While most folks will download apps from verified sources like the Google Play Store, you can still find apps on the internet from alternate sources, which means that there’s always the potential that you’ll run into something problematic if you’re not careful.
We love that users have the freedom to choose, but if you’re not careful, you could end up getting burned. Google’s really looking to crack down on the possibility of malware finding its way to your devices. And while it’s a good thing, many weren’t really keen on Google’s new plans on how to deal with sideloading apps on Android.
Thing are going to change in a big way
So, Google went back to the drawing board, rolling out a new plan that’s a little more flexible. However, Google has announced that Android developer verification is rolling out to all developers today, which means the first phase of its new plan is becoming a reality.
The change is rolling out to Android Developer Console and Play Developer Console, which will allow developers to register and verify apps ahead of the changes that will go out to all users later this year. As you can imagine, this is a pretty big step.
The good news is that for the time being, nothing changes for the end user. You can continue to do what you’ve been doing when it comes to downloading apps, whether that’s from official sources or from places beyond.
As far as what the timeline looks like, right now, Google shares that this change will first go out to users in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026. After that, it will roll out globally sometime in 2027.
To keep things simple, Google also issued a chart showing what the flow will look like once all is said and done. If you’re downloading a verified app from an official source or sideloading it, things will progress as they have in the past.
If an unverified app is downloaded, this is where some extra steps will need to be taken by the user, requiring advanced flow or ADB in order to get the app on the device. For the most part, this new flow is just a way to get developers more involved in the process.
Google keeps things simple by sharing the following timeline:
April 2026: Users will start to see Android Developer Verifier in their Google Systems services settings.
June 2026: Early access: Limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists.
August 2026: Limited distribution accounts launch globally. Advanced flow for power users launches globally.
September 30, 2026: Apps must be registered by verified developers in order to be installed and updated on certified Android devices in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Unregistered apps can be sideloaded with ADB or advanced flow.
2027 and beyond: We will roll out this requirement globally.
So far, it’s just a first step, but things will get a bit more serious once this actually starts rolling out for users. Let us know in the comments.
