Comment

Comment on Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Two things especially worth noting from the article.

If you have a non-Google build of Android on your phone, none of this applies.

This means that at least GrapheneOS will be unaffected for now. Other ROMs without gapps will be unaffected only as long as you don’t install gapps. Since Graphene has a sandbox for them, I’m assuming it’ll be fine. That is, unless Google decides to lock the bootloader entirely.

In September 2026, Google plans to launch this feature in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The next step is still hazy, but Google is targeting 2027 to expand the verification requirements globally.

So most users worldwide still have at least 1.5 years until it’s implemented. Plenty of time to get a Pixel and install Graphene on it. Or to figure out some other plan.

Don’t get me wrong - this is insane, unreasonable and horrible news for everyone. We should push back as hard as physically possible against it. However, at the very least we still have some time to figure things out before the policy rolls out.

source

Sort:hotnew top

lmuel@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
I wouldn’t be surprised if Google stop allowing BL unlocking soon… Following Samsung and Xiaomi (although Xiaomi technically can be unlocked, in reality you’ll not be able to do so nowadays unless you pay someone to do it via remote USB shit for you)

source
sommerset@thelemmy.club ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
I’m getting Huawei

source
- supernight52@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  Literally just as bad lol
  
  source
  - sommerset@thelemmy.club ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    Yes. Would be a protest buy.
    I would spend more money and get Chinese os to just not fund Google.
    
    The way I see it this is the last drop in the bucket for android openness anyways.
    
    source
    supernight52@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    Fair enough- at least you’re not under any illusions that they’re less restrictive and scummy.
    
    source
  - cheesorist@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    a million times better*
    
    source
    supernight52@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    Aaaand you have no idea what you’re talking about. No need to engage further. Have a good life.
    
    source
- BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  Consider a Volla Phone with UBPorts.
  
  UBPorts can also be installed on Fairphone.
  
  source
eleitl@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
Imagine the custom ROM situation was as bad for phones as it currently is for tablets. There is just one supported tablet which is new.

source