Google will soon verify the identities of developers who distribute Android apps outside the Play Store. Developers must submit their information to a new Android Developer Console, increasing their ...

Android’s openness has long allowed software to reach phones without passing through Google Play. Google is adding a new gate ...

Google announced this week that it will add a new requirement for those who make Android apps and want them to work on Android devices that run Google services. The developers behind Android apps will ...

For years, the ability to install apps from outside the Play Store has been one of Android's defining features. It's a simple function—you download an APK file, tap install, and you're done. Starting ...

From September 2026, any developer who wants to distribute apps outside of the Play Store will need to complete a new identity verification process. This verification is done through the updated ...

Suzanne Frey, Google’s VP of product, trust and growth for Android, explained the move in a blog post. She said it will slow down attackers who try to repackage malware again and again. “This creates ...

Google announced its Android developer verification program last year to make app sideloading safer for Android users. And a few months ago, Google said that Android users would have to wait 24 hours ...

Scheduled for rollout starting in September 2026, the program aims to restrict malware distribution by requiring developer verification for apps installed on Android ...