Android's controversial new sideloading rules are officially here

Android has always sold itself on one simple freedom that iPhone users don’t really get: the freedom to install whatever you want, from wherever you want. Google isn’t killing that freedom outright, but as of September 30, it has officially started putting a few more gates in the way — and Android users in four countries are the first through them.

Google’s new developer verification rules are now in effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. On certified devices running Android 7 or newer, apps installed through participating stores must be registered to a verified developer. The initial list includes Google Play, Galaxy Store, HONOR App Market, OPPO App Market, Xiaomi GetApps, vivo V-Appstore, and Transsion’s Palm Store.

That doesn’t mean unregistered apps are suddenly impossible to install. Google has already started rolling out its controversial advanced sideloading flow, which lets power users bypass developer verification.

The catch is deliberately inconvenient: you enable the option in Developer Options, authenticate, restart your phone, and then wait 24 hours before you can proceed. Afterward, you can allow installs from unverified developers for seven days or indefinitely, your choice. ADB installations remain exempt from that waiting period.

Google says the extra friction is meant to disrupt scams that pressure victims into installing malicious apps. Many Android enthusiasts remain unconvinced, though. In an Android Authority poll earlier this year, 82% of respondents either called the approach overkill or said it makes Android less open.

For US users, nothing changes today. But this four-country rollout is only the beginning. Google plans to expand developer verification globally across certified Android devices in 2027, making the first wave of the rollout an important preview of where Android sideloading is headed.