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

 

[PatrickD85]

Well that was expected to be quite honest.
Although I never ever use Andoid ... shame on them

 

[Deleted member 535703]

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.

Lineage, Calyx, and Graphene. The only issue is that we need more developers working on builds for more phones, but most flagships and oftentimes other side phones get a build.

 

[leon315]

I seriously thinking this is entire operation was planned to block 3rd party shops like Epic game store and shit, just to ensure google's monopoly.

 

[Armadillo]

What is the alternative?

Custom rom.

I'll just go back to lineage os if this comes to pass, google services are optional there.

This is dumb anyway, whole reason I have an Android phone is because it's open. Malware concerns are just bs, you already have to explicitly allow sideloading, no one is accidentally doing it and installing random stuff.

 

[Dontuuch17]

Does anyone know if they can force the restriction on older android versions?

 

[KingVamp]

Aren't companies already getting in trouble, for being such a walled garden?

 

[shaunj66]

You're a full blown retard & it shows. This is about security. This is about stopping the spread of malicious applications. This should have happened years ago. The Google Play Store is full of malicious garbage. "Vote with your wallet and don't support this" spoken like a true retarded Apple fan girl.

Having fun calling names? You're delusional if you think this is really about security.

Apple fan? I've used Google phones from the Nexus 4 up to the Pixel 8A today. Shrug.

 

[SDA]

Oh no. This is bad.

And I mean bad because there's an Android port of Level UP: Mario's Minigames Mayhem, a game I really love, and the author might know too late about this.

 

[AndorfRequissa]

hopefully someone forks custom builds that allow freedom and not slave control.

ive been beating the drum for a while but now the articles and actions by these corporations are so bad that you cannot disregard what is happening. you will either be a slave or you will have to control your our freedom by not freely giving it up for a little bit of convenience.

we dont need super computer phones. ill take a dumb phone and and abernic with me instead of a smart phone anyday. people need to decouple.

 

[Ericzander]

My wife is going to be so happy to find out I'm running out of reasons not to switch to iPhone.

I on the other hand will lament the loss of being able to Google "Last stand infinity survivor io .apk unlimited coins mod version 6.9" and downloading the first result that pops up.

 

[YoureALoser]

I seriously thinking this is entire operation was planned to block 3rd party shops like Epic game store and shit, just to ensure google's monopoly.

Another baseless claim. Do you know anything on this subject? Clearly not if you're spewing such ignorance. Google can NOT block 3rd party stores because that is in direct violation of the courts ruling in the Epic vs Google case. This entire thing is about preventing malicious applications from being on the Play Store.

 

[SolidSonicTH]

Hey, Microsoft, I don't think we need Win32 application support anymore. Everything we need is probably on the Windows Store, we're good.

 

[TheStonedModder]

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

Tons do. It being Canadian doesn’t matter expect that the boot loader isn’t locked

Lineage supports a more more than jsut pixel ..

 

[Nivium]

As an Android developer myself, this article has especially been imperative to my work so I just clicked the source and, from my understanding, this GBATemp article sounds a bit misleading.
Here's directly from the Google source:

To be clear, developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or to use any app store they prefer.

Meaning, no. Google is NOT getting rid of Side loading or "stray APKs". They're simply requiring developers to give personal information to have the application signed for running them on consumers' Android devices.

Assuming Google's "fairly consistent" practices are still going to be the same, all this means is that if an application (APK) is digitally unsigned, it won't install on your android device.
We already have issues with Android applications stating they "aren't compatible with your device" even though they actually in fact are but contain a software information discrepancy stopping the application from running on the device (and, in turn, bringing up that error when a consumer attempts installing it) and other reasons why an application won't install but this will just be yet another clause a consumer will face when attempting to install said application I assume.

Side loading, third-party stores/app distributors and, possibly, "Degoogling" will still be possible. Any APKs from the listed dates just require the developer to have their information "traceable" by Google by having it being digitally signed for it to actually work on any Android device and has absolutely nothing to do with the Google Play Store.

It still sucks, yes, but it DOES NOT effect the consumer, nor their ability to run stray APKs without the Google Play Store. If the application is not "Verified by Google", it'll possibly tell you so. If it IS verified by Google (Developer-side), but still not from the Google Play Store and is a "stray APK", it WILL WORK STILL EVEN AFTER 2027+.
Whether this means all Android applications requiring the internet to "Verify it has been properly screened by Google" or not nor whether we have "Active "verification period" licenses" such as that in which Apple has isn't known to me as of now.

EDIT:
I'd like to state that the GBTAtemp article SOUNDS misleading, not that it is. Due to the way it is written, it makes me feel it creates fear and, of course, discussion especially by singling out "which could notably impact how a lot of gamers use their phones as emulation devices." and have the "Google Play" logo as the cover image.
In reality, it affects all developers and, from my understanding, is "so-called" designed to stop malware and scam. As of now, many emulators exist on the Google Play Store so clearly emulation isn't the issue, nor is being attacked as why this is the decision Google has made. Will Google be able to "de-verify" apps they deem is malicious (Including emulators)? Probably so but if they haven't deemed emulation on their Google Play Store "malicious" then they likely aren't deciding to deem a stray APK of said application "malicious" either, as the rules for creating content and posting to Google Play will certainly be different than that of being verified. I just wanted to clear that up.

Google isn't the one "distributing" these APKs, verified or not, so I don't know if Nintendo, for example, are even able to complain to Google about emulator APKs (That have been verified) instead of the emulator distributor, sending DMCAs to private entities such as the users. As per my understanding, this is just another layer of security, like Microsoft SmartScreen, and isn't able to be targeted by companies like Nintendo for not blocking an emulator for being "Malware" or "Illegal."

Basically, no. This is the Android Developer central. Unless stated otherwise, (Which hasn't been) the worries of many of the users here is that Google Play Store requirements are the leading factors to whether an application will be verified by Google or not and, thus far, that has NOT been stated nor hinted upon either. This has nothing to do with Google Play nor being allowed to install emulators on your device as far as the information we've been given thus far states.

 

[mss1988]

I really hope Valve will jump in and introduce SteamOS for ARM with FEX.
Thus we can finally have proper OS for ARM handhelds.

 

[DragonMals]

The main selling point of having an Android device is to explore and have apps that you can just sideload. Having this exact component being removed from future Android devices is just abysmal and just another move by the big companies to make "Security" normalized. I do not support this in the slightest and honestly? Where would we even go from this point? use old phones?

 

[FemtoFalcon]

Hahah it is misleading article, typical urinalist cant make an article correct anymore or go click baity. It has been confirmed that google requires all devs to register and provide id for google play store. Nothing about the sideloading, that is sentionalism by some news outlets and people jumping to conlclusions from article headlines, could be also lazy journalists using AI and getrting the information wrong.

 

[Kioku]

Hahah it is misleading article, typical urinalist cant make an article correct anymore or go click baity. It has been confirmed that google requires all devs to register and provide id for google play store. Nothing about the sideloading, that is sentionalism by some news outlets and people jumping to conlclusions from article headlines, could be also lazy journalists using AI and getrting the information wrong.

You didn't read the blog, did you? This directly impacts sideloading. It mentions it directly.

While sideloading will still be allowed, there will be a process involved with signing the APKs, making them valid for install per Google's policy. How you view this information is up to you. Personally? It's bullshit and is one step closer to giving us iOS but Google.

ETA: Directly from Google's developer page:

Starting in September 2026, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices.

This heavily implies that if an application is not signed (from the play store, third party, sideloaded, etc.) it will not install.

 

[SaberLilly]

This is the reason WHY i use an android phone, and a pixel no less.

 

[Nivium]

You didn't read the blog, did you? This directly impacts sideloading. It mentions it directly.

I'm not saying I agree with the user's choice of words you're replying to, but I went to the source, read it and the article does NOT mention sideloading outside of ensuring you understand none of this affects it. It's designed to affect the requirements for APKs to be produced, not how they're distributed or installed on your device and that's where Sideloading is mostly a factor.