No, Sideloading Android Apps Isn't Going Away, Google Says

Rumors about Google removing the ability to sideload apps on Android have been swirling for months, but the company has ...

Google tries to justify Android's upcoming sideloading restrictions

In late August, Google announced new rules for sideloading on Android. Under the policy, all developers must verify their ...

This fundamental Android feature is 'absolutely not' going away, says Google - but it is changing

About a month ago, Google announced that the rules around sideloading apps -- the ability to install apps from unverified developers, bypassing Google's Play Store -- onto Android devices were set to ...
ZDNet

Google is killing the Android phone feature that once made them popular - and there's a big reason why

Google will restrict sideloading with developer verification. The move mirrors Apple's long-standing security approach. Android loses one of its last big differences from iOS. For years, one of the ...
HotHardware

Google Risks Making Android Users Furious Over App Sideloading Policy Change

Google’s Android operating system has historically offered a more open approach compared to Apple’s iOS, giving users more freedom when it comes to customization and apps. However, the company has ...
TechSpot

Android sideloading faces new restrictions as Google blocks unverified developers

Facepalm: The Android ecosystem has traditionally offered a more permissive approach to app development and delivery through third-party means. Now, Google is announcing a significant change that will ...
TechCrunch

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their ...
9to5google

Google will require developer verification to install Android apps, including sideloading

To combat malware and financial scams, Google announced today that only apps from developers that have undergone verification can be installed on certified Android devices starting in 2026. This ...
Ars Technica

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Android's open nature set it apart from the iPhone as the era of touchscreen smartphones began nearly two decades ago. Little by little, Google has traded some of that openness for security, and its ...
Bleeping Computer

Malicious Android apps with 19M installs removed from Google Play

Seventy-seven malicious Android apps with more than 19 million installs were delivering multiple malware families to Google Play users. This malware infiltration was discovered by Zscaler's ThreatLabs ...
Android Authority

Google wants to make sideloading Android apps safer by verifying developers’ identities

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 ...