Google Adds 24-Hour Wait for Unverified Android App Sideloading

Google has unveiled a new "advanced flow" for installing Android apps from unverified developers outside the Google Play Store, introducing a one-time 24-hour waiting period designed to protect users from scams and malware. The changes, set to launch in August, aim to maintain Android's openness while adding safeguards against social engineering tactics that pressure users into hasty installations.

The update stems from Google's ongoing efforts to enhance app security on its platform, which serves more than 3 billion users worldwide. Under the new system, sideloading apps from verified developers will remain straightforward, allowing direct downloads and installations without additional hurdles. Developers can become verified by confirming their identity, registering cryptographic signing credentials, and paying a modest fee, a process Google describes as focused on accountability rather than content screening. All developers already on the Play Store meet this standard.

For apps from unverified sources, the advanced flow requires users to take deliberate steps. First, they must enable Developer Options in the device's settings, a menu typically accessed by power users. A...