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

Google will enforce a policy from 2026, allowing only apps from verified developers on certified Android devices to enhance ...

Google will block APK sideloading on Android by 2026. What does the ban mean for developers, consumer rights, and the future ...

For years, Android has been known as the free-spirited cousin in the world of mobile operating systems. Unlike Apple's walled ...

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

Scheduled for rollout starting in September 2026, the program aims to restrict malware distribution by requiring developer ...

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

From 2026, only verified developers can distribute Android apps, reshaping security and openness across the platform.

Google is rolling out Android app verification, requiring all developers to confirm their identity. Starting 2026.

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

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