? I think that's just a list of Pixel's, and even the ones that have a Canadian build don't function half the time

 

[Morricorne]

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

Let them do it. Android's openness was one of the reasons I started using Android devices. If they do something like this, I'll have another final reason to switch to iOS and iPhone altogether. I'll save up for a new iPhone for a while. But at least the phone won't slow me down. I had an old 2016 iPhone SE a year and a half ago and I loved it. I hate it when a hardware or operating system manufacturer forces anything on me when using a product. I've already said goodbye to Windows 11 in favor of Linux Mint. And I don't regret it.

 

[Viri]

Imagine wanting to install any app you want, on a phone you bought, how silly of me.

At this point, I might as well buy an iPhone.

God, I hope the US gov breaks up this company one day. Ripping Chrome and Android away from them would be nice.

 

[Ritsuki]

If someone has an alternative, I'm listening. At that point I would even consider having a limited number of apps, as long as I have a browser and e-mail client