The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through other app ...

Currently, developers who create “sideloaded” Android apps are exempt from Google’s verification requirements.

Google wants to make sideloading safer on Android by verifiying the identities of developers who distribute apps outside the Play Store.

Google is introducing new restrictions on Android app distribution, and it could spell the end for some popular third-party ...

With claims that sideloaded apps are 50 times more likely to contain malware, Google is tightening restrictions for ...

On 25 August, the tech giant announced that all developers — whether publishing on the Play Store or via sideloading — will ...

Google is also developing a new Android Developer Console specifically for Android developers who don't distribute their apps via Google Play, and there will be a separate console for student and ...

Google is introducing a developer verification programme for Android apps, requiring all developers to be verified to install ...

Google is soon going to make sideloading apps harder for all users, particularly those using Android e-readers.

From 2026, Google will require verified developer IDs for all Android apps, including sideloaded ones, to reduce malware and ...

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users ...

Google is tightening the screws on Android security. From March 2026, developers who distribute apps outside the Play Store will need to verify their identity. That means no more anonymous APKs ...