Google has announced that they will be requiring all Android Apps — including “sideloaded” apps installed outside of the Google Play Store — to undergo developer identity verification.
Android Developer ID Check
“Starting next year, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed by users on certified Android devices,” says Google. “Think of it like an ID check at the airport, which confirms a traveler's identity but is separate from the security screening of their bags; we will be confirming who the developer is, not reviewing the content of their app or where it came from.”
These requirements will go into full effect in September of 2026 (one year from now), but only for developers in four countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Countries which, according to Google, suffer from “fraudulent app scams, often from repeat perpetrators”.
The idea seems simple enough: If a developer is known to make Android malware, Google will have the ability to block their software from being installed. Thus preventing the spread of Malware.
We will see how well this system works, in practice, next year.
It also remains to be seen when this “Google App Developer Identity Verification” requirement will be enforced in other countries (such as the USA). For the moment, Google is simply saying “2027 and beyond”… so there’s still time left for this policy to be modified.
As part of the process, Google is launching a new “Android Developer Console”, specifically for developers to verify their identity and register their applications.
The Practical Impact
What does this new “ID verification” for Android Devs mean… in the real world?
Once this change is worldwide:
A developer must be “verified” before their software can be installed via any mechanism — including Sideloaded Apps, and alternative App Stores (such as F-Droid).
Developing and publishing Android software, in an anonymous fashion, will no longer be supported.
Google is also, it appears, committing to continuing to allow “sideloading” and third party App Stores for the foreseeable future.
In other words: If a user wants to sideload software, or use F-Droid, Google will allow that. But Google is going to know the real-world identity of the developer / publisher of any software that gets installed.
The War on Sideloading, Revised
Google and Apple have been at war with the concept of “sideloading” (aka “Installing software the normal way”) for several years now. With both companies adding new features to their systems which allow them to block the ability of users to install “non-approved” software.
In that context, this particular announcement from Google is a bit of a double edged sword.
From Google’s announcement:
“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.”
On the one hand, requiring ID verification for developers is clearly a big step towards increased control over what software is installable on the systems we own.
On the other hand, Google is making it clear they intend to support sideloading & third party App Stores into the future.
Something they have been hesitant about in the past.
