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

 

[JaNDeRPeiCH]

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.

The alternative:

*Buy Cheap locked android phones that cant update os (android 13&14)

*Buy huawei or any chinese phones that dont have google apps.

*Buy android phone that have the ability to install custom firmwares like graphene os,lineage os etc

Dont forget to hurt lot of damage $$ use revanced and disable google apps that you dont use except google playstore app.

About this news im glad and thanks so much google,this will help to rise again the development to install custom firmwares to avoid your shit.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Sound like Google took lessons from nintendo about anti consumership. Part of me thinks it's going to be like xbox where you pay for "Developer mode" to be able to install apps now. But I bet it will be worst than that. Only thing I can think of worst than that is.... Retail stores selling apps on sim cards like nintendo's key cards. But that would be ridiculous... right?

 

[kuro0628neko]

Wow more censorship by big tech. Can't say I didn't warn ya.

 

[Chary]

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.

Are you sure? I'm genuinely trying to figure out what the wording means, but does this not imply that sideloading will be impacted?

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

From the source, last paragraph about specific details about the changes on the about page.

To make this process as streamlined as possible, we are building a new Android Developer Console just for developers who only distribute outside of Google Play, so they can easily complete their verification

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.

Side-loading Google-verified apps downloaded from the internet and not Google Play will be fine, yes, but they're still cracking down on what they want users to side-load, no? At least that's how it's reading to me. Something like emulation station isn't allowed onto the Google Play Store, but can be side loaded currently. However if that developer does not get their app approved by Google before the rollout, it wouldn't be allowed to install onto phones, would be the implication. Correct me if I'm wrong--I do want to make sure the right information is reported.

 

[SS4]

They are taking inspiration from the Apple playbook it seems . . .
Whenever a company does that it means things are about to become worse for end users . . .

 

[SecureBoot]

Bro what? What even is the point anymore. I'm on Android so I can remove the training wheels apple has on their phones. I may actually use an iPhone if they keep this shit up

 

[Kioku]

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.

It does not state that this isn't effected. As a matter of fact, it's hard to argue ambiguity when they say this:

To make this process as streamlined as possible, we are building a new Android Developer Console just for developers who only distribute outside of Google Play, so they can easily complete their verification

I can't read that and not lump sideloading in to the mess. What does it mean to distribute outside of Google Play if not through third-party outlets (like F-Droid) or directly from the developer to be installed (sideloading). If anything, I would greatly appreciate further and proper clarification from Google. However, based on what I'm reading? It's a safe bet to assume that sideloaded apps will need certification and developer verification before they can be installed.

To be fair, I think there may be a misunderstanding here. The end-user may not feel this impact immediately, as they are still free to download and install applications without verification of themselves. However, this is a slippery slope as it indicates that Google is moving for more control over what the end-user can install under the guise of "security".

 

[Nivium]

Side-loading Google-verified apps downloaded from the internet and not Google Play will be fine, yes, but they're still cracking down on what they want users to side-load, no? At least that's how it's reading to me. Something like emulation station isn't allowed onto the Google Play Store, but can be side loaded currently. However if that developer does not get their app approved by Google before the rollout, it wouldn't be allowed to install onto phones, would be the implication. Correct me if I'm wrong--I do want to make sure the right information is reported.

I won't claim to have read every little fine detail in the Google Play upload requirements outside of knowing uploaded applications must not be "malicious", "fraudulent" and all of that but as of now, there are a plethora of Nintendo-based emulators on the Google Play Store. (There, of course, are also a plethora of fraudulent applications there as well so that isn't saying an incredible amount but I think it is important to state)

Neither of us are entirely "Wrong" but where the discrepancy between our words exist is that the actual "Sideloading" happens simply by installing stray APKs, not whether they're signed or not. Personally I don't care much about how something "sounds", but this wording will especially cause a lot of outburst (Which it already has) by daily Android users. The Google article is specifying that Sideloading won't be changed, only the process of creating APKs/requirements for them to be installed will be. (And this information is targeted toward developers, not consumers)
Now APKs won't install unless they've been verified with the new Google Developer Console by responsibility of the developer. Not because the APK is sideloaded or not. That's all.

It hasn't happened yet but I'm pretty sure what IS NOT accepted on the Google Play Store (As per the various distribution terms of that specific platform) does NOT mean it won't be verified as a non-malicious APK.
Again, it hasn't happened yet, but if I had to guess, it would be borderline illegal (Or could be fought against in court) for Google to decline verifying apps based on the same stipulations they have for the Google Play Store. For example: An application primarily pornographic based shouldn't be declined by the Developer console, only if it's deemed as illegal such as breaking your Android device or stealing information.

EDIT
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 targetted by companies like Nintendo for not blocking an emulator for being "Malware" or "Illegal."

 

[morelikejonarbuckle0]

Wonder if you can get around this in the future by flashing your phone with another OS that's like android, such as Lineage.

 

[Axmand]

I renember when a chinese scammers used the App store to sponsor a Lot of play to earn games... Of course all of them prove to be fake...

 

[Darth Meteos]

but... this is the whole point of android...

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Wonder if you can get around this in the future by flashing your phone with another OS that's like android, such as Lineage.

Lots of phones (in the US at least) have starting having locked bootloaders to stop custom roms too.

 

[Kunty]

It's rooting time

 

[SaulFabre]

first the UK Online Safety Act
then the YouTube block to ages under 18 and even VPN/Proxy

and now THIS???!!!!!!

this is BULLSH**

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

It's rooting time

If they also disable ADB (which they are still discussing) even that will become 10x harder.

 

[GibWaffles]

This restriction will only apply to "Play Protect certified" phones. Which includes all your typical brands that ship with the google play store. The notable exception being Huawei, which hasn't had the certification for a number of years.
So this won't really affect any of the emulation devices, since they don't use Google's certification.
I'm assuming the main motivation behind this is to curb the spread of projects like ReVanced.

 

[pat277]

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

Lineage supports a more more than jsut pixel ..

Most Canadian phones are a separate model from "worldwide" (IE Samsungs, LG, Motorola), so, it entirely matters, especially if there's no Lineage and/or TWRP build for the model, which is very very often.

 

[Viri]

Sound like Google took lessons from nintendo about anti consumership. Part of me thinks it's going to be like xbox where you pay for "Developer mode" to be able to install apps now. But I bet it will be worst than that. Only thing I can think of worst than that is.... Retail stores selling apps on sim cards like nintendo's key cards. But that would be ridiculous... right?

Nah, I think they're coping Microsoft more. I remember in Windows 7 they started only allowing apps that had some sort of weird verification from Microsoft. You had to jump through so many hoops, and boot your Windows OS in some weird mode. All this shit just to use my PS3 controller on my PC like 15 years ago. I hated that shit so much.

 

[supergamer368]

That's literally the main appeal of my android phone for me. I like my Pixel, but if they're taking away my ability to choose what apps I install then I might as well go back to an iPhone.

 

[ZeroT21]

Yeah, simply searching for a app in Google Play results in so much crap, making it seems like Google excluded it from being indexed