Google has announced a significant change for Android users, introducing new restrictions on app installations. Previously, a key feature of Android was the ability to install applications from outside the Google Play Store, a process known as sideloading. However, this freedom is gradually diminishing with new rules set to be implemented starting next year.
The core change involves Google requiring that only apps from verified developers can be installed on certified Android devices. Until now, verification was primarily necessary for developers publishing apps on the Google Play Store. Now, developers of third-party apps will also need to be verified by Google. Google is introducing a new Android Developer Console to facilitate this, requiring developers to register.
The new system will begin testing in October 2025. The Android Developer Console will be available to all developers from March 2026. The rules will be rolled out first in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026. Global implementation is expected by 2027.
Google states that sideloaded apps pose a 50-times greater risk of malware. Verification is aimed at identifying legitimate developers and making it more difficult for fraudulent developers to re-launch banned apps under new names. Google claims that verification implemented on the Play Store in 2023 has led to a decrease in malware, fraud, and data theft.
Users will only be able to install third-party apps from Google-verified developers. Unverified apps will not be installable on certified Android phones. This rule will not apply to custom ROMs or certain devices, such as those in China, that do not have Google services pre-installed.
This move is linked to the recent legal case involving Epic Games and Google. The court ruled that Google must allow third-party app stores to operate on the Play Store. This decision is driving Google to implement these new rules to maintain control over app distribution.
