- enable developer options
- confirm that you are not tricked
- restart phone and re-authenticate
- wait one day
- confirm with biometrics that you know what you are doing
- decide if you only want unrestricted installs for 1 week or forever
- confirm that you accept the risks
- enjoy the few apps that still have developers motivated to develop for a user-base willing to put up with this
Google gives Android users a way to install unverified apps if they prove they really, really want to
Submitted 17 hours ago by Beep@lemmus.org to technology@lemmy.world
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html
Comments
smeg@infosec.pub 7 hours ago
Squizzy@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
Is this for all android systems because it is a huge rug pull if so
AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 3 hours ago
Pretty sure it’s a change to AOSP, the basis for every single Android ROM in existence.
FauxLiving@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
I can understand this workflow being created to protect the legions of people who are tricked into installing spyware.
It doesn’t remotely affect me because I use GrapheneOS and if this is an issue for you then you’re probably someone who should look at installing GOS or Lineage.
I don’t think Google should be able to do this and it is likely part of a longer-term strategy to strangle any competition. At the same time, I can understand how this change will save a lot of grandparents from clicking a link in a text from their ‘grandchildren’ and installing spyware that’ll steal all of their bank information.
AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 3 hours ago
GrapheneOS is built on AOSP, which is where the change is being made. Graphene and other custom ROMs will need to maintain a fork that cuts out the feature if they want to avoid. Google is also starting to close off Android to make that more difficult, so it’ll become a genuine project to maintain the fork well.
ThirdConsul@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
I can understand this workflow being created to protect the legions of people who are tricked into installing spyware.
Then you’re stupid, as most people install third party spyware through the Google Play store.
Kissaki@feddit.org 1 hour ago
Why is it called developer mode if it’s supposedly an advanced flow? That has a bad implication.
Fedditor385@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Can we prevent this on the EU level? It really is just killing independent competition.
Ganbat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 hours ago
In addition to the advanced flow we’re building free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists. This allows you to share apps with a small group (up to 20 devices) without needing to provide a government-issued ID or pay a registration fee.
Fuck you sideways, Google.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 11 hours ago
What? ID?
MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 7 hours ago
They want developers to share their IDs to have their apps on the play store. The limited groups is so hobbyist developers can still share apps without having to jump through those hoops and so the users don’t need to go and enable sideloading, with the caveat that there’s a call on how many users you can send it to it looks like.
darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 16 hours ago
Okay but, installing an apk is not the kind of thing a scammer does. They’ll just install some standard off the shelf remote access software from the play store
This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process and opted for scammers for some reason. Even though they’re completely disconnected
cecilkorik@piefed.ca 15 hours ago
This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process
It feels that way because that’s exactly what happened.
darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 7 hours ago
I was hoping for at least something slightly believable, someone let Gemini write the justification I guess
low@lemmy.today 2 hours ago
I don’t care, this is a massive win
PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 1 hour ago
Found the Google employee.
Kissaki@feddit.org 1 hour ago
What specifically is a massive win?
signup@sh.itjust.works 1 hour ago
that sideloading wasnt banned
shrek_is_love@lemmy.ml 12 hours ago
They think this will take some of the heat off of them. Hopefully no one actually thinks this is a reasonable compromise. If I want to help an elderly family member install something on their phone during Thanksgiving dinner or a family reunion, I’m not gonna want to wait a day. Uncle Paul’s flying back to Florida tomorrow morning!
ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 16 hours ago
And again, confirming that my current phone will be the last android device I own.
luthis@lemmy.nz 16 hours ago
What will you use instead though?
ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 16 hours ago
At this stage, I’m thinking one of the Motorola phones that will run Graphene out of the box.
tabular@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
Linux phone, landline, or tin can and string.
Bullerfar@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
Fairphone with /e/os or Jolla phone with sailfishos (waiting for the reviews of their new preordered flagship phone coming out this fall.)
gary_d@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
I imagine that the demand for linux phones will only grow.
QuandaleDingle@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
THE PENGUINS MUST GROW
eager_eagle@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 6 hours ago
This would not have affected me since I use Lineage OS without Google Play Services, but I am now more seriously than ever looking into using a Linux phone like Postmarket OS.
fluxx@mander.xyz 4 hours ago
It would affect a lot of users, then it will indirectly affect you too, as a lot of devs won’t be as interested in maintaining their apps for so few users. But I hope it will at least give a bit of a push to developing postmarket os. I personally am sure going to get a second hand phone to install postmarketos too and hope I can contribute at least a little bit. I am prepared to suffer, at least a little bit for the right cause.
Squizzy@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
- Camera
- Phone projection for cars
- Contactless pay/ wallet/pay alternative
Give me a device that can do these and I am in for ditching android. I only use browsers or off store apps that have linux support mainly anymore anyway.
fluxx@mander.xyz 4 hours ago
At least the last one won’t happen, as banks would have to be on board. And banks are not on your side with this one.
achille225@jlai.lu 7 hours ago
How will this be accepted by the EU? Will it comply to the regulations?
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 hours ago
Because they technically still allow sideloading after 24 hours so I don’t think it violated EU laws
kalapala@sopuli.xyz 16 hours ago
Rental devices tend to be bad investments for the individuals.
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 15 hours ago
Hot Take: Honestly, this is not as bad as I thought it’d be…
(But still, it’s kinda a slipperly slope…)
morto@piefed.social 15 hours ago
Their strategy:
- announce they will make extreme restrictions
- people get crazy over it and backlash
- announce that they’re listening to people and will soften the proposed restrictions
- people relax and accept the restrictions, while the media portray them as the good guys
spectrums_coherence@piefed.social 14 hours ago
I feel if everything they said is true, then this is a reasonable solution. But from my many Youtube scammer video experience, like people have already mentioned, most scammers use standard remote access software, not some bespoke APK.
heiligerbimbam@lemmy.wtf 14 hours ago
I am already on Graphene OS… so, do what the fuck u want. I dont care.
xSikes@feddit.online 15 hours ago
spoiler
_either going back to cell phones or we all go for Linux phones
tidderuuf@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
I hate how much more difficult my work or life has to be because some people shouldn’t have a smartphone.
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 hours ago
I’m okay with this. Didn’t read the article — I read one on Ars Technica or somewhere wore.
iPhone guy, but say I get an Android phone that has this. Say the Pixel 11 Pro ships with it. So I do the thing, right when I get it… 24 hours after that I can install whatever? That’s fine. It’s only 24 hours and then it’s open as long as you want it to be. I don’t even think I need to sideload, but I’ll want the option. And it’s still better than the hoops we gotta jump through to sideload on iPhone.
TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
And it’s still better than the hoops we gotta jump through to sideload on iPhone.
The fact iOS is a joke doesn’t make this any better.
dev_null@lemmy.ml 5 hours ago
No, you do this and then you can’t install anything, because no developer will choose this process as their publishing strategy.
Apps outside the Play Store will be dead.
Horsey@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
If graphene had Liquid Glass I’d unironically switch to it. I can’t stand flat looking UI.
Hiro8811@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Are you really trading of an aesthetic feature for no privacy?
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
Secondly, just install a liquid glass theme if you’re funny.
MountainMan@lemmy.zip 9 minutes ago
They will just redefine what 24h means!
Don’t think for a second that these companies are working in good faith, and would change their evil plans due to some pushback from the rabble. They will just find ways to circumvent things. They have everyone by the nads, there are no competitors.