Google is set to implement a major policy change in Android’s history by restricting the sideloading of apps from unverified developers. Slated for next year, this shift marks a significant step towards enhancing security on the world’s most popular mobile operating system. While Android has been lauded for its flexibility, allowing users to personalize their devices and install apps from outside the Google Play Store, this openness has also led to increased security threats. Consequently, Google plans to enforce tougher regulations aimed at improving safety.
Soon, all developers will be required to undergo a verification process before their apps can be installed on ‘certified Android devices.’ This move builds on the existing requirement for developers distributing apps on the Play Store, which was initiated in 2024, and now extends to third-party developers offering apps through unofficial channels. However, this policy will not impact every Android device; phones lacking pre-installed Google services, such as certain Chinese models or devices with custom ROMs, are expected to remain unaffected. To support this transition, Google is developing a new Android Developer Console, enabling developers to register and complete their verification for apps distributed outside the Play Store.
A pilot of this system will begin in October of this year, with expanded developer access anticipated by March 2026. The initial rollout is set for Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand by September 2026, followed by a global launch in 2027. Google likens the verification process to an ‘ID check at the airport,’ confirming developers’ identities without reviewing the app content itself. The company cited internal data indicating that sideloaded apps are 50 times more likely to contain malware than those from the Play Store, leading to the enforcement of verification to hinder malicious actors from distributing harmful applications or resurfacing under new identities after their apps have been banned.
Google’s previous requirement for developer verification on the Play Store in 2023 resulted in a noticeable decline in fraud, data theft, and malware cases. The company believes that applying a similar process to the broader Android ecosystem will establish a consistent baseline of developer accountability. Analysts suggest that the timing of this policy follows a significant antitrust ruling against Google by Epic Games, which mandated support for third-party app stores on Android. These stores will also be allowed to feature apps from the Play Store. Experts speculate that Google’s verification policy may be a strategy to maintain control over app distribution as rival marketplaces gain traction.
While this change may be seen positively by those wary of malware, critics argue it could compromise one of Android’s key advantages — the freedom to independently sideload apps. Beginning in 2026, users who sideload apps will encounter a significantly more regulated environment.