Google to Block Installation of Unverified Android Apps from 2026

Google is preparing one of the biggest policy shifts in Android’s history by restricting the installation of apps from unverified developers. Beginning in 2026, only apps linked to a verified developer identity will be installable on the majority of Android devices that use Google services.

Why Google is Making the Change

For years, Android stood out as the “open” alternative to Apple’s tightly controlled iPhone ecosystem. Users could freely sideload apps from outside the Google Play Store, a feature valued by developers and advanced users. But that openness also made Android a prime target for malware.

According to Google, apps downloaded outside the Play Store are up to 50 times more likely to contain malicious software. Since requiring developer identity verification on the Play Store in 2023, the company reports a sharp drop in fraud and harmful apps. Now, it wants to extend the same system to all Android apps, whether they come from the Play Store or not.

How the New System Will Work

Google plans to launch a new Android Developer Console where developers must verify their identities, register their app’s package name, and provide signing keys before distribution. The company stresses this process will not involve checking or reviewing app content—it is purely about authentication.

If an app is not tied to a verified developer, it simply won’t install on certified Android devices, which includes virtually all smartphones and tablets running Google services. Only users of non-Google builds of Android—mostly in China or in rare custom versions—will be unaffected.

Timeline for Rollout

• October 2025: Early access testing of the system.
• March 2026: Developer verification platform becomes available worldwide.
• September 2026: Enforcement begins in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
• By 2027: Global rollout expected.

A Turning Point for Android

This move comes at a sensitive time for Google. The company recently lost an antitrust appeal in its ongoing battle with Epic Games over Play Store rules. Courts have ordered Google to allow third-party app stores and more freedom for developers. While this opens doors for competition, Google argues that its new verification system is necessary to keep users safe as more apps come from outside sources.

Critics, however, warn that the policy could tighten Google’s control over the Android ecosystem. Although today the requirement is limited to identity checks, many developers worry it could evolve into stricter, Apple-like restrictions in the future.

What remains unclear is how Android phones will check whether an app is verified, or what error users will see if they try to install an unverified one. Industry watchers expect this check will be managed via updates to Google Play Services as the enforcement date approaches.