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Google just announced one of the biggest overhauls to Android since its inception.
For the first time, Google will require all developers to verify their identity before their software can be installed on any Android device. This has always been the case with downloads from the Play Store, the app repository run by Google. However, the rules now apply to apps that are "sideloaded" too.
The latter refers to the process of installing an Android app from a source outside of the Google Play Store. This means downloading an Android Package (APK) file from the internet and manually installing it onto your device. Sideloading offers access to software that isn't available in the Play Store, but carries security risks, since Google isn't running checks on these apps for malware or security issues. With the new rule, it will vet the developers behind the software.
Google will offer its new verification system in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand first, before rolling-out to more countries worldwide in the coming months
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Google made the decision after new analysis found "over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play".
It hopes that checking the identity of all developers who make Android apps available to download will better protect users from "bad actors spreading malware and scams."
The ability to sideload remains one of the biggest differences between Android and iOS — the operating system that powers the iPhone. While the former has always offered the ability to download and install software from a variety of sources online, Apple has always restricted iOS and iPad apps to its App Store in the name of security.
In a blog post about the seismic shift for Android, Vice President of Product, Trust and Growth for Android, Suzanne Frey explained: "As new threats emerge, we’ve continued to evolve our defences. Following recent attacks, including those targeting people's financial data on their phones, we've worked to increase developer accountability to prevent abuse.
"We’ve seen how malicious actors hide behind anonymity to harm users by impersonating developers and using their brand image to create convincing fake apps. The scale of this threat is significant: our recent analysis found over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play."
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
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Google likened the process to "an ID check at the airport", with the company confirming the identity of the developer behind the app you're trying to download — but not reviewing the contents of the app. This isn't a move from Google to restrict certain types of software from becoming available on its devices.
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Ms Frey added: "To be clear, developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or to use any app store they prefer. We believe this is how an open system should work — by preserving choice while enhancing security for everyone."
Whether this new process will help reduce the number of threats faced by Android users remains to be seen, but fingers crossed, smartphone and tablet owners are a little safer after this new requirement rolls out in the coming years.
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