Google’s new Android developer verification rules have officially started rolling out, putting new restrictions on how some users install apps outside the usual app stores.
The first rollout began on September 30 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. On certified Android devices running Android 7 or newer, apps downloaded through participating stores now need to come from a verified developer. The initial list includes Google Play, Samsung’s Galaxy Store, HONOR App Market, OPPO App Market, Xiaomi GetApps, vivo V-Appstore and Transsion’s Palm Store.
For Android users elsewhere, things remain unchanged for now. But Google plans to expand the verification system globally across certified Android devices in 2027, so this first rollout gives a pretty clear idea of what’s coming.
The change doesn’t completely remove Android’s ability to sideload apps, but Google is making the process more involved for apps from unverified developers. Its new advanced sideloading flow is designed as the route for users who still want to install them.
There’s a deliberate bit of friction involved. Users have to enable the option through Developer Options, authenticate themselves, restart their phone and then wait 24 hours before they can continue. Once enabled, installations from unverified developers can be allowed for seven days or indefinitely. ADB installations aren’t subject to the 24-hour wait.
Google says the additional steps are intended to tackle scams that trick people into installing malicious apps. The approach has already attracted criticism from parts of the Android community, however. That’s the tension at the heart of the change. Android isn’t removing sideloading, but the process is becoming less straightforward for people who regularly install apps from outside established stores.
For US users, there’s no immediate change. The wider rollout is planned for 2027, meaning developers and Android enthusiasts have some time before these requirements reach more markets. For now, Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are effectively Google’s first test of how the new verification system works in the real world.
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