Google to verify developers for Android sideloaded apps by 2026

Google announced a sweeping change to how Android apps are distributed and installed, saying that starting in 2026 every app that can be installed on certified Android devices must come from developers who have undergone verification. The move extends the company’s existing Play Protect safeguards beyond Google Play to include sideloaded apps and third-party app stores. Verification will begin with an early-access program this October, open to the wider developer community in March 2026, with enforcement in September 2026 for a group of countries and global rollout planned for 2027.

Under the new system, Google will establish a separate Android Developer Console for developers distributing outside Google Play. A parallel pathway will be available for students and hobbyists testing apps on personal devices. Developers already distributing through Google Play are expected to meet verification requirements through the existing Play Console process, which includes provisions such as a business registration number. By requiring developers to verify their identity, Google aims to curb the creation and distribution of convincing fake apps and to slow the ability of malicious actors to...