Google plans to limit app sideloading to experienced users | Infinium-tech

Sideloading apps on Android used to be a simple process – you find an APK file, allow installation of unknown apps and enable the necessary permissions. That all changed in August when Google announced it would require developer verification so users can sideload its apps.

Google has now launched its Early Access Developer Verification program for developers who primarily distribute apps outside the Play Store. Additionally, Google has now announced its plans to grant sideloading privileges to “experienced users” who will be able to sideload apps despite the associated security risks. These users are characterized as developers and power users who “have a high risk tolerance” and “want the ability to download unverified apps”.

We’re creating a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to acknowledge the risks of installing software that isn’t verified.

We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users do not bypass these security checks by succumbing to pressure from a scammer.

It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands. – Matthew Forsythe, Director of Product Management, Android App Security

Google is referring to the new developer verification process as an “advanced flow” and makes clear that it is still in development and welcomes feedback in the coming months. Google’s developer verification requirement will go into effect in 2026 in the first wave of countries including Brazil, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. The program is expected to receive a broader global rollout later in 2026.

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