Google will verify the identities of all developers for Android, even those operating outside of Google Play Store.
The tech giant claims the move — which has already proven very controversial with some Android users — is an attempt to block dangerous malware under the guise of a seemingly harmless apps. In the past, the Google Play Store has fallen victim to bad actors behind these apps. In fact, hackers have been able to steal credit cards and passwords with apps that have been downloaded 60 million times by Android users.
But research shows that outside of the Play Store, it's even worse.
Sideloading, one of the key differentiators between Android and iOS from the beginning, allows Android phone and tablet owners to download and install software from outside of the Play Store. With its latest shake-up, Google will require developers offering apps available to sideload to verify their identities with its teams.
While Google says this plan is simply an extension of the safeguards already in place in the Play Store and is designed to protect you, swathes of Android smartphone owners seem to believe the company has underlying motives. As such, they're really not happy about the announcement.
One user wrote, "By making every app developer establish a relationship with a corporation you are destroying what we love - the freedom to interact with each other and with code without permission."
No one wants a closed and controlled internet.
— JW Weatherman (Simplicity on Bitcoin Now) (@JWWeatherman_) August 29, 2025
By making every app developer establish a relationship with a corporation you are destroying what we love - the freedom to interact with each other and with code without permission.
Another user thinks this is an attempt to push greater control across the internet. "Whether people see it or not, this is part of the big push to lock down the internet. They can’t do enforce ID requirements at the OS level if android has sideloading and custom roms," wrote another user.
Whether people see it or not, this is part of the big push to lock down the internet. They can’t do enforce ID requirements at the OS level if android has sideloading and custom roms. This is also why they are making it harder to make AOSP roms going forwards.
— Adam David (@Wykillin) August 28, 2025
Some users even chose Android over other competitors because of the ability to sideload apps. "To be clear, sideloading is literally *the* reason I choose Android over Apple. I'm all for improving safety for the muggles, but I had better be able to override it with some secret menu sorcery," wrote the user.
To be clear, sideloading is literally *the* reason I choose Android over Apple. I'm all for improving safety for the muggles, but I had better be able to override it with some secret menu sorcery.
— Vernon Brooks (@vbrookslv) August 28, 2025
Another wrote, "THE number 1 selling point of android is casually getting removed, what are we actually doing, why is android actively getting more locked down by the day."
THE number 1 selling point of android is casually getting removed, what are we actually doing, why is android actively getting more locked down by the day
— SanicTheHotdog (@sanichotdog181) August 26, 2025
Many think Google has underlying reasons for verifying all developers for Android users
| REUTERSHowever, Sameer Samat, President of Android development at Google, pushed back on these claims in a post on X.
"Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it's not going anywhere. As we said in our blog, our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice. We want to make sure that if you download an app from a developer, regardless of where you get it, it's actually from them. That's it," said Mr. Samat.
Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it's not going anywhere. As we said in our blog, our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice. We want to make sure that if you download an app from a…
— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) August 28, 2025
Malware has been found to appear much more often when you sideload your apps instead of downloading from the official source, so it may seem like a good choice to move in this direction.
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But, how does Google plan to pull this update off?
Reports have said that the company plans to develop a brand new system titled Android Developer Console. This is a platform that will be designed specifically for developers who distribute their apps outside of Google Play, which is used to manage developer identity, register app package names, and require verified developer accounts to install apps on certified Android devices globally.
The shake-up will be slowly rolled out worldwide. Google has provided a rough timeline of the implementation of its new features:
- October 2025 | Early access to the new verification system begins. Invitations will be sent out gradually
- March 2026 | Verification requirement opens for all developers
- September 2026 | Strict new requirements will come into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. At this point, any app installed on a certified Android device in these regions must be registered by a verified developer
- 2027 and beyond | Google will continue to roll out the new requirements worldwide